The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-10
President Garfeld's inaugural Address.

L
The following is the address delivered
by President Garfield on the occasion of
his Inauguration on Friday last:
FELLOW. .CrT1zENs-We stand to-day
upon an eminence which overlooks
hundred years of National life.-a century
crowded with perils, but crowned with
triumphs of liberty and law. Before
continuing the onward march, let US
pause on this heighth for a moment to
strengthen our faith and renew our hope
by glance at the pathway along which
our people have travelled. 1t is now
three days more than hundred years
since the adoption of the 6rst written
Constitution of the United States, the
articles Of confederation and perpetual
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 cele'
brated at Yorktown, had not yet been
fought. The Colonists we're struggling
not only against the armies of great
nation, but against the settled opinions of
mankind, for the world did did not then
believe that supreme authority of govern
ment could be safely entrusted to the
guardianship of the people themselves.
We cannot overestimate the fervent
love of liberty, intelligent courage and
saving common sense with which our
fathers made the great experiment Of
self.government. When they found,
after short trial, that the confederacy
of States was too weak to meet the me-
cessities of a vigorous and expanding
republic, they boldly set it aside, and in
it's stead established National Union,
founded directly upon the will of the
people, endowed with full powers ofself-
preservation and with ample authority
for the accomplishment of it's great
objects. Under this Constitution the
boundaries of freedom have been
enlarged, the foundations of order and
peace have been strengthened, and the
growth of our people, in all the better
elements of National life, has indicated
the wisdom of the founders and given
new hope to their descendants. Under
this Constitution our people long ago
made themselves safe against danger
from without, and secured for their ma:
| riners and flag equality of rights on all
| seas. Under this Constitution twenty
five States have been added to the Un.
ion, with constitutions and laws framed
and enforced by their own citizens to
secure manifold blessing of local self
government. The Jurisdiction of this
| Constitution now covers an area fifty
times greater than that of 1880. The
supreme trial of the Constitution came at
last under the tremendous pressure ofthe
cival war. We ourselves are witnesses
that the Union emerged from the blood
and fire of that conflict purified and
| made stronger for all bene6cent purposes
of good government. And now, at the
close of this first century of its growth,
with inspirations of its history in their
hearts, our people have lately
reviewed the condition of the Nation,
passed judgment upon the conduct and
opinions OF political parties, and
have registered their will concern
ing the future administration of the Gov
ment. To interpret and to execute that
will in accordance with the Constitution
is the paramount duty of the Executive.
Even from this brief review it is manifest
that the Nation is resolutely facing to
the front, resolved to employ its best
energies in developing the great possibil-
tiles of the future, sacredly preserving
whatever has been gained to liberty and
good government during the century.
| Our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter controver-
sizes concerning things which have been
irrevocably settled, and further discus.
sion of which can only stir up strife and
delay the onward march. The suprema-
cy Of the Nation and its laws should be
| no longer subject of debate; that dis
cussion which for half a century threat.
ened the existence of the Union, was
closed at last in the high court of war by
decree from which there is no appeal /;
that the Constitution and laws made in
pursuance thereof are and shall continue
to be the supreme law of the land,
binding alike upon States and people.
This decree does not disturb the autono-
my of States, nor interfere with any Of
their necessary rights of local self.gov-
ernment, but it does fix and establish the
permanent supremacy of the Union.
The will of Nation, speaking with the
voices of battle and through the amended
Constitution, has fulfilled the great
promise of 1776 by proclaiming liberty
throughout the land to all inhabitants
thereof. The elevation of the negro race
from slavery to the full rights of citizen.
ship is the most important political
change We have known since the adop-
ton of the Constitution Of 1887. No
thoughtful man can fail to appreciate its
bene6cent effect upon our institutions
and people. It has freed US from perpet-
ual danger of war and dissolution. 1t has
added immensely to the moral aud indus
trial forces ofour people. 1t has liberia.
ted the master as we'll as the slave from a
relation which wronged and enfeebled
both. 1t has surrendered to their own
guardianship the manhood of more than
Eve million of people, and has opened to
each one of them career of freedom and
usefulness. 1t has given new inspira-
ClOu 10 Lue power VI eel-ueip al poLu
races by making labor more honorable to
the other The influence of this force
will grow greater aud bear richer fruit
with coming years. No doubt the great
change has caused serious disturbance to
our Southern communities. This is to be
deplored, though it was, perhaps, una
voidable. But those who resisted the
change should remember that, under our
institutions, there was no middle ground
for the negro race between slavery and
equal citizenship. There can be no
permanent DISTINGUISHED peasantry in
the United States. Freedom can never
yield its fullness of blessings so long as
the law or its administration places the
smallest obstacle in the pathway of any
virtuous citizen. The emancipated race
has already made remarkable progress,
with unquestioning devotion to the Un.
ion. With patience and gentleness not
born of fear, they have followed light as
God gave them to see light They are