Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-03-13

| WASHINGTON, March 5th, 1877.
The following is the inaugural address
of President Hayes:
Fell0a0 Citizens: We have assembled
to repeat the public ceremonial begun
by Washington, observed by all my
predecessors, and now a time-honored
custom. which marks the commence
ment of a new term of the presidential
office. Called to the duties of this
great trust, proceed, in compliance
with usage, to announce some of the
leading principles on the subjects that
chiefly engage the public attention, by
which it is my desire to be guided in
the discharge of those duties. I shall
not undertake to lay down irrevocably
principles or measures of adminjstra-
ton, but rather to speak of the motives
which should animate us, and to suggest
certain important ends to be attained,
in accordance with our institutions and
essential to the welfare of our country.
At the outset of the discussion which
preceded the recent presidential election
it seemed to me fitting that should full
ly make known my sentiments in re-
gard to several of the important ques-
tions which then appeared to demand
the consideration of the country. Fol-
lowing the example, and in part adopt
ing the language Of one of my prede-
cessors, 1 wish now, when every motive
for Misrepresentation has passed away,
to repeat what was said before the elec-
ton, trusting that my countrymen will
candidly weigh and understand it, and
that they will feel assured that the SEN
timents declared in accepting the nomi-
nation for the presidency will be the
standard of my conduct in the path be-
fore me-charged as I now am with the
grave and and difficult task of carrying
them out in the practical Administra-
tiOn of the Government so far as de
pends, under the Constitution and laws,
on the Chief Executive of the nation
The permanent pacification of the coun-
try upon such principles and by such
measures as will secure the complete
protection of its citizens in the free en-
jOyment of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their constitutional
rights is now the one subject in our pub
lie affairs which all Thoughtful and pa
triotic citizens regard as of supreme i'm
portance. Many of the calamitous effects
of the tremendous revolution which has
passed over the Southern States still re-
main.
THE IMMEAsURABLE BENEFITS
which will surely follow, sooner or later,
the hearty and generous acceptance of
the legitimate results of that revolution
have not yet been realized. Difficult
and embarrassing questions meet US at
the threshold of this subject. The peo-
pie of those States are still impoverished,
land the inestimable blessing of wise,
honest, and peaceful local self-govern-
ment is not fully enjoyed. Whatever
difference of opinion may exist as to the
cause of this condition of things, the
fact is clear that in the progress of events
the time has come when such govern
ment is the imperative necessity re-
quired by all the varied interests, public
and private, of those States; but it must
not be forgotten that only local gov
ernmeEt which recognizes and MAIN
tains inviolate the rights of all is true
self government. With respect to the
two distinct races whose peculiar rela-
tions to each other have brought upon
us the deplorable complications and
| perplexities which exist in those States,
1t must be government which guards
the interests of both races carefully and
equally. It must be government
which submits Loyalty and heartily to
the Constitution and the laws-the laws
of the nation and the laws of the States
misunderstanding and obeyipe
faithfully the whole Constitution as it ia,
Resting upon this sure and substantial
foundation, the superstructure of befi.
cent local governments can be built up
and not otherwise. In futherance ol
such obedience to the letter and the