Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-09
President Garfleld's Address.

President Garfeld's Address.
The following Is the full text OF President Gar
fields inaugural address:
Fellow Citizens We stand to-day upon an
eminence which overlooks a hundred years OF ma.
tional life-a century crowded with perils, but
also crowded with triumphs OF liberty and law.
Before continuing the onward march let us pause
on this height for a moment TO strengthen our
faith and renew our hope by glance at the path
way along which our people have travelled
RETROSPECT
II is now three days more than a hundred years
since the adoption OF the first written constitution
OF the United States-artices of confederation and
perpetual union The new republic was then be-
set with danger on every hand. 1t had not con-
quered place in the family OF nations The de.
cisive battle Of the war for independence, whose
centennial anniversary will soon be gratefully
celebrated Mt Yorktown had not yet been fought
The coloniss were struggling not only against the
armies OF great nation, but against the settled
opinions OF mankind, for the world did not be-
lieve that the supreme authority OF government
could be safely entrusted to the guardianship Of
the people themselves. We cannot overestimate
the fervent love OF liberty, the intelligent courage
and the saving common-sense with which our
fathers made the great experiment OF self-govern-
ment, When they found after short trial, that
confederacy OF states was too weak TO meet the
necessities Of the vigorous, expanding republic,
they boldly set II aside, and 10 Its stead estab-
lished national union founded directly upon the
will Of the people, endowed with the fullest pow
ers OF self-preservation and with ample authority
for the accomplishment Of its great objects. I'M
der this constitution the boundaries Of freedom
have been enlarged, the foundations Of order and
peace have been strengthened, and growth In all
the better elements OF national life has indicated
the wisdom OF the founders and given new hope
IN anita It.AA
people long ago made themselves safe against
danger from without and secured for their mar
liners and flag AN equality OF rights on all seas.
Under this constitution twenty-five states have
been added to the Union with constitutions and
laws framed and enforced by their own citizens
to secure the manifold blessings OF local sef-gov-
eminent. The jurisdiction Of this constitution
now covers an area fifty times greater than that
OF the original thirteen states and a population
twenty times greater than that OF 1880
The supreme trial OF the constitution came at
last under the tremendous pressure OF the civil
war. We ourselves are witnesses that the Union
emerged from the blood and fire Of that conflict
purified and stronger for all benefcent purposes
OF good government, and now at the close of this
first century OF growth with the inspiration OF its
history in their hearts, people have lately re-
viewed the condition Of the nation passed judg-
ment on the conduct and opinions OF political
parties and registered their will concerning the
future administration Of the government. To in
terpret and execute that will, In accordance with
tne cOnatltutlOn IL the paramount DUTY OF the ex-
ecutiye. Even from this brief review 1t is mani
fest that the nation is resolutey facing the 'front.'
resolved to employ its best energies in developing
the great possibilities OF the future.
THE RESULTS OF THE WAR
Sacredly preserving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government during the century,
our people determined to leave behind them all
those bitter controversies concerning things,whch
had been irrevocably settled, and further discus
sion, which can only stir up strife and delay the
onward march of the supremacy Of the nation
and its laws, should be no longer the subject Of
debate. That discussion which for half q GEN.
fury threatened the existence Of the Union was
closed at last In the high court OF war. By de-
cree from which there is no appeal that constitu-
ton and the laws made In pursuance thereof are
and shall continue to be the supreme law OF the
land, binding alike upon the states and the peo-
pie. This decree does not disturb the autonomy
Of the states interfere with any OF their
sary rules of local selfgovernment, but 1t does
fix and establish the permanence of the suprem-
acy OF the Union. The will OF the nation, speak
ing with the voice Of battle and through the
amended constitution, has fulfilled the great
promise OF 1776 by proclaiming liberty through
out the land to all the inhabitants thereof"
THE coLoRED RACE.
The elevation of the negro race from slavery to
the full rights of citizenship is the most impor-
tant political change we have known since the
adoption OF the constitution Of 1857. No thought
fu man can fail to appreciate Its benefcent ef-
feet upon our institutions and people, 1t has
freed us from perpetual danger Of war and disso-
luton. 1t added immensely to the moral and in
dustrial forces of our people. 1t liberated the
master as well as the slave from relation which
wronged and enfeebled both. 1t surrendered TO
| their own guardianship the manhood Of over five
millions OF people and has opened to each one OF
them career of freedom and usefulness. II has
given a new inspiration to the power OF self-help
In both races, by making labor more honorable to
the one and more necessary to the other The in
fiuence OF this force will grow greater and bear
richer fruit with the coming years. No doubt the
great change caused serious disturbance In our
southern community. This is to be deplored,
though 1t was unavoidable; but those who re-
sisted the change should remember that under
our institutions there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and equal citizen
ship. There can be no permanent DISTINGUISHED
peasantry in the United States. Freedom can
never yield the fullness Of its blessings long
the law or its administration places the smallest
obstacle in the pathway OF any virtuous citizen.
The emancipated race has already made remark
able progress. With unquestioning devotion to
the Union, with patience and gentleness not born
feat they have sss s f32yed t4s they af r a. aS
laying the material foundation Of self-support,
widening their circle OF intelligence, and begiu-
ming to enjoy the blessings that gather around
the homes of the industrious poor. They deserve
| the generous encouragement of all good men. So
| far as my authority can lawfully extend, they
| shall enjoy full and equal protection under the
| CoHsItutiou anu tne laws.
A sTALwART UTTERANCR
The free enjoyment OF equal suffrage is still in
| question: and frank statement OF the issues may
| aid in its solution. 1t Is alleged in many com
munties that negro citizens are practically denied
| the freedom Of the ballot 10 80 far as the truth
of this allegation is admitted 1t is answered that
| in many places honest local government is i'm.
possible II the mass Of uneducated negroes are
| allowed to vote. These are grave allegations
SO far as the latter is true it is the only palliaton
| that can be offered for opposing the freedom OF
| the ballot Bad local government is certainly a
great one, which ought to be prevented but to
violate the freedom and sanctity of the suffrage
| is more than an evil-it Is a crime which, II per-
| sisted in, will destroy the government itself
Suicide is not remedy. II in other lands 1t be
high treason to compass the death OF the king, II
should be counted no less crime here to strangle
| our sovereign power and still its voice 1t has
| been said that unsettled questions have no pity
| for the repose OF nations 1t should be said
with the utmost emphasis that this question OF
suffrage will never give repose or safety to the
states or to the nation until each within its own
| jurisdiction makes and keeps the ballot free and
pure by the strong sanction OF the law.
IGNORANCE AND THE FRANCHISE
But the danger which arises from ignorance In
the voter cannot be denied. 1t covers q field fal
wider than that of negro suffrage and the present
condition OF that race. 1t is danger that turks
\ and hides In the sources and fountains OF power In
every state, We have no standard by which u
| measure the disaster that may be brought upor
US by ignorance, when Joined to corruption and
| fraud in the suffrage. The voters Of the Unior
| who make and unmake constitutions, and upoI
whose will hang the destinies of our government
| can transmit their supreme authority to no sue
cessor save the coming generation--voters who ar,
| the sole heirs OF the sovereign power. II tina
| generation comes to its inheritance blinded by TX
norance and corrupted by vice, the fall OF the re
public will be certain and remediless. The censu
has already sounded the alarm In the appalling
| figures which mark how dangerously high thu
tide Of illiteracy has risen among our voters ant
| their children. To the south this question Is o
supreme Importance. But the responsibility TO
the existence OF slavery did not rest upon thu
south alone. The nation itself is responsible TO
the extension Of the suffrage and Is under specia
obligations to aid in removing the illiteracy which
1t has added to the voting population. For nortl
| and south alike there Is but one remedy. All tn
constitutional power Of the nation and OF tn
states, and all the volunteer forces Of the people
should be summoned to meet this danger by tn
| saving influence OF universal education 1t Is tn
high privilege and the sacred duty OF those nov
living to educate their successors and fit them b,
intelligence and virtue for the inheritance whicI
awaits them. In this benefcent work section
aud races should be forgotten and partisanship b
unknown. Let our people find a new meaning il
the divine oracle which declares that "a littl
child shall lead them" for our little children will
soon control the destinies of the republic.
PLEA FOR RECONCILIATION.
Ny countrymen, we do not now differ in gu
Judgment concerning the controversies OF the pas
generations, and fifty years hence our chidre
| our controversies. They will surely bless thei
| fathara THAR atheraf GOD that the linton xva