Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-05
A Lengthy Discourse, In Which
He Advances a Few
Good Ideas.
The Negro Race Occupy a Great
Part of His Time-A Slight
Grind at the Southern
Outrage Mill
The Old Threadbare Republican
Cry Against Polygamy Is
Again Raised.
Prosperity of the Country Due
in a Great Degree to
Good Crops.

WASHINGTON, March Am immense
concourse OF people had assembled st
the Capitol to-day to witness the inaug-
uration OF the President-elect. General
Garfield's address will be found in full
below.
FELLOW CITIzgxs-We stand to-day
upon an eminenCe which overlooks
hundred years OF the national life OF a
country crowded with perils, but crowd
ed with the triumphs of liberty and
love. Before continuing the onward
march, let us pause on this height Tor
moment to strengthen our faith and
renew our hope by glance at the path
way along which our people have trav'
eled. 1t is now three days more than
hundred years since the adoption oi
the
FIRST Written Constitution OF the United
states,
the articles OF confederation and perpet
ual union. The new republic WAS then
beset with danger on every hand. 1t
had not conquered place in the family
OF nations. The decisive battle OF the
war for independence, whose centennial
anniversary will soon be gratefully celc'
brated at Yorktown, had not yet been
fought The colonists were struggling
not only against the armies Of Great
Britain, but against the settled opinions
of mankind, for the world did not be-
lieve that the supreme authority OF the
government could be safely entrusted to
the generalship OF the people themselves.
We cannot over estimate the fervent
love OF intelligent courage and common
sense with which our forefathers made
the great experiment OF self govern
mont. When they found after a short
time that the coniederacy OF Sta es was
too weak to meet the necessities OF
A Glorious and Expanding Republic.
They boldly set it aside, and in its
stead established National Union,
founded directly upon the will OF the
people, endowed with future powers OF
seli.preservation, and with ample au.
thorlty for the accomplishment of its
great objects. Under this Constitution
the boundaries OF freedom enlarged, the
foundations of order and peace had been
strengthened, and the growth i'll all the
better elements OF National lite has vim.
dicated the wisdom of the founders, aud
given new hope to their de-
scendants. Under this Constitution
our people long ago made
themselves safe against danger from
without and secured for their mariners
and flag equality of rights on all these,
as under this constitution twenty-five
States have been added to tho Union
with constitutions and laws framed and
enforced by their own citizens to Sc
cure manifold blessings, local and self
government ThejurisdlctionO OF this con-
stitution now covers an area fifty times
greater than that of the original thirteen
States and the population is twenty
times greater than that of l7S0. The
supreme trial Of the constitution came
at last under the
Tremendous Pressure of Civil War.
We ourselves are witnesses that the
Union emerged from blood and fire.
That conflict purified and made stronger
for all benefCent purposes good gov
ernment, and now at the close of this
first century, with the inspirations OF its
| history in their hearts, our people have
| lately reviewed the condition OF the ma
| ton, passed Judgment upon the conduct
and opinions OF the political parties,
and have registered their will concern
ing the future administration Of
the government. To interpret
and 10 execute that will in
accordance with the Constitution, is
the paramount duty of the Executive,
even from this brief review, it is mani
fest that the Nation is resolutely fore.
| ING TO the front its resolution to employ
| its best energies i'll developing great
possibilities OF the future, sacredly
preserving whatever has been gained TO
| liberty and good governments during
| the past century. Our people are de-
termined TO leave behind them all these
| bitter controversies concerning things
which have teen irrevocably settled
| the further discussion ot which can
oniy stir up the strife and delay on the
onward march. The
| Supremacy OF the Nation and its Laws
should be TO longer a subject OF debate
| and that discussion which tor half a
Ceatury threatened the existence OF
the CniCn was closed at last in the
high court of war, by a decree from
which there is no appeal, that the con-
stitution and the laws made in pursu'
suce thereof, and shall cort nue. to be
the supreme law OF the land, binding
aliktui o I the S'a eS.'ndthe pt op'e.. This
decree don't disturb the anatomy oil the
States, nor interfere with any Of their
necessary rules OF local government.
Bu, il does fix and establish the per
manent supremacy OF the Union. Tie
will of the nation speaking with the
voice of battle, aud through the amend.
.d Constitution has fulfilled the great
promise Of 1876, by prOclaimlng
tbe liberty throughout the
land 10 all inhabitants thereof
The Elevation Of the n eRro Race
from slavery TO the free rights OF citizen,
shin is the most important political
| change We have know since the adoption
of the Constitution OF l1S7. Nothought'
full man can fail TO appreciate its benz
/ ficeut effect upon our institutions and
the people. 1t has freed US from the
perpetual danger oiwar and dissolution
II has added immensely TO the mora
and industrial forces OF our people. II
has liberated the master as well as the
slave from q relation which wronged and
enfeebled both. 1t has surrendered tc
their own guardianship the manhood o
more than 5,00O,eO0 people anC
has opened to them career OF freedom
and usefulness. 1t has giyen new IN
spiration to the power of self-help II
both races by making labor more honor
able to the one and more necessary Il
the other. The influence OF this fore
will grow greater and bear richer fruit
with coming years. No doubt the gres
| nhanra haa cansed seHlnns distnHhanc