Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-10
President Hayes Inaugural Address.

President Hayes Inaugural Address.
FeLom-citigens We have assembled
to Z, repeat the public ceremonial began by
Washington, observed by all my prede-
ccssors and now time honorcd custom
which marks the commencement OF q
new term of the President Office,
GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
Called to the duties of the great trust,
! proceed IN compliance with usage 10
announce some OF the leading principles
In the subjects that now chiefly engage
the public attention by which II is my de-
those duties, | shall not undertake. 10
lay down irrevocably principles or mca-
snrcs Of administration. but rather 10
speak of the motives which should ami
mate us, and to suggest certain import
ant ends ia he attained in accordance
with our institutions and essential to the
wcllurc of our country. At the outset
of the discussions which preceded the
recent Presidential election, IL seemed TO
me lifting that | should fully make
known my sentiments in regard to SOW
cral Of the important questions which
then appeared to demand the consldera'
ton OF the country. Following the cN-
ample and in part adopting the language
ut 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 AS
su,cd that the sentiments declared in nc
ccpting the nomination for the Presidcn-
cy will be the standard OF my conduct in
the path before me, charged rs | am with
the grave and difficult task of carrying
them out in the practical administration
of the government, So tar rs depends I'M
der the constitution and laws on the chief
executive of the nation.
PACiFICATION or TIE COUNTRY.
The permanent pactication of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the COM
plcte protection of all its citizens in
the free enjoyment of all their Consti-
tutional rights is now the one subject in
our public affairs which all thoughtful
and patriotic citizens regard rs of SUI
prcmc Importance. Many of the calam-
ltous effects of the tremendous rcvolu-
ton which has passed over the South
ern states still remain. The immcasur-
able benefits which will surely follow
sooner or later the hearty and generous
acceptance of the Legitimate results of
that revolution have not yet been realiZ-
ed. Difficult and embarrassing ques-
tons meet us ut the threshold OF this sub
iect. The people of those states are still
impoverished, and the inestimabc bless
ing of wise, honest and peaceful local
self government is not fully enjoyed.
Whatever difference of opinion may eX-
list us to the cause OF this condition of
things, the fact is clear that in the pro-
gress of events the time has come when
such government is the imperative ne
cessity required by all the varied inter-
ests, public and private, of those states.
But it must not be forgotten that only Il
local government which recognizes and
maintains inviolate the rights Of all, is Il
true selt-govcrnment
CHARACTER OF THE GOVERNMENT.
With respect to the two distinct races,
whose peculiar relations to each other
have brought upon us the deplorable
complications and perpleXties which
exist in those states, it must be a gov
eminent which guards the interests of
both races carefully and equally. 1t
must be Il government which submits
loyalty and heartily to the constitution
and the laws of the nation, and the laws
of the states themselves. accepting and
obcying faithfully the whole constitution
as it is. Resting upon this sure and sub
stantial foundation the superstructurc of
beneiicent local government can be built
up and not otherwise. In lurtherance
of such obedience to the letter and the
spirit of tho constitution, and in behalf
OF all that its attainment implies. all So
called party interests lose their apparent
importance, and party lines may well be
permitted to fade into insgnilicance.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The question we have to consider for
the immediate welfare of those states of
the Union, is the question of government
or no government, OF general order and
all the peaceful industries and the hap
piness that belong to it, or a return to
barbarism. 1t is Il question in which
every citizen of the nation is deeply in
terested, and with respect to which we
ought not to be in Il partisan sense either
or Democrats, but fellow
men to whom the in lcrests Of II common
country and common humanity are
dear. The sweeping revolution OF the
entire labor system of a large portion OF
our country and the advance Of four mil
lions of people from Il condition of ser
vitude to that of citizenship upon in equal
footing with their former masters, could
not occur without presenting problems
Of the gravest moment, to be dealt with
by the emancipated race, by their former
masters and by the general government,
thc author of the act of emancipation.
That it was II wise, just and providential
,ct fraught with good for all concerned
IS now conceded throughout the country.
That Il moral obligation rests upon the
national government to employ its con-
power and influence to estab-
ish the rioht of the people it has eman-