St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-11

trially independent, and are opening
to capital and labor new and profitable
fields of employment. This steady and
healthy growth should still be main
tanned our facilities for transportation
should be promoted by the continued
improvement of our harbors and great
interior waterways, and by the increase
of our tonnage on the ocean.
The development of the worlds COM
merce has led to an urgent demand 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
consideration, but none of them has
been sufficiently matured to warrant
the United States in extending pecu-
mary aid. The subject, however, is
one which will Immediately engage the
attention of the government with a
view to thorough protection to Ameri-
can interests. We will urge no narrow
policy, nor seek peculiar or exclusive
privileges in any commercial route !;
but, in the language of my predecessor
of the United States to assert and main
tain such supervision and authority
over any interoceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national
interest"
The constitution guarantees absolute
religious freedom. Congress is prohib-
tied from making any law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohib-
iting the free exercise thereof. The
territories of the United States are sub
ject to the direct legislative authority
of Congress, and hence the general
government is responsible for any vio-
lation 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 peo-
pie, and the authority of Congress set
at naught.
THE MORMON CHURCH
not only Otfends 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 du-
ty of Congress while respecting to the
utteTmOst the conscientious convictions
and religious scruples of every citizen,
to prohibit within its jurisdiction all
ceremonial practices, especially of that
class which destroy the family relations
and endanger social order. Nor can
any ecclesiastical organization be safe
ly permitted to usurp, i'll the smallest
degree, the functions and powers of the
national government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
can never be placed on a satisfactory
basis until it is regulated by law. For
the good of the service itself, for the
protection of those who are intrusted
with this appointing power against the
waste of time and obstruction to the
public business caused by the inordi-
nate pressure for place, and for the pro-
lection of incumbents against intrigue
and wrong, | shall, at the proper time,
ask Congress to fix the tenure of the
minor officers of the several executive
departments, and prescribe the grounds
upon which removals shall be made
during terms for which incumbents
have been appointed. Finally. acting
always within the authority and limi-
tatiOns of the constitution, invading
neither the rights of the states nor the
reserved rights of the people, it will be
the purpose of my administration to
maintain the authority, and, in all pla-
ces within its jurisdiction, to enforce
obedience to all laws of the Union, to
demand rigid economy in all the expen-
ditures of the government, and to re-
. L. H.. 4 Al. a
all executive officers, remembering that
the offices were created. not for the
benefit of the incumbents or their sup
pOrters, but for the service of the gov
eminent.
And, now, fellow citizens, I am about
to
ASSUME THE GREAT TRUST
which you have committed to my
hands. appeal to you for that earnest
and thoughtful support which makes
this government, in fact, as it is in law,
a government of the people. l shall
greatly rely upon the wisdom and pa
triOtism of Congress, and of those who
may share with me the responsibilities
and duties of administration. And,
above all, upon our efforts to promote
the welfare of this great people and
their government, | reverently invoke
the support and blessing of Almighty
God.