The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-03-07
president HAYES INAUGU.
RAJ.
WA.nINGToN, March, 5th, 1877.


x x
FELLOW CITIZENS: We have assembled
To repeat the public ceremonial began by
Washing ton, observed by all my predeces-
sors aud now a uime-honored custom which
marks the commencement OF "A new term OF
the Presidential office. Called to the dutie-
of This great trust. proceed in compliance
with usage To announce some of the leaning
principles on the suhjrcts thar now chiefly
en- gage the public attention by which il il
my desire to be gIided. Ia the discharge OF
these duties. l shall not undertake To las
down, irFeVocably, principles or measures
of administration. bat rather Il speak ct the
motives whieh should animate us, and 10
suggest certain important ends 10 be at
tanned in accordance with our institutions,
and essential to the welfare of our country.
Attic outset of the discussions which pre-
cedrd the recent Presidential election, it
seems To be fitting that l should fully make
known my sentiment In regard TO several OF
the important questions which then appear
Ell to demand tile consideration OF the coun-
try.
Following the example, and in part adopt
;ng the lanS uage OF one of my predecessors,
[ wish nov " hen every motive for misap-
prehen- ion has passed away, % repeat What
was said before tn. election, trusting that
my country men viii cordially weigh and
understand it, and that they will feel assured
that the sentiments declared in accepting lhe
nomination for the Presidency will be the
standard OF my conduct in the path before
me, cLarg, q as | now am with the grave and
difficult task OF carrying them out Ia the
practical "A imiEi-tratiOn OF the government Il,
so far as urptnds under The Constitution
and laws upCn the Chief Executive OF the
Nation
The y .rmanent pacihcation of our coun-
try upon such principles and by such IN cas-
urts a, wi | secure complete protection Of
All III ciiiZeus in the free eni yment OF all
their constitutional rights. is now ore sub
iect in our political affairs which all
thoughtful aud patriotic citizens regard as
of supreme imp prtance. Many of II a Gala
mituuuS effects of the tremendous revulu-
ton which has passed over the Southern
States still rema II the Immune rable benefits
which will surely follow, sooner or later,
tile hearty and the 2eifrrous acceptance of
ihe legitimate results OF that revolution
have not vet been realized.
ID. tlicult ahd embarra sing questions meet
us at the threshold of this subject. The
people OF TIA sc : atrs are sti ! Impoverished,
and the ae>timahle blessings OF vi e, hon
not I us enjoy ed. Whatever differences of
opni on may exist as tC the cause of this
condition OF thing, the fact j. clear that in
the progress OF events the time has come
when such governments are an imperative
necessity required by all ihe varied Interests,
public aud private, of these States, but it
must not be forgotten that only "A local gov
eminent which recognizes and maintains
IuNlOIdUs the rights OF all, Is Il true sell gov
eTument. With respect 10 the two distinct
races whose peculiar relations to each other
haVc brought upon Us the deplOrdble COM
plications and perpleXIties which exist in
those States, IL must be "A government which
guards the interests 81 both races careful Y
and equally, il must be government which
submits loJ ally aud heartily To the Con-ti-
tuition and the laws, the laws of the National
Government and The laws Of the States
themselves. accepting and Obey ing aiih-
fully the whole constitution as it j. Rest
ing upon this sure aud substantial foundu-
don, the superstIuct of beuiflcent local
government can be bulls. In turtherauce
of such Obedience to the letter and the spirit
of the Constitution. aud in behalf of all that
its att aiulnenJ implies all SO-callpd patty
interests Lose their apparent importance,
and party lines may well be permitted to
iIde mo ias2niticauce. The question we
have to consider for the immediate welfare
of those States Of the Union, is the question
of goy nment, or no government, OF social
order and all the peaceful indus ries, OF the
happiness that belong to it, orr return To
barbarsm. 1t is q question in which every
citizen OF the nation Is deeply interested,
and with pect To which we ought nos to
be, in "A partisan sense, either Republicans
or Dem ocrats. Bat, fellow citizens, and
feliow-men, To whom the intere-ts OF "A com
mon country and Il common humanity are
dear, the sweeping revolution of the entire
labor system OF large portion OF our CuiIn-
try, and t}e advance of tour millions OF peO-
pie from condition OF serYitude to that of
citizenship upon an equal footing with their
former masters could not occur without
presenting problems Of tie greatest mo-
meht, TO be dealt with by the emancipatcd
race, by their former masters, and hy the
GoYtrument-the author of the act OF eman-
cipation; that it was a wise, lust aud
proVidentlal act, traught with good fpI
all concerned throughout the country.
and that a moral obligation rests upon
the National Government To employ its
constitutional power and influence TO
establish the rights of the p oplc it has
emancipate !, AMI % project them in the
enjoyment OF those rights when they are
InIringed or assaulted. is also generally adj
mitted. The evils which all ct tie South
ern st itcs can only be removed or reno "a
10y the united aud harmonious Cf,orts nj
ooth races, actuated by motives ot ,,,,t,,al
sympathy aud regard, and ,LiIo a., ~,
pound a"d iuiIy deterr med to protec: mn.
80 "a az py cry constitutional means
~ Tue Gisl'o 81 o + my administration. | am
anxious to use every legitimate
-.dence in favor OF honest and effective
local self government rs the trLe source of
those States for the permanent content aud
prosperity OF their cltiZ ms. In the effort
snail make to accomplish this purpose |
ASK Jhe cordial cooperation of all who cher
tsh an Interest in the welfare OF the country
trusting that party ties and the prpiudicGs
OF race viii be freely surrendered in behalf
OF lhe great purpose to be accomplished I'M
me important work of restoring the south
It l. not the political situation alone that
merits attic ntion; material development OF
That section of the country has been ar
rested by the social and political revolution
through which it has passed, and now needs
ana deserves the con-iderate care Of the
NATIONAL Government within the lust linn
It's prescribed-by the Constitution, and wise
puDIlc economy but as the basis OF all pros-
perlty for that well as for every other
part part OF tne country, lies in the Improvement
oi the h,elleclAai and moral condition Of
the people. Universal suffrage shouId resi-
upon universal education. To this end lih
eral and permanent provision should lie
haue Tor the support of free schools by the
state governments, and if need be suDple-
mented by Legitimate legislation from tie
National authority. Let me assure nv
countrymen of the Southern states thar II
= my earnest desire To regard and nromote
their interest, the interest of the white and
the coiored people both, and equally, and TO
pun Iotth my best efforts i'm behalf of a
civil policy. which will forever wash ONT of
our polltica affairs the color line and the
distinction between North and South. m
tue ehd that we may not have merely a |
country. '''''
ask the attention Of the public 70 tho
permanent necessity of reform in our ci,gii
SINlcei reform not merely IA to certain 4
douSes ana prActires ~ so-called official 4
pa "a, , ~ 4ket which to have the sanction \
Oh usage IN the several departments of |
our Government, but u change i'm no
ys'em OF appointments itself. a reform
thorough, radical and complete n retnrr 80 b
the principles aud practices of the foundarS
W. .'iG GioVeIhmegt' They never expected
nor desired nom public,oificers any Dsrtisan
service they meant that public oaicers
shouIu owe their whole services To the Go,,
eminent, and TO the people: they meant
' 1'ra' lne olhcer should be secure in this ten
ure as long as his personal charoeter 70
ha