The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-03-12
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S INAUGU-
RAJ ADDRESS.

hundred years of National life-a cen
tury crowded with perils, but crowned
with the triumphs Of liberty and law
| Before continuing the onward march, lie
strengthen our faith and renew our hop,
by glance at the pathway along which
our people have travelled. 1t is now three
days since the adoption of the first writ
ten Constitution of the United States
the articles of confederation and perpet
ual union. The new Republic was thus
beset with danger on every hand. 1t hat
not conquered a place in the family o.
nations. The decisive battle of the wal
for independence, whose centennial ami
versary will soon be gratefully celebrated
at Yorktown, had not yet been fought.
The colonists were struggling not only
against armies of great nation, but
against the settled opinions of mankind
for the world did not then believe that
the supreme authority of Government
could be safely entrusted to the guar
dianship 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
elfgovernment.
When they found, after q short trial,
the Confederacy of States was too weak
to meet the necessity of vigorous and
expanding Republic. they boldly set it
aside, and in its stead established Ma
tional Union, founded directly upon the
whole of the people, endowed with full
powers of selfpreservation, and with
ample authority for the accomplishment
of other great objects.
Under this Constitution boundaries of
freedom have been enlarged. the founda-
tions of order and peace have been
strengthened, and the growth of GU,
people in all the better elements of ma
tional life has indicated the wisdom of
the founders and given new hope to their
descendants.
Under the Constitution our people long
ago made themselves safe against danger
from without. and secured for their ma, :
iners and flag equality Of rights on all
the seas.
Under this Constitution twenty-five
States have been added to the Union
with constitution and laws framed and
enforced by their own citizens, to secure
the manifold blessings of local sclf-gov-
eminent
The jurisdiction of their Constitution
now covers an area fifty times greater
than that Of the original thirteen States.
ard a population twenty times greater
than that of 1850.
The supreme trial Of the Constitution
came at last under the tremendous pres
sure of the civil war. We. ourselves, are
witnesses that the Union emerged from
the blood and fire of that conflict purified
and made stronger for all the bcneticent
purposes of good government.
And now, at the close of this first cen
fury of growth, with the inspiration o:
its history in their hearts. our peopl.
have lately renewed the condition of tn,
nation, passed Judgment upon the con
duct and opinions Of political parties
and have registered their will concernin.
the future administration of the Govern
ment. To interpret and to execute that
will in accordance with the Constitution
is the paramount duty of the Executive
FACING TO THE FRONT.
Even from this brief review it is mani
fest that the nation is resolutely facin,
to the front, resolved to employ its besr
energies III developing the great possibii
tiles of the future. Sacredly preserving
whatever has been gained to liberty ant
good government during the century, oup
people are determined to leave behind
them all those bitter controversies con
corning things which have been irrevoca
bly, settled, and the further discussion OF
which can only stir up strife and della!
the onward march.
The supremacy of the nation and its
laws should be no longer subject of d, :
bate. That discussion which for half a
century threatened 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 the laws made in pursuance thereof,
are, and shall continue to be, the supreme
law of the land, binding alike upon TIL,
States and the people. This decree does
not disturb the autonomy of the States
nor interfere with any of their necessar,
rights of local self-government, but il
does fix and establish the permanent SUI
premacy of the Union.
The will of the nation, speaking with
the voice of battle and through til,
amended constitution. has fulfilled thu
great promise of 1716, by proclaimine
liberty throughout the land to all the
Inhabitants thereof
The elevation OF the negro race from
slavery to the full rights of citizenship il
the most important political change w.
have known since the adoption of the
Constitution of 1877. No thoughtful
man can fail to appreciate its bene6cent
of N and npnnlp
1t has freed US from the perpetual dan.
ger Of war and dissolution. 1t has added
immensely to the moral and individual
forces of our people.
1t has liberated the master as well as
the slave from Il relation which wrongeG
and enfeebled both. 1t has surrei.d Il ed
to their own guardianship the manhood
of more than 5000, 900 people, and has
opened to each one of them career OF
freedom and usefulness. 1t has given
new inspiration to the power of self-hell
in both races by making labor more hon
0rable to the one and more necessary tC
the other. The influence of this force
will grow greater and bear rich fruit with
the coming years.
No doubt the great change has caused
serious disturbance to our Southern CON-
munities. This is to be deplored, though
it was. perhaps, unavoidable.
But those who resisted the chan ge
should remember that. under our insti
tutions. there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and euua
citizenship. There can be no permanent
disfranchised peasantry in the United