The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-05


officers 81 the House Of Representatives.
As the procession filed out through the
main corridor 10 The ro,unda the crowds
pouring down from the galleries soon
caused blockade, and finally. break
ing IN upon the procession, merged with
1t and pressed on 10 The r0tunda. n
dense confused mass Of senators, repre-
senta,ivcS, diplomi.ts, and citizens without
much regard 10 precedence. On reaching
the main entrance leading from the rotunda
to the platform the pressure was relieved
and the presidential party was enabled TO
reach the front.
Ms. Garfield, Mrs. HAYES, General Gar
fields mother, and other adie, OF The party
were caught in the crowd and experienced
considerable difficulty in reaching the plat
form.
At half-past II O'Clock the President
reached his place at the 'front.' Of the plat
I Irm and took ms seat. with Chief.IuStice
Waite upon his right and eX.Pcesdent
llaycs upon his left, While Immediately be-
hind him sat his mother. Mrs. Garfield, Mrs.
Hayes, and Nlce-pTc>idtnt Arthur.
SEINE delay cnSued while photograph Of
the scene was being taken from an elevated
stand a short distance to the right aud front
At l2:3t Senator Pendlcton arose ana in
PRODUCED General Garfield, who begun his
Inaugural Address.
Fellow Citizens We stand to-day upon
an emipencc which overlOOks hundred
years OF national lifo--a century crow ded
with perilS, but crowned With lriumphs of
liberty and law. Before continuing our on
ward march let us pause on tbi, height for
Il moment 10 strengthen our faith and renew
l,N ola f,a
which our people have travelled. II i now
three days more than hYndrcd year, since
the adoption OF the FIRST written Conslitu-
ton OF The United States, the articles # con-
federation and perpetual union. The new
republic was then besct' with danger on
every hand. ii had not conquered place
in the family OF nations. The decisive
battle OF the war for Independence
whose centennial anniversary will soon be
gratefully celebrated at Yorktown haG not
\ ct been fought. The ColOui>t> we're Slrug-
Cling. not only against the armies OF great
nation, but against the settled opinions Of
for the world did not thcn be-
lieye that the supreme authority Of govern
ment could be safely entrusted 10 The guar
OF The people themselves. We
cannot OYerestlnatc the fcrycnt love Cf lib
eIty, the intelligent courage, and the sum of
common sense with which our fathers made
the great experiment Of cli-goycInment.
When they found, after a shoit trial. that a
coufrdetacy OF, states was tOogwelk 10 meet
the necessities Of YigOlou, and expanding
republic. they boldly set II aSiGc, aud in it.
stead established 4 National Union, founded
directly upon the VIII II The ICjpc. en-.
lowed with full powers OF self-pIc>eIVIliOn
and with ample authority for The accom-
pli>bmcni Of lis great objects. Under this
Constitution the boundaries OF freedom baye
been enlarged. tie foundations Of order and
peace have been strengthened, and the
growth Of our people in all better elements
Of national lie has indicated tbC wisdom Of
the founders and gwen new hope TO their
Under this Constitution our
people long ago made themselves safe
against danger from without ana secured
Tor their mariners aud flag equality OF rights
Dn all seas. Under thus Constitution twen-
y-6Ye states have been added 10 the Union,
with constitutions and laws framed and en-
forced by their own citizens 10 Secure The
manifold blessings OF local >cli-gOycrnmeBt.
The
JURISDICTION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
now covers an area fifty times greater than
4 population twenty times greater than THAI
If 1880. Tn" supreme trial Of the COnSti-
uliOn came AZ last under the tremendous
pressure Of civil war. We ourselves are
witnesses that the Union emerged from The
blood ana fire of that conflict purified and
made stronger for all beneicent purposes
If good government.
And now AT the close of this SrSt century
a V-ith in of H..
history in their hearts, our people have
lately reviewed the condition OF the nation,
passed judgment upon the conduct ana
opinions of political parties, and have regis
Iered their will concerning the future adj
OF the Government. TO in
ierpret and TO execute that will in accord
ince with the Constitution is the paramount
duty OF the Executive.
Even from this brief review it i manifest
bat the nation is resOutely facing to the
front, resolved to employ lis best energies
in developing the great possibilities OF the
future, Sacredly preserving whatever has
been Gained 10 liberty and good government
during the century. Our people are deter
mined TO leave bcbind them all those bitter
controversies concerning things which have
been irrevocibly settled, and further discus
sion Of which can only Stir up strife and de-
lay our onward march. Supremacy OF the
nation and it, laws should be 40 longer
subject Of debate. That discussion, which
for bali a century threatened the existence
of the Union, was closed ut last in
THE HIGH COURT OF WAR
by decree from which there is no appeal
That Constitution and The laws maze in
pursuance thereof are. and shall continue 10
De, the supreme law OF the land, binding
like upon States and people. This decree
Ices not disturb The autonomy Of the States
lOr interfere with ANY of their necessary
ighS Of local self-gOvernmcnt. Bat it docs
iX and establish The permanent supremacy
4 the Union. The will Of the nation,
peaking with the voice of battle and
hsOugh the amended Constitution, has
UTILIZED the great promise OF 1916
IS proclaiminS liberty throughout the
and 10 an the inhabitants thereof. The
leyation Of the negro race from slavery to
he full rights Of citizenship i the most i'm
,ortant political change we have known
ince the adoption OF the Constitution OF
7S7. No thoughtful man can fail TO appre
late lis beneiicent ctiect upon our instilu
ions and people. 1t has freed us from per-
,etual danger Of war ard dissolution; il
as added immensely to the moral and in
lustI ia forces of our people; it has
LIBERATED masters as well n slaves from
station which has WrOnged and eniCebled
10Th il has SURF endered TO their own guar
lIaDshp the manhood OF more than bVe mil
ions Of people, and has opened 10 each one
/ them q career Of freedom and usefulness;
has given new inspiration to The power OF
Clf.help in both races, by making labor
aOre honorable 10 one and more necessary
o the ether. The Influence OF this force
.ill grow greater and bear richer fruit with
oming years. No doubt this great change
as caused serious disturbance to our
SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES.