The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-10
THE ADDRESS.

ne 1OllOWlnS Ii Inc lnauSura! au-
dress of President Hayes:
FELLow-CITIZENs: We have assem-
bled TO repeat the public ceremonial
begun by Washington, observed by all
my predecessors, and now time-hon-
ored custom, which marks the COM
mencement of new term of the Presi-
dental Office. Called to the duties OF
this great trust, l proceed, in compll-
ance with usage, to announce some OF
the leading principles on the subjects
that now chiefly engage the public at
tention, by which it is my desire to be
guided in the discharge of those duties
l shall not undertake to lay down ire
vocably principles or measures of adj
ministration, but rather to speak of the
motives which should animate US and
to suggest certain important ends to be
attained in accordance with our insttu
tions and essential to the welfare of our
country.
At the outset of the discussion which
preceded the recent Presidential cleo
tons, it seemed to me fitting that
should fully make known my sentiments
in regard TO several of the important
questions which then appeared to de-
mand the consideration Of the country.
Following the example, and 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 country
men will candidlv weigh and under
stand it, and that they will feel assured
that the sentiments declared in accept
ing 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 adj
midstration of the Government so far
as depends, under the Constitution and
laws, on the Chief Executive of the
nation.
PACIFICATIoN OF THE COUNTRY
The permanent pacifcation of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the COM
plete protection of all it's citizens in the
free enjoyment of all their constitu-
tional rights, is now the one subject in
our public affairs which all thoughtful
and patriotic citizens regard as of su-
preme Importance. Many of the ca
lamltous effects of the tremendous revo-
luton which has passed over the South
onn Stotoc oti1l rap,oip Tho
urable benefits which will surely fol-
low, sooner or later, the hearty and
generous acceptance of the legitimate
results of that revolution have not yet
been realized. Difficult and embarrass-
ing questions meet US at the threshold
of this subject. The people of those
States are still impoverished, and the
inestimable blessing of wise, honest and
peaceful local selfgovernment 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 government is the i'm
perative necessity required by all the
varied interests, public and private, of
those States. But it must not be for
gotten that only local government
which recognizes and maintains invio-
late the rights of all is true selt-gov-
eminent. With respect to the two dis
tinct races whose peculiar relations to
each other have brought upon US the
deplorable complications and perplexi-
ties which exist in those States, it must
be government which guards the in
equally. 1t 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 obeying
faithfully the whole Constitution as it is.
Resting upon this sure and substan-
tial foundation, the superstructure Of
benefcent local governments can be
built up, and not otherwise In furth-
erance of such obedience to the letter
and the spirit of the Constitution, and
in behalf of all that it's attainment i'm
plies, all so-called party interests lose
their apparent Importance, and party
lines may we'll be permitted to fade into
insignifcance. The question we have
to consider for the immediate welfare of
those States of the Union is the ques-
ton Of government or no government
of social order and all the peaceful in
dustries and the happiness that belongs
to it, or return to barbarism. 1t is a
question in which every citizen of the
nation is deeply interested, and with
respect to which we ought not to be, in
partisan sense. either Republicans or
Democrats, but felow-ctizens, and fell
low-men, to whom the interests of