The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-03-10
The Installation of Hayes.
EEis inaugural Address.

The Words of a Statesman and Patriot
On Monday last the inauguration
of President Hayes took place at
Washington, attended by brilliant
ceremonies usual to such occasions
and the assemblage of an immense
number of people to witness them and
listen to the voice of the new Chief
Magistrate. Contrary TO the tragic
prophecies and ominous croakings of
disappointed politicians which but
recently resounded throughout the
land, the Inauguration was unattended
by any display of violence or bad
feeling. The acerbities of the late
bitter political contest were laid aside
or forgotten, and the ringing of bells
and firing of cannon which announced
the formal induction of the President
elect into Office, found an echo in the
hearts of all patriotic Republicans
and Democrats alike, begot Of feel
ing of thankfulness and relief that the
country had safely passed through a
crisis which threatened the very ex-
istence of the Republic.
Knowing with what interest the in
augural speech of President Hayes
will be read every where, we publish
the admirable address herewith in full !:
Fellow -citizens-We have assem-
bled to repeat the public ceremonial
begun by Washington, observed by
all my predecessors, and now time
! honored custom which marks the
commencement of new term of the
presidential office. Called to the duties
of this great trust, | proceed, i'll COM
pliance with usage, to announce some
of tile leading principles on the sub
jects that now chiefly engage the pub
lie attention, by which it is my desire
to be guided i'll the discharge of these
duties. | shall not under take to lay
down irIevacably principles or meas
uges of administration, bnt rather to
speak of the motives which should
animate us, and to suggest certain
Important ends TO be attained, in ac-
cordaAce with our institutions, and
essential to the welfare OF our coantry.
At the outset of the discussion
which preceded the recent presidential
election it seemed tn be fitting that |
should fully make known my senti-
ments in regard to several important
questions which then appeared to de-
nand the consideration of the country.
Following the example aud in part
adopting the language of one of my
predecessors, | wish now, when every
motive for misrepresentation has
passed away; to repeat what was said
before the election, trusting that my
ceuntryElen will candidiy weigh and
understand it, and that they will feel
assured that the sentiment declared
in accepting the nomination for the
Presidency, will be the standard of
my conduct in the path before me,
charged as | now am with the grave
and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration of
the government, SO far AS depends,
under the constitution and laws, on
the chief executive of the nation.
The permanent pacitication of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the com
pIete protection of all its citizens in
the free enjoyment of all their con-
stitutional rights, is now the one sub
iect ia our pnblic affairs which all
thoughtful and patriotic citizens re-
gard as of supreme Importance.
MANY of the calamitous effects of
the tremendous revolution which has
passed over the Southern States still
remain. The immeasurable benefits
which will surely follow, sooner or
later, the hearty and generous accept
ance of the legitimate results of that
revolution, have not yet been realized.
Difficult and embarrassing questions
meet us at tic threshold of this sub
ject. The people of those States are
still impoverished, and the iuestimable
blessings of wise, honest and peaceful
local self f-government are 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 tine has come
when such government is the imper-
ative necessity required by all the
vailed interests, public and private,
Of these States. But it must not be
forgotten that only local government
which recognizes and maintains in
violate the rights of all is a true self
government With respect to the
two distinct races whose peculiar re-
lations to each other have brought
upon us the deplorable complications
and perplexities which exist i'll those
States, it must be a government which
guards the interests of both races
carefully aud equally; it must be a
government which submits Loyalty
and heartily to the constitution and
laws-the laws of the nation and the
laws of the States tllpmselves-accept- 1
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