The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-09
PRESIDENT HAYES.
The Inauguration Communicable Address
of the President I'm Full.


wAsHNeroN, March s.
A very brilliant audience assembled in the
Senate Chamber as early as 10 o'clock 20 wit
ness the inaugural ceremonies, the majority
being ladies. The diplomatic gallery was en-
tirely filled with members Of the diplomatic
corps and their wives.
At minutes before ~ o'clock the foreign
Ministers, dressed in full court-dress, entered
the chamber, creating something like a sensa-
ton. They took seats on the right side of the
chamber. Following the diplomatic corps
came the members of the Supreme Court,
headed by Chief Justice Waite, who were
assigned seats on the right in front of
the foreign Ministers. Judge Davis was
among them, but Justices Clifford and Field
were absent. Judge Davis did not wear the
customary robe of black. Precisely at IL
o'clock the President entered the chamber. He
walked up the main aisle alongside Of ex-Presi-
dent Grant, and took a seat in the space imme-
diately in front of the Secretary's desk.
The members of the Cabinet, preceded by
Secretary Fish, followed, and were assigned
seats on the left of the President.
The appearance of President Hayes was the
signal for loud clapping of hands by the occu-
pants of the galleries.
The space on the eastern front of the Capt.
toll, where President Hayes delivered his inau-
gural address, was completely packed with peo-
pie, who were loud in their cheers during the
time the President was speaking. A great
many thousand people were present-exactly
how many cannot be easily estimated. space
of ground of about 1000 feet by 800 wide was
completely packed with people.
At lilo the ceremonies were concluded, and
the procession started its return to escort
President Hayes to the White House.
The following il the inaugural address of
President Hayes in full
FELLOW CITIZENS We have assembled TO re-
peat the public ceremonial begun by Washing
ton, observed by all my predecessors, and now
a time-honored custom which marks the COM
mencement of new term in the Presidential
Office. Called to the duties of this great trust,
Iproceed in compliance with usage, to announce
some Of the leading principles, on the subjects
that now chiefly engage public attention, by
which il smy desire to be guided in the dis
charge of those duties. i shall not undertake
to lay down irrevocably principles or measures
of administration, but rather 10 speak of the
motives which should animate Us, and TO sug-
gest certain important ends TO be attained in
accordance with our institutions and essential
to the welfare of our country. At the outset of
the discussions which preceded the recent
Presidential election, it seemed 10 me fitting
that should fully make known my sentiments
in regard to several of the important questions
which then appeared to demand the considera-
ton of the county. Following the example,
and in part adopting the language of one of
my predecessors, / wish now, when every mo-
tive for misrepresentation has passed away, to
repeat what was said before the election, trust
ing that my countrymen will candidly weigh
and understand it, and that they will feel
sured that the sentiments declared in accept
ing my 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 prac-
teal administration of the Government, 10 far
as depends under the constitution and laws on
the Chief Executive of the nation, the perma-
nent pacfcation of the country, upon such
principles and by such measures 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 all thoughtful and patriotic citi
zens regard as of supreme Importance.
Many of the calamitous effects of the tre-
mendous revolution which has passed over the
Southern States still remain. The immeasura-
bic benefits which will surely follow sooner or
|
the legitimate results of that revolution have
not vet been realized. Difficult and embarrass-
ing questions meet us at the threshold of this
subject. The people of these States still
impoverished, and the inestimable blessing of
wise, honest and peaceful local self-government
is not fully enjoyed. Whatever difference of
opinion may exist as to the cause of this condi-
ton of things, the fact is clear that in the
progress of events the time has when
such government is an imperative necessity.
required by all the varied interests, public and
private of these States but il must not be for
gotten that only local government which
recognizes and maintains inviolate the rights
of all is a true self-government.
With respect to the two distinct races whose
peculiar relations to each other have brought
upon us deplorable complications and perplexi-
ties which exist in these States, il must be a
government which guards the interests OF both
races carefully and equally; il must be q gov
eminent which submits LOYALTY and heartily TO
the constitution and laws-the laws of the ma
ton and the laws of the States Themselves
accepting and obeying faithfully the whole con-
| stitution as it is.
Resting upon this sure and substantial foun-
dalton, that superstructure of beneficent local
Governments can be built up, and not otherwise.
In furtherance of such obedience to the letter
and the spirit of the 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 fall
into insignificance.
The question we have to consider for the i'm
mediate welfare of those States of the Union
is the question Of government or no govern
ment-of social order and all the peaceful in
dustries and the happiness that belongs to it,
or a return to barbarism. 1t is question in
which every citizen of the nation is deeply in
terested, and with respect to which we ought
not to be in partisan sense either Republi-
cans or Democrats, but fellow-citizens and
fellow-men, to whom the interests of COM
mon country and common humanity are dear.
The sweeping revolution of the entire labor
system of large portion Of our country, and
the advance of 100000 people from a condi-
ton of servitude to that Of citizenship upon an
equal footing with their former masters, could
not occur without presenting problems of the
gravest moment, to be dealt with by the eman-
cipated race, by their former masters. and by
the General Government, the author of the
Get of emancipation. That it was a wise. lust
and providential act, fraught with good for all
concerned is now generally conceded through
out the country. That moral obligation rests
upon the National Government to employ its
constitutional power and influence to establish
the rights of the people whom it has emanci-
pated, and to protect them in the enjoyment of
those rights when they are infringed or as
sailed, is also generally admitted