Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-03-13
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,


farias in my power to act for the inter
ests Of The wholepeople. My test eff
orts will be given in the same direction
in the future, aided, | trust, by my four
years experience iii the Office. When
my first term OF the Office of Chief Ex-
ccntiye began, the country had not re
covered f,aa the effects of a great IN
ternal revolution, and three Of the for
mer States Of the Union had not been
restored to their federal relations. 1t
seemed to me wise that no new q,les-
tions should be raised so long as condi-
tion OF affairs existed: therefore the past
four years, so far as | could control ev
ents, have been consumed in the effort
to restore harmony, public credit, com
merce, aud all the arts Of peace and
progress. 1t is my firm conviction that
the civilized world is tending towards
epuniical,ism, or government by the
people, through their chosen fepresen
tatiyes, and that our own great kepub
lie is destined to be the guiding Star
to all others. Under our Republic we
support IN army less than, that of any
European Power Of any Standing, and
a navy less than that q: either OF at
least i've Of them. There could be no
extension of territory on this continei:
which would call for an increase of this
force, but rather might such extension
enable us to. dininish it. The theory
Of government changes with general
progress. Now that the telegraph is
made available Tor communicating
thought, together with rapid transit by
steam, all parts Of a continent are made
contiguous for all purposes. Of govern
mant, and communication between the
extreme limits Of the country made
easier than it was throughout the old
thirteen States at the beginning Of our
national existence The effects Of the
civil strife have been TO free the, slave
and make him citizen. Yet he is not
possessed Of the civil rights which citi
zenship should carry with it. This is
wrong and should he corrected. TO
this correction stand committed, SO
far as Executive influence can avail.
Social equality is not a subject to be
.legislate,l upon, moi. shall / ask that
anything be done to advance the social
status OF the coIored man except to
give him d fair chance to develop what
there is good i'll him. Give him
access to schools, and when he travels,
let him feel assured that his conduct
will regulate the treatment and the fare
he will receive. ..... ~ ..y..
The States lately at war with the
general government are now happily
rehabilitateti, and no Executive control
is exercised in any one Of them that
would not be exercised in any other
State under Ike circumstances.
In the first year of the past admins
tration the proposition came up for the
annexation of santo Domingo as !. ter
ritory of the Union Ii was not a ques
ton Of my seeking, but was u PROPOSE
tioi. from the people of Santo Domingo,
and which | entertained. believe
now, as / did then, that it was for the
best interests Of this country, for the
people Of Santo Domingo, and all con
eerned that the proposition should be
received favorably. 1t was, however,
rejected, constit,ttionally, and therefore
the subject was never brought up again
by me.
In future, while I hold my present
office, the subject of acquisition OF ter
ritory must lave the support Of the peo-
pie before | will recommend any pr
position looking to such acquisition.
/ say here, however, that do II 1t share
III the apprehension held by many as to
the danger Of the government becoming
weakened and destroyed by reason OF
their extension of territory. Commerce,
education and rapid transit Of thought
and matter BY telegraph and steam,
nave changed all this. Rather do |
believe that our great Maker is prepar-
ing the world in His own good time
% become one nation, speaking one
language, and when armies and navies
will be no longer required.
My efforts inthe future will be direct
ed to the restoration Of good feeling be.
tween the different sections OF our COM
mon country; to the restoration OF our
currency to fixed value as compared
with the worlds standard of values
gold, and if possible to a par with it;
to the construction Of cheaper routes of
transit throughout the land, to the end
that the proceeds Of all sections may
find market leave IA living relnuncr..-
lion to the producer; to the maintenance
OF friendly relations with ali our neigh
bors and with distant nations: to the re-
establishment of our commerce and
share in the carrying trade upon the
ocean; to the encouragement Of such
manufacturing industries as can be
economically pursued in this country;
to the end that the exports OF home
products and industries may pay for
our imports-the only sure method of
returning to and permanently maintain
ing specie basis;tp the elevation Of
labor, and by a humane course to bring
the abori9iles OF the country Under the
benign influence of.e1uc.tion and civil
z.titn 1t is either this or war of exttr
minati, n.-Wars of externination en-
gagged in by people pursuing commsrc
and all industrial pursuits are expensive
even against tie weakest people, and
are demonstrating and wicked.-Om
superiority of strength and advantages
Of civilization should make us lenient
towards the Indian. The wrongs al
ready inflicted upon him should be tax
en- into account and the balance placed
to his credit The moral view Of the,
question should lie considt red. and the
question asked, Cannot the Indian be
made q USE ful ard productive member
of society by proper teaching ard train
ing?' II the effort is made in good faith