Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-09
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF
PRESIDENT HAYES,

Fellow C1T1zENs:-We have as
'embled to repeat the public cermo-
NAL begun by Washington, observed
by all my predecessors, and now an
honored custom which marks the be-
ginning Of new term in the Presi.
Dental office. Called to the duties
of this great trust, l proceed in com
phi ance with usage to announce some
o. the leading principles on the sub
jects that now chiefly engage the
public attention, and by which it is
my desire to be guided in the dis
charge Of those duties. I shall not
undertake to Lay down irrevocable
principles or measures of administra-
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 vel
fare Of our country.
AT THE OUTSET
of the discussions which preceded
the recent Presidential election, it
seems to me fitting that should
make known my sentiments in re-
gard to several of the imp' rtant
questions which then appeared to de-
mand the consideration OF the coun-
try. Following the example, and in
part adopting the language of one of
my predecessors, wish now, when
every motive OF misrepresentation
has passed away, to repeat what was
said before the election, trusting that
my countrymen will candidly weigh
and understand it, and that they will
feel assured that the sentiments ut
tered in accepting the nomination for
the Presidency will be the standard
OF my conduct in the path before me.
Charged,as l now am, with the grave
and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration
of the governmental far rs depends,
under the constitution and laws on the
chief executive of the nation.
THE PERMANENT PACIFIcATIoN
Of the country, upon such principles
and by such measures as will secure
the complete protection of all its
citizens in the free enjoyment Of all
their constitutional rights, is now
the one subject in our public affairs
which thoughtful and patriotic citi
zens regard as of supreme Importance
Many Of the calamitous effects of the
tremendous revolution which has
passed over the Southern States still
remain. The Unreasonable benefits
which will surely follow, sooner or
later, the hearty and generous &C
ceptance 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 people of those
States are still impoverished and the
inest;mable blessings of a wise, hon
est and peaceful
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT
are not fully enjoyed. Whatever
difference ofopinion may exist as tc
the cause of this condition Of things,
the fact is clear that in the progress
of events the time has come when
such a government is an imperative
necessity, required by all the varied
interests, public and private, of those
States.
But it must not be forgotten that
only a local selt-goyernment which
recognizes and maintains inviolate
the rights Of all is true self.goyern
ment with respect to the two dis
tinct races whose peculiar relations
to each other, brought upon us the
deplorable complications and per.
plexities which exist in those States.
1t must be agovernment which guarda
the interests of both races carefully
and equally. 1t must be govern
ment which submits loyalty and
heartily to the constitution and laws
the laws of the nation, and
THE LAWS OF THE STATES
themselves, accepting and obeying
faithfully the whole constitution as
it is. Resting upon this sure and
substantial foundation, the super
structure of beneficial local govern.
ment can be built up, and not other.
wise. In furtherance Of such obedl
ence to the letter and spirit of the
constitution, and in behalf of all tina,
its attainment implies, all so-called
party interests lose their apparent
importance, and partyism may well
be permitted to fade into ipsignit
canoe. The question we have to
consider tor the immediate welfare
Of those States Of the Union, is the
question of government or no gov
eminent; of social order and all the
peaceful industries and the happi.
ness that belongs to it, or return to
-barbarlsm. 1t is question in which
every citizen Of the nation is deeply
interested, and with respect to which
we ought not to be, in partisan
sense, neither Republicans CT Demo
Gratis, but fellow citizens and fellow
men, to whom the interests of our
common country and common hu.
lnanity are dear. The
SWEEPING REVOLUTION
of the entire labor system of a large
portion of our country, and tho ad
vance Of four million people from a
condition Of servitude to that of citi.
zenship upon an equal footing with
their former masters, could not oc.
cur without presenting problems of
the greatest moment to be dealt with
by the emancipated race, by their
former masters, and by the general
Government. That the act Of eman.
cipation was wise, just and provi-
dental act, fraught with good to all
concerned, is now generally conced-
ed. A moral obligation rests upon
the National Government to employ
its constitutional power and Influence
to establish the rights of the people
it has emancipated, and to protect
them in the enjoyment Of those rights
when they are infringed or assailed;
this is also generally conceded. The
evils which affllct the Southern States
can only be removed or remed;ed by