The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-03-09


ington City, in the presence of an i'm
mense concourse of people, delivered |
his inaugural address To be appreci-
ated every one should read the address.
At its conclusion, the oath of office was
administered by Chief Justice Waite.
Following is the
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIZENS We have as
sembled to repeat the public ceremonies
begun by Washington and observed by
all my predecessors, and now time
honored custom, which marks the COM
mencement OF new term of the Presi-
dental Office. Called to the duties of
this great trust, proceed in compliance
with this 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 be guided in
the discharge of these duties. | shall
not undertake to lay down irrevocably
the principles or measures of the admin
istration, but rather to speak of the
motives which should animate us. and
to suggest certain important ends to be
attained in accordance with our institu-
tions, and essential to the welfare of our
country.
AT the outset of the discussions which
preceded the recent Presidential cleo
ton, it seemed to be fitting that should
fully make known my sentiments III re-
gard to several of tie important ques-
tions which then appeared to demand
| the consideration OF the country. Fol
lowing the example and, in part, adopt
ing the language of one of my predeces-
sors, l wish now, when every motive
| for Misrepresentation has passed away,
to repeat what was said before election,
trusting that my eountrymen will can
didly weigh and understand it that
| they will feel assured that the sentI-
ments declared in accepting the nomi-
nation for the Presidency will be the
standard of my conduct in the path be-
fore me. Charged as / now am with
| the grave and difficult task of carrying
them out in the Presidential administra-
tion of the Governmc so far as de-
| pends under the constitution and law,
on the chief executive of the nation,
the permanent pacification of the coun-
tryJupon 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 all thoughtful and
patriotic citizens regard as of supreme
importance. Many of the calamitous
effects of the tremendous revolution
which has passed over the Southern
States still remain. The immeasurable
benefits which will surely follow, SOON
er or later, and the hearty and gener-
Gus acceptance OF the legitimate results
of the revolution have not yet been re.
allied. This difficult and embarrassing
question meets US at the threshold ot
this subject. The people of these States
are still impoverished and the inestima-
BILE blessing of wise, honest Gnd
peaceful local selfgovernment is not full
ly enjoyed. Whatever difference OF
opinion may exist as to the cause oi
this condition of things the fact is clear
that in the progress of events the time
has come when such government is the
imperative 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 seltgov.
ernment. With respect to the two dis
tinct races, whose peculiar relations te
each other have brought upon US the
deplorable complications anG perplexi-
ties which exist in those States, it must
be government which decides the in
terests of both races carefully and
equally it must be a government which
submits Loyalty and heartily to the con
stiIution and the laws of the nation, and
the laws of the States themselves ac
cepting aud obeying faithfully the whole
constitution as it is. Resting upon thi.
sure and substantial foundation, The
superstructure of beneticent local self
| governments can be built up, and no
otherwise. In the turtherance of suci
obedience to the letter and spirit of th'
constitution, and in belief OF all that it
attainment applies, all SO called party
interests lose their apparent importance
and party lines may all be permitted t.
fade into insignificance. The question
we have to consider for the immediate
welfare of those States of the Union j
the question OF government or no gov
ernment; OF the social order and tn,
peaceful industries, and all the happi
ness that belong to it, or a return e
barbarism. It is a question in whicl
every citizen of the nation is deeply in
terested, and with respect to which W
ought not to be in partisan sense eth
er Republicans or Democrats, but fel
: low citizens and fellow men, to whom
the interests of common country an
common humanity are near. Tn
, sweeping revolution of the entire
E LABOR SYSTEM
+ OF large portion of our country an
the advance of four millions of peopl
from the condition of servitude to tha
q of citizenship, upon an equal footin
: with their former masters, could not OF
cur without presenting problem of tn
gravest moment to be dealt with by th
: emancipated race, by their former MAJ
j tiers, and by the general government
Af - &1 &c