The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-10

scope IOr the employment OF our DeSJ powers
Let all our people leaving behind them the
| battle fields of dead issues, move forward, in
the strength of liberty and the restored Union
| to the grander victories of peace.
! The prosperity which now prevails is with
out parallel in our history. Fruitful seasons
| have done much to secure it, but they have
not done all. The preservation of the public
credit and the resumption ofspecie payments.
SO successfully attained by the administration
of my predecessors, has enabled our people to
secure the blessings which the seasons brought
| By the experience of commercial nations, in
all ages, it has been found that gold and silver
afford the only safe foundation for a monetary
system. Confusion has recently been created
| by variations in the relative value Of the two
metals, but confidently believe that arrange
ments can be made between the leading com
mercial nations which will secure the general
use of both metals. Congress should provide
that the compulsory coinage of silver now re-
quired by law may not disturb our monetary
system by driving either metal out OF circula-
ton. If possible, such an adjustment should
be made that the purchasing power of every
coined dollar will be exactly equal it its debt
paying power in all the markets Of the world.
| The chief duty of the national government
in connection with the currency of the country
is to coin money and declare its value. Grave
doubts have been entertained whether Con
gress is authorized by the Constitution to make
any form of paper money legal tender The
present issue of United States notes has been
sustained by the necessities of war, but such
paper should depend for its value and curren-
cy upon its convenience in use and its prompt
redemption in coin at the will of the holder
and not upon its compulsory circulation.
These notes are not money, but promises to
pay money. Ifthe holders demand it the prom
Use should be kept. The refunding oil the nation
al debt at a lower rate of interest should be ac-
complished without compelling the with
drawal of the national bank notes, and thus
disturbing the interests of the country. | ven
ture to refer to the position | have occupied
on financial questions during long service in
Congress, and to say that time and experience
haye strengthened the opinions l have so often
expressed on these subjects.
The finances of the government shall suffer
no detriment which it may be possible for my
administration to prevent.
The interests Of agriculture deserve more
attention from the government than they have
yet received. The farms of the United States
afford homes and employment for more than
ne-half our people, and furnish much the lar
ger part of all our exports AS the govern
ment lights our coasts for the protection of
mariners and the benefit of commerce, so it
should give to the tillers of the soil the best
lights of practical science and experience
Our manufactures are rapidly making us in
dustrially independent, and are opening to
capital and labor new and profitable fields of
employment. Their steady and healthy growth
should still be maintained. Our facilities for
transportation should be promoted by the con-
tinued improvement of our harbors and great
interior waterways, and by an increase ofour
tonnage on the ocean The development of the
worlds commerce has led to an urgent de-
mand for shortening the great sea voyage
around Cape Horn by constructing ship canals
or railways across the isthmus which unites
the two continents. Various plans to this end
have been suggested, and will need considera-
ton, but none of them have been sufficiently
matured to warrant the United States in eX-
tending pecuniary aid. The subject, however,
is one which will Immediately engage the at
tention of the government with view to a
thorough protection to American interests
We will urge no narrow policy, nor seek pc
culiar or exclusive privileges in any CONNER
cial route, but in the language ofmy predeces-
sor, 81 believe it to be the right and duty of
the United States to assist and maintain such
supervision and authority over" any inter-
oceanic canal across the isthmus that connects
North and South America as will protect our
national interests.
The constitution guarantees absolute relig
ious freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting an establishment
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The Territories of the United States
are subject to the direct legislative authority
of Congress, and hence the general govern
ment is responsible for any violation of the
constitution in any of them. 1t is therefore
reproach to the government that in the most
populous of the Territories the constitutional
guarantee is not enjoyed by the people, and
the authority of Congress is set at naught. The |
Norman Church not only offends the moral
sense of mankind by sanctioning polygamy,
but prevents the administration of justice
through the ordinary instrumentalities of law.
In my judgment it is the duty OF Congress, |
while respecting to the uttermost the con-
scientious convictions and religious scruples
of every citizen, to prohibit within its juris-
diction all criminal practices, especially of that
class which destroy the family relations and
endanger social oraer. Nor can any ecclesi- |
astical organization be safely permitted to |
usurp in the smallest degree the functions and
powers of the national government.
The civil service can never be placed on
satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law
for the good of the service itself, for the pro-
lection OF those who are entrusted with the
appointing power against the waste of time
and obstruction to the public business, caused
by the inordinate pressure for places and for the
promotion of incumbents against intrigue and
wrong.
SuttIl hG buG proper llIu0 dSk OOupT6SS 10 Tx
the tenure of the minor offices of the several
executive departments, and prescribe the
grounds upon which removals shall be made
during terms for viii ch incumbents have been
appointed.
Finally, acting always within the authority
and limitations of the constitution, invading
neither the rights of the States nor the reserv-
ed rights of the people, it will be the purpose
OF my administration to maintain the authority
of the nation, and in all places within it's juris-
diction to enforce obedience to all the laws of
the Union in the interests ofthe people to de-
mand rigid economy in all the expenditures of
the government and to require the honest and
faithful service OF all executive officers, remem-
bering that the offices were created not for the
benefit of 1ncumbents or their supporters, but
for the service Of the gov eminent.
And now fellow citizens, | am about to as
sumo the great trust which you have commit
TED to my hands. I appeal to you for that
earnest and thoughtful support which made
this government in fact as it is in law gov
eminent of the people. shall greatly rely
upon the wisdom and patriotism of Congress
and of those who may share with me the re-
sponsihilities and duties of administration
And, above all, upon our efforts to promote
the welfare of this great people and their gov
eminent, | reverently invoke the support and
blessings of Almighty God.