Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-03-19

/ DUaU6S, DGERGanU-aU-ar0lS OF the Senate.
! Committee. of Arrangements, President
elect, VicePresident, Secretary of the
Senate, members of the Senate, the
diplomatic corps, heads of departments,
ex-members of the House of Represent
4 atives and members-elect of the 43d
1 Congress, Governors of states and
other persons who had been admitted
to the floor of The Senate Chamber and
occupied seats at the left of the diplo-
matte corps. The latter was composed
] principally of bureau officers of the
various departments of the government
in Washington.
I In front of the parties, but about ten
feet lower, being on level with the
front landing place of the flight of
marble steps, had been constructed a
/ platform accommodating, together
with the steps, about five or six hun
dred people. It had semi-circuiar
front, which was covered with 'Ameri-
can flags and tastefully decorated with
wreaths and evergreens. The national
| flag was also intertwined with two of
the columns supporting the pediment
Of the portico, and the general effect
harmonized with the splendor of the
noble building On reaching the plat
/ form the President elect took the seat
! provided Tor him directly in front of
| the center, Vice-President Colfax and
! the Sergeant alarms In charge of the
ceremonies sitting on the right and the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on
his left. The Senate Committee of
| Arrangements were near at hand, and
( TnYf In hn Nhn
tees Of the Supreme Court occupied
! seats on tne left, and members and the
! Secretaries of the Senate on the right.
/ The diplomatic corps were to have oc-
| cupied seats in the rear of the Supreme
Court, but many of them were not
sufficiently alert to prevent themselves
from being crowded in the background
/ by members of the House of Represen~
tatlYeS and others who were pressed
forward by the general crowd behind.
The appearance of the President on
| the platform was grseted with enthusi-
astic cheers and with burst of music
! from the bands. Ali the various civic
and military organizations, which had
drawn up in line of battle, filled wide
space in front and extending the entire
length of the Capitol.
1 The noise of the greeting was hushed
as the Pres1dent-elect and the Chief
Justice Of the United States rose slmul-
taneously, and the latter commenced to
recite the formula of the presidential
! oath of Office, which General Grant
took with head uncovered and resumed
/ his seat for few moments, while the
boom of cannon, the ringing of bells,
and shouts of the vast multitude burst
forth with deafening sounds.
/ Partial quiet having been restored,
| the President arose and proceeded to
read his inaugural address. His voice
was not audible except to persons on
the near platform, and consequently
there were no manifestations of ap-
plause or otherwise during it's delivery,
which occupied less than ten minutes,
and was completed before large part
of the asscmblage not directly in range
of view knew that it had been COM
menced.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
/ FELLOW CITIZENS In the providence of
God | have been called a second time to act as
Executive over this great nation. 1t has been
my endeayor IN the past to maintain all the
laws, and, so far as lay in my power, to act for
the best interests of the whole people. NV
best efforts will be given in the same direction
in the future, al ed [ trust, by my four years
! experience in the office. When myifirst term
of the office Of Chief Executive began
/ the country had not recovered from
the effects Of a great internal revo-
luton, and three of the foremost states
! Of the Union had not been restored 10 their
federal relations. 1t seemed to me wise that
DO new question should be raised as long as
that condition of affairs existed. Therefore
rla No-4fC T ho,- g.,
as l could control events, to restore harmony
/ public credit, commerce, and all the arts of
| peace and progress. It is my firm conviction
that the civilized world is tendiug toward re-
! pubhcanlsm OF government by the people,
/ through their chosen representatives and our
own great republic is destined to be the guild
/ ing star to all Others. Under our republic we
! support an army less that of any European
| power of any standing, and a navy less than
that of at least five of then. There could be
no extension Of territory on this continent
which would call for an increase of this force,
but rather might such extension enable us to
diminish it,
The theory Of government changes with
general progress.
Now that the telegraph system is made
available for communicating thought, togeth-
er with rapid transit by steam, all parts of the
continent are made contiguous for all purpose
Of Government, and communication between
the extreme limits of the country made easier
than it was throughout the old thirteen states
the beginning OF our national existence.
The effects OF the late civil strife have been
| to free the slave and make him citizen, yet
he is not possessed of the rights which the
citizenship should carry with it. This is wrong
and reeds correction. To this correction |
stand committed so tar as executive influence
can avail Social equality is not a subject tC Ghe
legisiated upon, nor shall [ ask that anything
be done to advance the social status of the
colOred man, except TO give him fair chance
to develope what there is good in him. Give
him access to schools, and when he travels let
him feel at once that his conduct will regulate
the treatment that ne should receive.
The states lately at war with the General
Government are now happily rehabilitated,
and no executive control is exercised in any
one of them that would not be exercised in any
! other state under like circumstances. In the
first Year OF the past administration the prop
/ Osltlon came up for the admission of Santo
/ DomIng1 as a territory Of the Union. 1t was
not question OF my seeking but was prop
[ Osltlon from the people Of SantO Domingo, and
! which | entertained. l believe now, as did
! then, that it was for the best interests Of this
/ country, for the people OF SantO Domingo,
/ all concerned, that the proposition should be
| received favorably. 1t was however, rejected
I. .consututlonalIy, and therefore the sub
! e ct was never brought up again by me. In
7sthe future, While hold my present office, the
subject OF acquisition of territory must have
! UIio huppoI1 Oh Jn6 people before Will recon-
mend any proposition looking to such acquisi-
tlon say here now, however, that do not
share III the apprehension held by many as to
the danger OF governments becoming weak
ened and destroyed by reason OF their exten-
sion OF territory. Commerce. education and
rapid transit of thought aud matter by tee-
graph and steam have changed this belief, or
rather this dsbeliefthat our great Maker is pre-
parlng the world in his own good time to be
one nation, speaking one language, and where
armies and nayies are no longer required
/ Ny efforts in the future will be directed to
the restoration of good feeling between the
1 different sections of our common country to
the restoration of our currency to fixed
value as compared with the worlds standard
! of values of gold, aud if possible to par with
/ 1t; to the construction of cheaproutes of tran
sit throughout the land, to the end that the
/ products Of all sections may find a market
and leave living remuneration to the pro-
/ ducer; to the maintenance of friendly rela-
/ ti0ns with all our neighbors and with distant
nations; to the establishment of our COM
merce and share in the carrying trade
/ upon the ocean; to the encouragement
/ Of such manufacturing industries as
can be economically pursued in this
( cODntrJ tO the end that the pxDOrts pg home