South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-03-07
The Inauguration.

10000, and made au imposing display
AS the procession turned into the ayepnc
from Fifteenth street, the crowds Of spec
tators crowded along the sidewalks from
the intersecting street,, and in a moment
the great thorougbfaro OF Washington was
alive with at least $4,000 struggling peo-
pie, who, Notwithstanding the exciting ma
ture of the occasion, preserved excellent or
President elect HENRY WILSON was con-
Quoted to a seat on the right of the Vice
President, and Immediately after the Su-
preme Court Justices entered. At 1850
the President entered, and the ceremony of
swearing in tho Vice President was per-
formed. Afterwards the President was con.
dncted TO the platform, where the oath of
office was duly Administered !, and the inau-
gural address delivered as follows;
Fcl2o,e- Citizens:
Under Providence | have been called
second time to act as Executive of this
great nation. Ii has been my endeayor in
the past to maintain al the laws, and so
far as lay in my power to act for the best
interests of the whole people My best
efforts will be given in the same direction
In the future, aided, | trust, by my four
years experience in he office. When my
first term of the Office of Chief Executive
began the land had not recovered from the
effects of an internal revolution, and three
of the former States of the Uujon had not
been restored to their Federal relations. Il
seemed to me wise that no new questions
should be raised so.long az that condition
of affairs existed therefore, the past four
years, so far as | could control events. have
been consumed in The fort to restore har-
mony, public credit, commerce and all the
arts Of peace aud progress.
Ii Is my firm conviction that the civil
lied world is tending towards republicanism,
or government by the people through their
chosen representatives, aud that our own
great Republic is destined to be the guid-
Ing star TO all othefs. Under our Republic
We support an army less than that of any
European Power of any standing, and
navy less ;han tina: Of at least five of them.
There could DO no extension Of territory on
increase of this force, but rather might
such extension enable us to eztinguish it,
The theory Of Government changes with
general progress. Now that the telegraph is
made available for communicating thought,
together with rapid transit by steam, all
parts Of the Continent are made contigous
for all purposes of the Government, and
communication between the extreme limits
Of the country made easier than it was
throughout the old thirteen States at the
beginning o! our national existence.
The effects Of the late civil war have
been to free the slave and make him
citizen. Yet ho is not possessed of the
civil rights which citizenship should carry
with il.
This is wrong and should be corrected.
To this correction | stand committed so far
as Executive influence eau avail Social
equality il not subject to lcgisluto upon :,
nor shall | ask that anything I've done TO
advance the social status of the colorcd
man except to give him fair chance to
develop what there IS good in him. Give
him access to schools, and when he
travels Jet him feel assured that his con
duct will regulate the treatment and fare
he will receive.
The States lately at war with the Gen
eral Government arc now happily rehabi.
liiated, and no Executive control is oxer.
cised 10 any one Of them that would not be
exercised in any other State under like
circumstances
In the first year of the past Adminstra-
ton the proposition came up for the adms.
sion Of Santo Domingo as a Territory II tho
Union. 1t was not a question of my seek
ing, but w1s proposition from the people
OF Santo Domingo, aud which | entertain
ed. ! believe now, as l did then, that it
was for the best interests Of the country, for
the people Of Santo Domingo, aud all con.
cerned, that the proposition should be re-
ceived avorabIy. IL was, however, reject
cd conslitutionaIiy aud therefore the sub.
Ject was never brought up again by me.
In tho future while hold my present
Office tho subject Of acquisition Of territory
must have Che support Of the people before
will recommend auy proposition looking
to such acquisition.
say here, however, that do no, share
in the apprehension held by many as 20 ibc
danger Ui governments becoming weakened
and destroyed By reason of their extension
Of territory. Commerce, education ard
rapid transit Of thought and matter by tel
cgraph aud steam have changed all this.
Rather do believe fhatour great Maker
IS preparing the world 10 his own good
time % become ou8 nation, speaking ouc
language, ADD when armias ell u1yic- viii
be 40 longer r.qn''ei
My efforts in lLs future will be directed
ff tho vr.f ...t.. - ,r,.I F..fs.... l.t.... To-.