Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-03-13
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.


Washington, observed by all my prede.
cessors, 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
in cumpliauce with usage, TO announce
some OF the leaCing principles in regard
% the subjects that now chiefly engage
the pubic attention. by which il is my
desire TO be guided Ia lhe discharge oi
those duties. shall not undertake 10
lay down irrevC cable principles or meas
u5ts Ui administration but ra'her 10
speak OF the motives vi hich should ami
male US, and to suggest certain important
ends 10 be aitained'in accordance with
our institutions and essential TO The well
fare Of our country.
At the outset of the discussions which
preceded the recent Presidential election,
il seemed TO me fitting that should fully
make known ny sentiments in regsrd TO
several oi the important questions which
then appeared 10 demand the considera-
m OF the country. Following the OK
ample and in part adopting the language
OF my predecessors. / wish now, when
every IN live for misrelr, sentation has
passed away to repeat what was said be-
fore The election trusting that my country
men will carefully weigh and understand
it, and that they will feel assured that the
sentiments declared in accepting the
nominai alton for the Presidency will be the
standard Of my conduct in the path be-
fore me, charged, as | now am, with the
grave and difficult task OF carrying them
oul in the practical administration of the
government 50 far as depends under the
constitution and law on the chief exc Gu
tive of the nation.
TIE SOUTHERN POLICY.
The permanent paciication of the
country upon such principles and by such
u, asures as will secure The complete pro-
lection of all its citizens in the Tree en-
li,yment OF all their constitutional rights,
Is now the one subject in our public
allaGs. which all thoughtful and patriotic
cit zens regard as ol supreme Importance.
Many Of the calamiious effects of the
uemeuGous revolution which has passed
over The Southern States. still remain
The immeasLrabie benefit which will
surely follow sooner or later, the hearty
and generous acceptance OF the legitimate
results OF that revolution, has not yet
been realized. Difficult and embaIrdss-
ing questions meet us al the Threshold
OF tbs subject. The people OF those
States are sill impoverished, and the in-
eslimable blessing OF wise, honest and
peaceful local sell-government IS not
fully eniytd. Whatever difference oil
opinion may exist. as 10 the cause OF this
condition OF things, the Tact IS clear that
in The progress OF events tie time has
come when such government Is the im-
peyative necessity required by all the
varied int, TESTS, pubic and private, OF
those States. But it must not be forgot
ten hat only local government which
r,cogn.z-s aud maintains iuyiolate the
lights OF all. j. true seli-goverDmeut.
With resp,c. 10 the Two distinct races,
whose peculiar relations 10 each other
have brought upon us the deplorable
comp,catiouS and ptIp'eXiues which eX-
ist in those States. il must be a govern
ment whicD guards the interests OF both
races carefully and equally. II must be
y Government which submits lOyally ana
heartily lO-he constitution and the laws,
the laws O. the nation and the laws ol
the States themselves, accepting and
obey log faithfully the whole constitution
d. it is. Rsting upon this sure and sub
staulial foundation, the s1peIstructure OF
beneiceut local governments can be
built up and not otherwise. 10 further
apce of such obtdieGce 10 the letter aud
lhe spirit of the constitution, and in be-
half OF all that lis attain lment implies, ell
so-called party interests lose their appar-
,ut Importance and party lines may well
he uerIpilied 10 fade into insignticance.
The question We have 10 consider Tor The
mint diate welfare OF those States OF The
lTpi1n. i, The question OF government or
no Government, of civil order and all the
veacelul industries and happiness that
nelonys TO il, or return 10 barbarlsm.
l. is a question in which every citizen OF
The nation is deeply interested. and with
rt.pect TO when we ought not TO be ln
a partisan sense, either Republicans or
Democrats, but fellow citizens and fellow
men, to whom the interests OF o common
country and common humanity are
dear.
The sweeping revolution OF the entire
labor system Of large portion OF our
country, and the advance OF four
n illions OF people from condition Of
seryitude 10 lha. of citizenship, upon an
equal footing with their former masters
could not occur without presenting prob
lens of lhe gravest moment TO be dealt
with by the emancipated race, By their
former masters, and by the general gov
ernment, the author OF the act oil emancl-
patton. That il was wise, Jlst and
act, fraugb, with good for
all concerned. is now generally conceded
throughout the country. That mora!
obligation rests upon the national gov
ernment to employ its constitutional
power and influence TO establish Inc
rights OF The people II has emanclpaled
and 10 protect them in The enjoy ment ol
those rights when they are inlTinged or
assailed. is also generally admitted. The
evils which fllct the Southern States can
only be removed or remedied by the
united and harmonious efforts OF both
ruces. actuated by motives OF mutual
sympathy and regard; and n lille III duty
bouud and fully determined 10 prctecL
tie rights OF a by every constitutions
means at The disposal OF my administra-
tiop. am sincerely anxious to use every
legitimate iLfuepce in iavor oi honest
and efficient local seil-government as The
true resource Of those states for the pre-
motion of the conientment and prosperity
of their ci izens. 10 The effort l shall
make to accomplish this purpose ask
the cordial cooperation oil all who cherish
an interest in the welfare OF the country.
- .I.. .ia-, MI ihn rreinlica