The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-10
THE INAUGURATION,
(coxrIxrFp FROM OUR SUPPLEMENT

THE INAUGURATi0N.
CONFINED FROM OUR SUPPLEMENT-
Jealous laGols Of political party, the men,
beIs Of which cherish with ador and re-
gard as of essential Importance the prinCi-
pies of their party organization, but we
should strive to be always mindful of the
fact that lie serves his party best who serves
the country best. In furrhefance of the
reform we seek, and IN other important
respects, a change of great Importance |
recommend an amendment to the CouSti-
tuition prescribing term of six years for
he Presidential office and forbl ddng u re
election.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
With respect to The financial condition Of
the country, shall not attempt an extended
history oi the embarrassment and prOStra
ton which We have suffered during the past
three years. The depression III all our
varied commercial and manufacturing in
telests thronghout the country, which be
gan in September. 1873. still continues. 1t
is very gratifying. however, To be able TO
say that there are Indications all around MS
of coming change to prosperous times.
Upon the currency question, intimately .
connected as 1t is with this topic, may be
permitted to repeat here the statement .
made in my letter of acceptance, that in .
nv Judgment the feeling of uncertainty
iuSeparable from an irredremabe paper .
currency, with its fluctuations of values. IS
one Of the greatest obstacles to a return to
prosperous times. The only safe PAPER
currency is one which rests upon a coin +
basis. aud is At a! times promptly convert
10, 7 al :
t0fore expressed by me in favor of Con
Iressonal legislation in behalf Of ali early /
resumption OF specie payments, and | am /
satisfied not only that this is wise. but that
the interests. rs we'll the public srnti- .
ment of tho country, imperatively demand
it.
RELATIONS WITH OTHER LANDS.
Passing from these remarks upon the con
ditiUn OF our own country to consider our
rtla,i ions with other lands, We are remind
ed by international complications abroad, /
threatening the peace of Europe. that our
traditional rule oT non interference in the
affairs of foreign nations has proved of
great value i'll past times and ought To be
strictly observed. The policy naugurated
10y my honoged predecessor, Gen. Grant, in
submitting to arbitration grave questions
in dispute between ourselves and foreign
powers points to a new ana incOnparaby
the best iDStGumcntalty foT the preselva-
ton of peace, and will, as | believe, be-
come beueticent example If the course
+ To he pursued III similar emergencies by
other nations. If, unhappily, questions of
difference should at any time during the
period If my administration arise between
the niteil States and any foreign Govern
ment, it will certainly be my disposition
and my nope to AID IN their settlement in
the same peaceful and honorable way, thus
securing to our country the great blessings
of peace and mutual good offices with all
the nations of the world.
THE LATE POLITICAL CONTEST.
Fellow citizens we have reached the close
ot political contest marked by the excite
meut which usually attends the contests
between srea political parties. whose mem
uerS eSpouSc and advocate with earnest
| faith their respective crceds. The circum-
stances were perhaps in no respect extraor-
binary, save i'll the cl0SeueSS and the conSe-
| quent uncertainty of the result. For the
/ first time in the history of the country it
has been deemed best in view of the pres
| ent circumstances of the case that obiec-
tions aud questions in dispute in reference
to counting the Electoral vote should be
| referred 10 the decision of tribunal alp
| pointed for that purpose That tribunal,
established by law for this sole purpose, its
members, all of them men of long .eStab-
/ li>hed reputation for integrity and inteli
! geuce. and with the exception OF those who
! are also members of the Supreme Judi
cary, chosen equally from both political
| parties. its deliberations eGlig by the
| research and the arguments of able coun-
! sci, was entitled to the fullest confidence of
/ the American people. Its decisions have
! hoo tlU 6, nd or;
! legally conclusive by the general Judgment
of the public For the present, opinion
will widely vary as TO the wisdom Of the
! several conclusions announced by that tri
| bunal This is to be anticipated in every
! instance when matters of dispute are made
subjects of arbitration under the forms of
| law. Human Judgment is never uner.ing,
and is rarely regarded as otherwise than
wrong by the unsuccessful party in the con
test. The fact that two great political par
ties have in this way settled dispute in
regard to which good men differ as to the
| facts and the law, no less than as TO the
proper course to be pursued in solving the
question in controversy. and is an occasion
! for general rejoicing Upon one point there
/ is entire unanmity in public sentiment,
that conflicting claims to the Presidency
! must be amicably and peaceahlv adjusted,
! and that when So adjusted the general ac-
! quieSCenCe of the nation ought surely to
| follow. 1t has been reserved for a govern
! ment Of the people where the right of Suf-
frage is universal to give to the world the
first example in history of great nation
IN the midst of a struggle of opposing par
ties for power, hushing its party tumults
| to yield the issue of the contest to adjust
ment according to the forms of law. Look
ing for the guidance of that Dvind hand
Inv " hirh the dos, ipIps of uatjpnS and in1I-
viduals are shaped, call upon you, Sena-
tors, Representatives, Judges, fellow citi-
ZenS here and every where, to unite with
me in an earnest effort to secure to our
country the blessings not only of material
prosperity, but of Justice, peace and union,
union depending not upon the constraint
of force, hut upon the loving devotion of
free people, and that all things may be so
ordered anu settled upon the best and sur
est foundations that peace and happiness
truth and Justice, religion and piety may
be established among us for all genera
tons.
! vt the close of the address the brazen-
throated cannon belched forth their flame
and smoke. and added to the din of myriad
voices while the music swelled up in har-
mony, and so, amid bright sunlight. wav-
ing banners, cheering men and smiling
| women.
THE PEOPLES CHOICE
took the place assigned to him, and the
nat on's work was completed.
Meanwhile the President Was congratu-
lated by eXPresident Grant, Chief Justice
Waite and large number of other persons
near him, including Senator Coukling and
many Other members of both Houses Of
Congress and all the Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court, except Justice Clifford
and Field, VIII" were not present during
any portion Of the day. President Hayes,
corted by Gen. Grant, and Vice President
Wneeler, escorted by Senator McCreery,
then returned to the Senate wing of the
Capitol, and the President taking seat in
the same open bar0uche in which he had
come to the CAPITOL proceeded to the Ex-
rcutive Mansion, escorted hy the various
| military and civic organizations which
| constituted the inaugural procession.