The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-15
PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL.
naII.-arad Mall.

IiuN1Dult " 1ltQU GUllQu,
Inaugural Address of President Hayes,
a.-- Delivered March ,, 1877.
FBLLow -CITzENs: We have assembled
to repeat the public ceremonial begun by
Washington, observed by sill my predesces-
sors, and now time honored Gust I'm
which marks the COMMENCEMENT of new
term of the Presidential office. Called to
the duties Of this great trust, proceed, in
compliance with usage, to announce some
of the
LEADING PRINCIPLES
on the subjects that now chiefly engage the
public attention, BY which it Is my desire TO
be guided in the discharge Of these duties.
shall not undertake to lay down irrevoca-
Bile principles or measures OF sdministrs
ton, but rather to speak OF the motives
which should animate us. to suggest cer-
tain important ends to be attained in ac
cordance with our institutions and essen
tial to the welfare Of our country. At the
outset OF the discussions which preceded
the recent Presidential election, it seemed
TO me fitting that L should fully make
known my sentiments in regard to several
of the most important questions which then
appeared to demand the consideration of
the country. 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,
trusting that my countrymen will candidly
weigh and understand it, and that they will
feel assured that the sentiments declared in
accepting the nomination for the, Presiden-
cy will be the standard Of my conduct in the
path before me, charged as | am now with
the grave and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration Of the
Government SO far as depends, under the
Constitution and laws, on the Chief EXecu
tive of the Nation. = i'tafl j .I4
lPACIFICATIoN OF THE COUNTRY,
upon such principles and by such means as
will secure the complete protection OF all its
citizens in the free enjoyment OF all their
constitutional rights, is now the one sub
ject in our public affairs which all thought
full and patriotic citizens regard as Of SUI
preme importance. Many OF the calami-
tous effects of the tremendous revolution
which passsd over the Southern States still
remain The immeasurable benefit which
will surely follow sooner or later the hearty
and generous acceptance OF the legitimate
results OF that revolution have not yet been
realized. Difficult and embarrassing ques
tons meet US at the threshold OF this sub
! ject. The people Of these States are still
Impoverished, and the inestimable blessing
of wise, honest and peaceful local self-gov-
eminent 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 an
imperative necessity, required by all the
varied interests, public and private, Of
these States. But it must not be forgotten
that only local government which recog-
niZes and maintains inviolate the rights OF
all is a true self-government. With re-
spect to the two distinct races, whose pecu-
liar relations to each other have brought
upon us the deplorable complications and
perplexlties which exist in these States, 1t
must be a government which decides the
interest of both races carefully and equally.
| 1t must be government which submits
| Loyalty ana heartily to the Constitution and
| laws of the Nation and the laws Of the States
themselves, accepting and obeying faith
fully the whole Constitution as it is. Rest
ing upon this sure and substantial founda-
! ton, the superstructure OF -ylrI
| BENEFICENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
can be built up, and not otherwise. In
| furtherance of such obedience TO the letter
and the spirit of the Constitution, ard in
behalf of all that its attainment implies,
all so-called party interest loses apparent
importance, and party lines may well be
permitted to fail into insignifcance. The
question we have to consider for the imme-
diate welfare of those States of the Union
| is the question OF government or no govern.
ment; of social order and all the peaceful
Industries and the happiness that belong to
US, or q return to barbarism. IL is ques-
ton in which every citizen Of the Nation is
deeply interested, and with respect TO
which we ought not TO be in partisan
sense either Republicans or Democrats, but
| fellow -citiZens and fellow-men, to whom
! the interests of common country and COM
man, humanity are dear. 60
Tie sweeping revolution Of the entire Ia
| h,o- of 10 ON nj
try and the advance Of four m lliOns OF peor
! pie from a condition Of seryiIude to that OF
citizenship upon an equal footing with their
former masters, could not occur without
presenting ...- -.
PROBLEM OF GRAVEST MOMENT,
to be dealt with by the emancipated race,
by their former masters, land by the General
Government, the author OF the act OF eman-
cipation. That it was a wise, just and
providential act, fraught with gOUd for all
concerned, is now generally conceded
Throughout the country: That moral OBJ
legation rests Upon the National Govern
ment to employ its constitutional power and
influence to establish the rights of the peO-
pie it has emancipated, and to protect them
In the enjoyment of those rights when they
are infringed or assaulted, is also generally
admitted The evils which affect the South
ern States can only be removed or remedied
by the harmonious efforts of both races, act
uated by motives of mutual sympathy and
regard; and while in duty bound and fully
determined 10 protect the rights OF all by
every constitutional means at the disposal
Of my administration, am sincerely anx-
ious to use every legitimate influence in
favor of honest and efficient local govern
ment as the true resource Of those States
for the promotion Of cOntentment and pros
perity OF their citizens. In the effort
shall make to accomplish this purpose,
ask the cordial cooperation OF all VINO
cherish an interest in the welfare OF the
country, trusting that party ties and preiu-
dices of race will be freely surrendered in
behalf of the great purpose to be accom-
plished in the important work OF ll|
RESTORATION OF THE SOUTH.
1t is not the political situation alone that
merits attention. The material develop
ment Of that section Of country has been
arrested by the social aud political revolu-
ton through which it has passed, and now
deserves the considerable care Of the Nation
al Government within the just limits pre-
scribed by the Constitution and wise pub
lie econemy.s But at the basis of all pros
perity for that, as well as for every other
part Of the country, isthe Improvement Of
the intellectual and moral condition OF the
people. Universal suffrage should rest
upon universal education. To this end,
liberal and permanent provision should De
made for the support OF 1ree scnosis ny
State Governments, and, if need be, sup
plemented by legitimate aid from National
authority. Let me assure my countrymen
of the Southern States, that it is my earnest
desire to regard and promote their truest
iuterests--the interests of white and colored
people both and equally-and to put forth
nv best efforts ia behalf OF civil policy
which will forever wipe out in our political
affairs the color line and the distinction be-
tween the North and South, and to the end
that we may not have merely united North
or united South, but a united country.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
L ask the attention of the public to the
paramount necessity of reform in our civil
service. Areform, not merely as to certain
abuses and practices Of so-ealled official
patronage, which have come to have the
sanction Of usage in several departments
of our Government, but change OF the
system of appointments itself, is the reform
that should be brought about through a
radical and complete return to the prinei-
Piles and practices Of the founders OF the
Government. They never expected nor
desired from public officers any partisan
service. They meant that public officers |
should owe their whole service to the Gov
eminent and to the people. They meant |
an officer should be secure in his tenure as |
~. h;e y,oreov,o1 cha 1ainp0 H. |