The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-04-07
PRESIDENT HAYES.


@~f~1p AAC pADl1C CEFGIlttDIa
begun by Washington, observed bv 81
my predecessors and now a time honore,
custom, which marks the commencement
OF q new term to the presidential Office
Called to the duties of this great trust,
proceed, in compliance with usages, t.
announce some of the leading principles
on the subject that now chiefly engages
pubic attention, by which it is nv desire
70 be guided in the discharge of these
duties. | shall -ot undertake to lay
down ~irrevocs5ly principles or measures
of administration, but rather to speak O.
matters which should animate us to s1p.
gest certain important ends to be at
tanned in accordance with our institu,
tlons and essential to the welfare of oul
country. At the outset of the discus.
sions which preceded the recent presi,
Dental election it seemed to me fttinp
that | should fully make known NV sen:
Aments in regard to several of the most
important questions which then appeared
to demand the consideration of the u
try. Following the example, and in some
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 countrymen
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
the standard of my conduct in the path
before me, charged as / am nov, with
the grave and difficult task of carving
them out in the practical administration
Oh the government, so far as depends, un-
der the constitution and laws, on the chief
executive of the nation. The permanent
p~acihcation 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 the one subject
in our public affairs which all thought
full and patriotic citizens regard as of
supreme Importance. Many of the ca
lamitous effects of the tremendous revo-
luton which has passed over the south
ern states still remain. The immeasura-
bic benefits which will surely follow,
sooner or later, the hearty and generous
acceptance OF the legitimate results of
that revolution have not yet been real
lied. Difficult and embarrassing ques-
tions meet us st the threshold of this
subject. The people of these states are
still impoverished, and the inestimable
blessing of wise, honest and peaceful
local selfgovernment is not fully en-
joyed. Whatever difference Of opinion
may exist as to the cause of this con-
dition of things, the fact is clear that
In the progress of events the time has
come when such government is an i'm
peratlve necessity required byNall the
varied interests. public and private, of
these states, but 1t must not be forgotten
that only q local government which rec
ognized and maintained inyiolate the
rights of all, is q true self-government,
vita respect to the two distinct races
whose peculiar relations to each other
having brought upon us deplorable COM
bplications and perplexities which exist
in these states; it must be a government
who decides the interest of both races
carefully and equally; it must be a gov
eminent which submits Loyalty and
heartily to the constitution and 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 sub
stantiaf foundation the su~perstructure OF
benefcent local governments can be
built up, and not otherwise, in further
ance of such obedience to the letter and
the spirit of the constitution, and in be-
hall of all that Its attainment implies.
All so-called party interest, lose their APP
parent Importance, and party lines may
we'll be permitted to fall into insignifi-
Cance. The question we have to con-
states of the 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 a re-
turn to barbarian. 1t is a question in
whs9heve citizen OF the nation is deeply
interested, and with respect to which we
ought not Ia be, in q partisan sense,
either republicans o4Inasmocrats, but
eIIow-citizens and fellow-men, to whom
the interests of the comma country and
common humanity are dear. The sweep
ing revolution of the entire labor system
of a large portion OF our country, and the
advance of four millions of people from
acondition of servitude to thatcof citi-
zenship upeT an equal foating with their
formek masters, could not occur without
presenting problems of the gravest mo-
ments to be dealt with by an emancipated
o by their former masters and by the
general government, the author Of the
act of emancipation. That it was 8 wise,
Just and providential act, fraught with
good for all concerned, is D gem
orally conceded throughout the whole
country, and that q moral obligation
rests upon the national government to
employ its constitutional power and in
nuence to establish the rights of people
Ii hiss ehsancipated; to protect them in
the enjoyment of those rights when they
are infrinl ed or aasailed is also generally
admitted. The evils which afiict the
southern states can only be removed or
remedied by the united and harmonious
efforts of both races, actuated by motives
of mutual sympathy and regard; and
while in duty bound and fully deter
mined to protect the rights of all by
every constitutional means at the dis
posal of my administration, / am sin
cerely anxious to use every legitimate in
Huence In favor of honest and efficient
a5cal government SIS the true resources Of
those states for the promotion of content.
nnent and prosperity Of their citizens.
In this Effort I shall make to accomplish
this purpose 7 ask the cordial co-opera-
ton Of an who Cherish an interest in the
welfare Of the country, trusting that
party lies and prejudice of race will be
freely surrendered in behalf of the great
purpose To be accomplished in the i'm.
portaI1t work Of restoration Of the south.