Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-05

races were made equal before the law. We
may hasten or we may retard, but We can
not prevent the final reconciliation.
Is It not possible for US now to
make truce with time by anticipating
and accepting its inevitable verdict? En-
terprises of the highest importance to our
moral and material well being invite us,
and offer ample scope for the employment
OF our best powers. Let all our people,
leaving behind them the battlefield Of dead
Issues, move forward, and In the strength Of
liberty and restored Union win the grand
victories Of peace.
The prosperity which now prevails Is
without parallel In our history. Fruitful
seasons have done much to secure it, but
they have not done all. The preservation
OF public credit and the resumption of
specie payment, so successfully attained by
the administration of my predecessors,
have enabled our people to secure the
blessings which seasons brought. By the ex-
per1ence Of commercial nations In ali ages 1t
has been found that gold and silver afford
the only safe foundation for a monetary
system. Confusion has recently been Gre
ated by variations In the relative value of
the two metals, but | confidently believe
that an arrangement can be made between
the leading commercial nations which will
o&%AAG tAG &CAC1dl use u OOtG utbatSs AOn-
gress should provide that the compulsory
coinage OF silver, now required by law, may
not disturb our monetary system by driving
either metal out of circulation. II possible,
such an adjustment should be made that
the purchasing power of every coined dollar
will be exactly equal to its debt paying
power In all the markets of the world.
The chief duty Of the National Govern
ment In connection with the currency
Of the country is to coin money and
declare its value. Grave doubts
have been entertained whether Con-
gress Is authorized by the Constitution to
make any form OF paper money legal
tender. The present issue of United States
notes has been sustained by the necessities
of the war, but such paper should depend
for It's value and currency upon its convent
ence In use, and its prompt redemption in
coin at the will of the holder, and not upon
It's compulsory circulation. These notes
are not money, but promises to pay
money. II the holders demand 1t, the
promise should be kept. The refunding of
the national debt at lower rate of interest
should be accomplished without compels'
ling the withdrawal of the national bank
notes, and thus disturbing the business of
the country. / venture to refer to the
position | have occupied on financial ques-
tions during a long service In Congress, and
to say that time and experience have
strengthened the opinions / have so often
expressed on these subjects. The finances
of the government shall suffer no detriment
which 1t may be possible for my administra-
tion to prevent,
The Interests of agriculture deserve more
attention from the government than they
have vet received. The farms of the United
States afford homes and employment for
more than one half of our people, and
furnish much the largest part of all our ex-
ports. As the government lights our coasts
for the protection Of n ariners and the bene-
fit of commerce, so it should give to the
tillers of the soil the best lights of practical
science and experience.
Our manufacturers are rapidly making us
indUstriously Independent, and are proving
to capital and labor new and profitable
fields OF employment. Their steady and
healthy growth should be still maintained.
Oar facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued Improvement of
our harbors and great interior water ways,
anj the increase of our tonnage on the
ocean.
The development of the worlds COM
merce has led to urgent demands for the
shortening of 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 have received
consideration, but none OF them have been
sufficiently matured to warrant the United
States In extending pecuniary aid. The
subject, however, is one which will imme-
diatelY engage the attention Of the govern
ment With new and thorough protection to
our commercial interests we will urge no
narrow policy nor seek peculiar or exclusive
privileges in any commercial route, but, in
the language of my predecessor, 81 believe
It to be the right and duty OF the United
States to assert and maintain such super
vision and authority over any interoceanic
canal across the isthmus that connects
North and South America as will protect
our national interests"
The Constitution guarantees absolute reli-
gious freedom. Congress Is prohibited from
making laws respecting an establishment
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof.
Territories OF the United States are sub
ject to the direct legislative authority of
Congress, and hence the General Govern
ment is responsible for any violation
of the Constitution in snv OF them.
1t Is therefore a reproach to the govern
ment that in the most populous
of the Territories the constitutional guaran-
tee is not enjoyed by the people, and the
authority of Congress Is set at naught The
Mormon Church not only offends the morals
of mankind by sanctioning polygamy, but
prevents the administration OF justice
through the ordinary instrumentalities of
law. In my Judgment, 1t is
the duty OF Congress, while respect
ing to the uttermost the conscientious
convictions and religious scruples Of every
citizen, to prohibit within its jurisdiction
all criminal practices, especially of that
class which destroy family relations and
endanger social order. Nor can any
ecclesiastical organization be safely permit
ted to usurp In the smallest degree the
functions and powers of the National Gov
The civil service can never be placed on a
basis until it is regulated by
laws 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 the obstruction to public busi
ness caused by the inordinate pressure for
place and the, protection of incumbents
against intrigue and wrong. / shall at the
proper time ask Congress to fix the tenure
of the minor offices of the several exec1-
tive departments, 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 authority
and limitation of the Constitution, invading
neither the rights of the States nor the reserv-
ed rights of the people, 1t will be the purpose
of my administration to maintain the au-
thority of the nation, and in all places with
In its Jurisdiction to enforce obedience to
all the laws OF the Union, and In the inter-
ests of the people to demand a rigid econo-
my In all the expenditures of the govern
ment, and to require honest and faithful
service of all executive officers, remember
ing that offices were created not for the
benefit of the incumbents or their support
ers, but for the service of the government.
And now, fellow citizens, am about to
assume the great trust which you have COM
mitted to my hands. | appeal to you for
that earnest and thoughtful support which
make this government In fact, as it is In
law, government of the people. shall
greatly rely especially upon the wisdom
and patriotism of Congress, and of those |
who may share with me the responsibilities |
and duties of my administration, and, above
all, upon our efforts to promote the welfare
Of this great people and their government | |
revereptly invoke the support and blessings |
Df Almighty God II
The address was delivered with uncovered |
head, calmly, and in voice clear and dis |
tuct, and was plainly heard by every one
upon the stand and for long distance on |
every hand. The delivery of the address
forty-fve minutes. At it's con-
clusion the cheering was long, continued I
and enthusiastic Chief Justice Waite then /