Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-03-12

the attention of the Government with a
view to giving thorough protection to
American interests. We will urge no
narrow policy nor seek peculiar or ex-
cessive privileges in any commercial
route, but in the language of my prede-
cessOr, II believe it to be the right and
duty of the United States to assert and
maintain such supervision and authority
over any inter-Oceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and South
America, as will protect our national
interest"
Congress is prohibited from enactinr
any law respecting the establishment of
religions or prohibiting the free exercise
| thereof. The territories of the United
States are subject to direct legisla.
authority Of Congress and hence
general Cp 'nment is responsible a
any of tho,l. 1t is therefore a reprOacA
to the Government that in the most
populOus of the territories the cOnstitG-
TONS guarantee is not enjoyed by the
people and the authority of Congress is
set at naught. The Mormon church not
only Offends the moral sense of mankind
by the sanctiOning of pOlygamy, but
prevents the administration of Justice
through the ordinary instrumentalities
of the law. In my judgement it is the duty
of Congress, while respecting with the
uttermOst consideration the convictions
and religious scruples of every citizen to
prohibit within its jurisdiction all GRIM
inal practices, and especially that class
which destroy the family relations and
endanger the social order. Nor can any
ecclesiastical organization be safely
permitted to usurp in the smallest de-
gree the functions and powers of the
national Government.
The civil service can never be placed
on satisfactory basis until it is regu-
lated by law for the good of the service
itself, for the protection of those who are
entrusted with the appointing power
against the waste of time and Obstruc-
ton to the public business caused by
inOrdinate pressure for place and for the
protection of incumbents against in
trigue and wrong. shall at the proper
time ask Congress to fix the tenure of
minor offices of the executive depart
ments and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall. be made during
the terms for which the incumbents have
been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the au-
ton, invading neither the rights of the
States nor those reserved to the people, |
it will be the purpose of my admins
tratiOn to maintain the authority and i'm |
all places within its jurisdiction to en-
force obedience to all the laws of the |
Union, i'm the interests of the people; to |
demand rigid economy in all expen-
ditures of the Government and to require |
an honest and faithful service of all the |
executive officers, remembering that the
offices were created not for the benefit |
of the incumbents of their supporters,
but for the service of the Government
And now, fellow citizens, that L am
about to assume. the great trust which |
you have committed to my hands, | ap
peal to you for that earnest and thought
full support which makes the Govern
ment in fact as it is in law Govern
ment of the people. shall greatly rely
upon the wisdom and patriotism of Con-
gress and of those who may share with
me the responsibilities and duties of the
and above all upon our
efforts to promote the welfare of this
great people and their government, [
reverently invoke the support and bless
ngs OF Almighty God.