, 1877-03-17
inaugural Address
PRESIDENT r. B. HAYES.
OF

FslIow. Citigens! We have assembled
to repeat the public ceremonies begun
by Washington and observed by all my
predecessors, and now time, ,honored
cnstom which marks the commencement
of new term of the Presidential office.
Called 70 the duties of this great trust,
Iproceed in compliance wlrh this usage
TO announce some oi the leading princi-
pies on the subjects that now chiefly en-
gage the public attention, by which it is
nv desire to be guided in the discharge
of these duties. | shall not undertake
to lav down irrevocably the principles or
measures of the administration, but ratl-
er to speak OF the motives which should
snimnre us, and to suggest certain i'm
portart ends to be attained in accord
ancc with our institutions, and essenti |
to the welfare of uur country.
At the outset of the discussions which
preceded the recent Presidential election
1t seemed to he fitting that l should make
known my sentiments in regard to sew
eral Of the important questions which
then appeared to demand the considera-
ton of the country Following the ex
ample and, in part, adopting the Ian
guage OF one of my predecessors, wish
now. when every motive tor misrepre-
sentation has passed away, to repeat what
was said before election, trusting that
my couatrymeu will canddly weigh aud
understand it; that they will fee! as
sured that the sentiments declared in
accepting the nomination for the Presi.
dency will be the standard of my con-
duct in the path before me. Charged as
Inow AN with the grave and difficult
stask Qt carrying them out in the Prasi-
AeA'pssstgRIiou Of tho government
90 far as depends under the constitution
and laws on the chief executive Of the
nation, the permanent pacitication OF the
country upon snch principles and by
such measures as will secure the COM
plete protection OF all its citizens in the
free enjoyment of their constitutional
rights, is now the one subject in our pub
lie affairs which all thoughtful and pat
riotic citizens regard as Of supreme i'm
portance, Many Of the calamitous ef-
feGts of the tremendous revolution which
has passed over the Southern States still
remain. The immeasurable benefits which
will surely follow, sooner or later, and
the hearty and generous acceptance of
the Legitimate results Of the revolution
have not yet been realized. The difficult
and embarrassing question meets US at
the threshold OF this subject. The peo.
pie of these states are still impoverished,
and the inestimabe blessing of wise,
honest, and peaceful local government is
not fully enjoyed. Whatever difference
Of opinion may exist as to the cause of
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 forgot
ten that only local government which
recognizes and maintains inviolate the
rights of all is true self-government.
win respect to the two distinct races,
whose peculiar relations to each other
nave brought upon us the deplorable
complication and perplexities which ex-
ist IN those States, it must be govern
ment which decides the interests Of both
races, carefully and equally; it must be
agoVernmcat which submits loyalty and
heartily to the constitution and the laws
0i the States themselves, accepting and
oOeying faithfully the whole constitution
as 1t IS. Resting upon this sure and sub
stantial foundation, the superstruCture
ot oeneicient local selt-governments can
be built up, and not otherwise. In the
'astberance of such obedience TO the