The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1881-03-11

the extension Of suffrage, and is under
special obligations to aid in removing
the iiliicrncy which it has added to
the voting population. For North
and South alike there is but one
remedy. All the constitutional power
Of the Nation and Of the States, and
Al! .he volunteer !esees e The people
should be summoned 10 meet this
danger by the saving influence Of
universal education. Il Is the high
privilege and sacred duty of those
now living to educate their successors
and Ct them, by intelligence and
virtue, for the inheritance which
awaits them. In this benefcent work,
section and race should be forgotten,
and partisanship should be unknown.
Let our people find a new meaning
in the divine oracle which declares
that "a little child shall lead them,
for our little children will soon control
the destinies Of the Republic.
My countrymen, We do not now
differ in our judgment concerning the
controversies Of the past generations,
and fifty years hence our children will
not be divided in their opinions con.
corning our controversies they will
surely bless their iathers-and their
fathers God-that the Union was
preserved that slavery was over
thrown, and that both races were
made equal before the law. We may
hasten or we may retard, but we can
not prevent the final reconciliation.
Is itnot possible for US now TO mike
a truce with time by anticipating and
accepting its inevitable verdict En-
ierprises Of the highest Importance to
our moral and material we'll being
invite us, and offer ample scope for
the employment Of our best powers.
Let all our people, leaving behind
them the balile-felds Of dead issues,
move forward, and in the strength Of
liberty and restored union win the
grandest victories Of peace. The
prosperity which now prevails Is with
out parallel in our history. Fruitful
seasons have done much 10 secure it,
but they have not done ALI
The preservation OF public credit
and the resumption Of specie pay
ments, s, successfully obtained by the
administration Of my predecessors,
have enabled our people to secure the
blessings which the seasons brought.
by the experience of commercial
relations in all ages it has been found
that gold and silver afforded the only
safe foundation for a monetary sys-
tenn. Confusion has recently been
created by variations in the relative
value Of the two metals, but | conf
IDENTIFY believe that arrangements can
be made between the leading CONNER
cial nations which will secure the
general use Of both metals. Congress
should provide that the compulsory
coinage Of silver now required by law
may not disturb our monetary system
by driving either metal out Of circula-
ton.
II possible, such adjustment should
be made that the purchasing power of
every coined dollar will be exactly
equal to its debt.paying power in all
the markets of the world. The chief
duty Of a National Government, in
connection with the currency Of the
country, is to coin and declare its
value. Grave doubts have been en-
teriained whether Congress is author
lied by the Constitution To make any
form of paper money legal tender.
The present issue Of United States
notes has been sustained by the neccs,
sites of war, but such paper should
depend for its value and currency up
on its convenience in use and its
prompt redemption in coin "a The will
of the holder, and not uppn itscom-
pulsory circulation. Theao note are
not money, but promises to pay money.
II the holders demand il, the promises
should be kept. The refunding Of the
National debt at lower rate of inter
est should be accomplished without
compelling the withdrawal of National
hank notes, and thus disturbing the
business Of the country.
venture to refer TO the position l
have occupied on the financial ques'
ton during a long service in Congress,
and to say that time and experience
have strengthened the opinions have
so often expressed on these subjects.
The finances OF the Government shall
suffer no detriment which il 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
one-half of our people, and furnish
much the largest part OF all our
expOrts. As the Government lights