Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-03-13
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION.

R. B. Hayes was formally inaugurated
President of the United States on Monday Of
LAST week. The members Of the Supreme
Court of tho United States were all present
except Judges Clifford and Field. There
we're, perhaps. as many as dozen Democratic
members of the Senate and three or four
Democrats of the House of Representatives
present. President Hayes delivered his in.
augural address at II o'clock. from the steps
Of the Capitol, in the presence of 20, 600 PEG
pie It was very guarded and pointed He
favors resumption of specie payment, civil
service reform, and one six-year term of tho
Presidency. Considerable space is devoted to
the condition of the South. lie says:
alt is a question in which every ci,izen of
the nation Is deeply interested. and with re-
spect to which We ought not to be. in par
tissn sense, either Republicans or Democrats,
hut fcllpw-citizens aud fellow men, to whom
the Interests of common country and con-
mon humanity are dear, and while duty bound
and fully determined to protec. the rights of
all, by every constitutional means. at the dis
posal of my administration. | sm sincerely
anxious to use every legitimate influence in
favor of honest and efficient local self gov
eminent in the important work of restoring
the South.
"ls is cot only the political situation that
merits attention. Tho material development
of that section of country has been arrested
by the social and political revolution through
which it has passed, aud now needs and de-
serves the cousdersto care of the national
government, within the just limits prescribed
by the constitution and wise public economy.
But st the basis Of all prosperity for that
we'll as for every other part of the country.
lies the improvement of the intellectual and
moral condition of the people. Universal
suffrage aono rests upon universal education
ITO this end liberal permanent provision
should be made for the support of free schools
by the State governments. and. if need be.
supplemented by legitimate aid from the
tiVnal authority.
''Let me assure my countrymen of the
Southern States that it is my earnest desire
to regard and promote the truest interests OF
the white and of the colored people. both
equally, and to put forth my best efforts, in
behalf of civil policy which will forever
wipe out, in our political affairs the color line
and distinction between North and South, to
the end that We may not have merely united
North or a united South, but a united country
The President of the U. s., OF necessity,
owes his election 10 Office TO the suffrage and
zealous laburs of political party, aud regards
as of vIt~l Importance the principles of their
party organization, but he should strive TO be
always mindful of the fact that he who serves
his party best is he who serves his country
best.
81 call upon you-Scnators. Representa-
tives, Judges, fellow citizens. here and every
where. to unite with me in an earnest effort
10 secure to our country the blessings. not
only OF national prosperity. but of justice,
peace and union. A union depending not
upon the constraint Of force, but upon the
loving devotion of free people, and that all
thinga may be so ordered and settled upon
the best and surest foundations, that peace
and happiness, truth. justice, religion aud
Pie'y may be established among US for gen
crntinns"