The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-07
President Hayes.
HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIZENS: We have assem-
blcd tn repeat the public ceremonial be-
Gun by Washington, observed by all my
predecessors and now y tinie-honorcd GUS
tom, which marks 4 new term OF, the
Presidential office. Called to the duties
Of this greatest trust, | proceed, in compli-
anrr with Usage, to announce some OF the
leading principles on the subjects that now
chiefly engage the public attention, by
which it is my desire to I've guided in the
discharge Of The duties. | shall not I'M
dcrtallc to lay down i~rrevocably princi-
plcS or measures of my administration,
but rather to speak of the motives which
should animate us, n to suggest certain
important ends to be attained in accord
ancr with our institutions, and essential
to the welfare Of Il country.
EFFECT OF THE REVOLUTION.
At the outset of the discussion which
preceded the recent Presidential election,
it seemed to me fitting that / should make
known my sentiments in regard to sever
al of the important questions which then
appeared to demand the consideration Of
the country. Following the example,
and, in part, adopting the language Of one
of my predecessors, ] wish now, whcn
every motive for misrepresentation has
passed away, to repeat what was SAIL be-
fore tho election, that my count ymcn
will candidly weigh and understand it,
and that they will feel assured that the
sentiments declared in accepting the
nomination for the Presidency, will be
tho 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 Chicf EN-
ccutive Of the nation. The permanent
modification 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 II sub
ject in our public affairs which all
Thoughtful and patriotic citizens regard
us of supreme importance. Many OF the
calamitOuS effects of the tremendous rev.
olution which has passed over the South
err States still remain. The immcasllra-
die benefits which will surely follow,
sooner or later, the hearty and generous
acceptance of the Legitimate results Of
the revolution, have not yet been real
lied.
THE INTERESTS OF BOTH RACES.
Difficult and embarrassing questions
meet us ut the threshold of this subject.
| The people of those States arc still i'm
poverished, and the incStimablc blessings
of wise, honest and poacoablc local self
government is not fully enjoyed. What
ever 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 good govern
mcnt is the Imperative necessity required
bv all the varied interests, public and
private, Of those States. But it must not
be forgotten that only a legal government
which recognizes II maintains inviolate
the rights of all, is n true sclf-Sovcrnmcnt
with respect to the two II distinct races,
whose peculiar relations to each other
have brought upon us the deplorablc COM
plications and pcrplexitics which exist in
these States. 1t must DO q Government
| which guards the interests of both races
carefully and equally; it must he a gov
ily to the Constitution and lawS-tho laws
of the nation and the laws of the States
themselves, accepting and obcying faith
fully the whole Constitution is it is. Rest
ing upon this sure II substantial fOun-
dation. the supcrstructuro of beneticent
local governments can be built up, and
not otherwise. In furtherance of such
obedience to the letter and spirit Of the
Constitution, and in behalf of all that it
implies, all so-callcd party interests lose
their apparent Importance, and party
lines may well DE permitted to fade into
insigniticance.
QUESTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED.
NIL .,o+;,, ,.o b,xo 4o on,u;lor ;or
the immediate welfare of the States ofthe
Union is the question of Government or
no Government, Of social order and all
the peaceful industries, and the happiness
that belong to it, or q return to barDar-
ism. 1t is a question in which every cit
iZcn of the nation is deeply Interested,
and with respect to which VIC ought not
to be, in q partisan sense, either Republic
cans or Democrats, but fellow citizens and
fellow men, to whom the interests Of a
common country and a common humane
ty are dear.
OCA SELF-GOVEREMENTS
The sweeping revolution of the entire
labor system of Il large portion of our
country, and the advance of !, 1000, 600 of
people from Il condition of Servitude to
hat of citizenship, upon an equal footing
viii lllCll NV lil'hptSl'J 'ti W. w
cur without presenting problems of the
~ravr>t moment. to be dealt with by the
cmancipatcd race, by their former mas
tcrS and by tho General Government. the
author Of the act of emancipation. That
it was Il wise, just and ~providential act,
fraught with good for all concerned. is
now generally conceded throughout the
country. That Il moral obligation rests
upon the National Government to employ
its constitutional power and Influence to
establish the rights Of the people it has
cmancilatcd and to protect them in the
enjoyment Of those rights, when they are
infrilIgcd or assaulted, is also generally adj
mittcd. The OWLS which afllict the South
crn States cal only he removed or relnc-
died by the united and harmonious efforts
of both races, actuatcd by motives of lnu-
tual sympathy and regard and while in
duty bound and fully determined to pro-
tevt the rights Of all, by every constitu-
tional means at the disposal Of my adj
ministration, l am sincerely anxious to
use every legitimate influence in favor Of
honest and efficient local self govern
mcnt, as the true rc$ourcc of those States
for the promotion of the cOntentment
and prosperity Of their citizens. In the
effort l shall make to accomplish this
purpose, | ask the cordial corporation OF
all who cherish an interest in the welfare
of tile country; trusting that party ties
and the prejudice Of race will be freely
surrendered in behalf of the great pur-
pose to be accomplish ID.
BALLOT AND EDUCATION.
In the important work of restoring the
South, it is no the political situation
alone that merits attention. The mate
rial dcyclopemcnt of that section of the
country has been arrested by the social
and political revolution through which it
has passed, and now needs and deserves
the conSideratc care Of the National Gov
eminent, within the Just limits prcscrih-
cd by the Constitution and wise public
economy. But at the basis of all prosper
ty for that as we'll as for every other part
of the country, lies the Improvement Of
the intellectual and moral condition Of
the people. Universal suffrage should
rest upon universal education. To this
end liberal and permanent provision
should be made for the support of free
schools, by the State GOvcrlilncnts, and,
if needed, supplemented by legitimate aid
from National authority.