New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-07
THE INAUaURAL ADDRESS.

marks the commencement of q new term Of
the presidential Office. Called to the duties
Of this great trust, proceed, In compliance
with usage, to announce some of the lead
ing principles on the subjects that now
chiefly engage the public attention, by
which 1t is my desire to be guided in the
discharge of these duties. shall not UNI
dertake to lay down iFrevocably principles
or measures of administration, but rather
to speak Of the motives which should
animate Us, and to suggest certain i'm
pOrtant ends TO be attained, in accordance
with our institutions, and essential to the
welfare of our country.
At the outset of the discussion which pre-
ceded the recent presidential election it
seemed to be fitting that l should fully
make known my sentiments in regard to
several of the important questions which
then appeared to demand the consideration
of the country.
Following the example and in part adopt
ing the language of one of my predecessors,
wish now, when every motive for mis-.
representation has passed away, to repeat
what was said before the election, trusting
that my couutrymen will cAndidly weigh
aud understand 1t, and that they will feel
assured that the sentiment declared in ac
cepting the nomination for the Presidency,
will be the standard of my conduct in the
path before me, charged as | now am with
| the grave and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration of the
| government, go far as depends, under the
| constitution and laws, on the chief execu-
| tive of the nation.
The permanent pacifcation Of the coun-
| try upon such principles and by such meas
ures 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 oil
/ thoughtful and patriotic citizens regard as
i of supreme Importance.
4 a Les, fNrrra aefo "a Nf he ro
mendous revolution which has passed over
the Southern States still remain. The i'm
L measurable benefits which will surely fol-
| low, sooner or later, the hearty and gener
GUS acceptance Of the legitimate results of
| that revolution, have not yet been realized.
/ d .fioult and embarrassing questions meet
us ct the threshold of this subject. The
/ people of those States are still impover-
ished, and the lneetimabie blessings Of
wise, honest and peaceful local selfgovern-
msnt are not fully enjoyed.
Whatever difference Of opinion may exist
az to the cauee of this condition of things,
the fact is clear that in the progress OF
events, the time has come when such gov
eminent is the imperative necessity re-
| duired by all the varied interests, public
and private, of these States. But it must
not be forgotten that only local govern
ment which recognizes and maintains in
violate the rights of all ia true self gov
eminent. With respect to the two distinct
races whose peculiar relations to each
other have brought upon us the deplorable
complications and perplexitiee which exist
in those States, 1t must be government
which guards the interests of both races
carefully and equally; ii must be q govern
-ment which submits Loyalty and heartily to
the constitution and the laws-the laws Of
the nation and the laws of the States them
selves-acoeptiDR and obeying faithfully
the whole constitution, as It Is. Resting
upon this sure and substantial foundation,
the superstructure Of beniheent local gov
ernments can be built up, and not other
wise.
In furtherance of such obedience to the
letter and the spirit of the constitution,
and in behalf of all that its attainment i'm
plies, all so-called party interests lose their
apparent Importance; and party ties may
well be permitted to fade into insight
canoe.
The question we have to consider for the
immediate welfare of those States OF the
Union il the question of government or nc
government-of social order and all the
peaceful industries, of the happiness that
belong to it, or a return to barbarism. 1t
is q question in which every citizen OF the
nation is deeply interested, and with re-
spect to which we ought not to be, in q
partisan sense, either Republicans or Dem
. | ocrats, but fellOw-eitizeDs and fellOw-men
, in respect to which the interests of a com
mon country and common humanity are
dear.
) The sweeping revolution of the entire
labor system Of large portion Of our eoun
try, and the advance of 1000 600 Of people
from q condition of servitude to that o
7 | citizenship, upon an equal footing witt
= their former masters, could not occur with
out presenting problems of the gravest mo
| ment to be dealt with by the emaneipateG
! race, by their former masters and by tn
/ general government--the author of the ac
/. Of emancipation. That it was wise, Jus
and providential act, fraught with good TO
all concerned, is now generally comedies
d throughout the country; that moral obi
> gation rests upon the national government
"a employ It's constitutional power and In
fiuence to establish the rights Of the peopl
! It has emancipated, and to protect them i
the enjoyment of those rights when the,
are iniriuged or assailed, is also general.
admitted.
9 The evils which aff1ict the Souther
i States can only be removed or remedied b
) the united and harmonious efforts of bot
y races, actuated by motives of mutual syn
i patty and regard; and while in duty bound
Y and fully determined TO protect the right
p Of all by every constitutional means at IN
, disposal of my administration, am slI
o cerely anxious to use every legitimate II
J. iluence in favor of honest and effectiv
% local self-goVernment, as the true source {
those States for the promotion of the col
tentment and prosperity of their citizen
) In the effort / shall make to accomplis
! this purpose / ask the cordial cooperate
l. of all who cherish interest in the welfare
% the country, trusting that party ties an
/ the prejudice of race will be freely su
n rendered in behalf of the great purpose
V be accomplished in the work Of restoriu
q the South.
It is not the political situation alone thu
y merits attention; the material developmei
- Of that section Of the country has been a
!, rested by the eocial and political reyolutlt
= I. through which it has passed. and now meet
r and deserves the conBiderate care of the n
20 tional government within the just liml
y preecribed BY the constitution and wise pu
AZ fie economy. But as the basis of all pro
2 perity for that, as well rs tor every 9th
o part Of the country, lies the improvemel
Of the intellectual and moral condition
p. the people.
Universal suffrage should rest upon un
+, versal education. To this end liberal al
\. permanent provision should be made for Il
q. support Of free schools by the State Cover
4, ments, and. If need be, supplemented !
legitimate aid from the national authorit
- Let me assure my eountrymen of Z
- Southern States that it ia my earnest desi
III to regard and promote their truest int
q ests--the interests Of the white and OF t
- y colored people, both and equally, and
mt forth my best efforts in behalf Of cil
policy which will forever wash out in o
u / political affairs, the color line, and the d
y finetlon between North and South, to q
~ end that we may have not merely unit
= North or g united South, but united oou
a try.