The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-19

occupied on financial gueations dur
ing long service in Congress ,:and to
say that time and experience have
strengthened the opinions / have a.
often expressed on Thesis subjects.
The financrs Of the governments shall
suffer no tlttriment which it may he
possible for my administration to
prevent.
AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURES AND
COMMERCE.
The interests Of the agricultural
classes deserve more attention from
the government than they have vet
received. The farms Of the United
States afford homes and employ moi ut
for more than half our people, and
furnish much the largest part Of all
our exports. As the government
lights our coasts for tn, protection of
mariners and the benefit Of commerce,
SO it should give to the tillers Of the
soil tho best lights uf practical science
and experience.
Our manufactures are rapidly
making Us industrially inlepeude Mt,
and are opening to capital aud labor
new and profitable fields Of employ
ment. This steady and healthy
growth should still he maintained.
Our facilities for transportation
should be promoted by tito continued
improvement Of our ,arhrr and
great interior waterways, and BY the
Increase vt our tsnnngc on the oceaD.
The development IF The worlds
commerce has led t. sn urgent
demand for shortening tho grrst sea
voyage around Cape Horn by con-
stfucting ship cana|s or railvays
across the i.thmus which unites the
two continents. Various plans to
this end have beep suggested and
will need confederation. but none Of
them have been snfficieDtly matured
to warrant the United States in ex-
tending I'ecuniary aid. The subject.
however, is ono which will iu,lne.ii-
ately engage the attention Of the
government with view to u thorough
protection "f American interests. We
will urge no narrow pulley nor seek
peculiar or exclusive privileges in
any commercial route, ,nt in the Ian
guags Of my predecessor, ~ believe
it to be the right and duty Of the Uni
ted States to assert and maintain
such supervision and authority over
any iuter-nceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and
South America rs will protect our
national interests.
TIE MORMON QUESTION.
The constitution guarantees abso-
lutte religious freedom. Congress is
prohibited from making any law re-
specting establishment Of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
The Territories Of the United States
are subject to- the direct legislative
authority Of Congress aud hence the
general government 10 responsible for
any violation Of the constitution in
any of them. It is therefore q re-
proach to the government that in the
mont popu'ous o. the Territories this
constitutional guarantee is not en-
joye1 by the people and the authority
Ut Congress in set at Daught. The
Mormon Church not only offends tie
moral sense of mankind by sanction
ing polygany, but prevents the adj
ministration of justice through, the
ordinary instrulnentaIitiea of law. In
my Judgment it is the duty Of Con-
gress, while respecting to the inter- !
most tho conscientious convictions
and religious scruples Of every citi-
zen, to prohibit within its jnrisdi ction |
all criminal practices, especially Of
that class which destroy family re'a-
tons aud sndangcr social order. Nor
can any ecclesiastical organization be |
safely permitted to usnrp iu the snall- |
est degree the fEnetipns and powers
of the national government.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The civil service can never be
placed on X satisfactory basis until it
is regulated by law for the good of
TIE service itself and for the protec-
ton of those v no are entrusted with
the appointing power against waste
Of time aud delay Of public business
caused by inurdinate pressure for pla-
ces, and for the protection of iDcum-
bents against intrigue and wrong. II
shall at the proper time ask Congress
TO fix the tenure of minor Offices of
The several executive departments
and prescribe the grounds upon which
shall be made during the
terms for which the iucumbents have
Deen appointed.
CONCLUSION.
Finally, acting always within the
authority and limitations Of the con-
invading neither the rights
# States nor the reserved rights Of
he people, it will be the purpose Of
ny administration to maintain the I
'uthority and in all places within it's
Jurisdiction to enforce obedience to
III the laws Of the Union in the inter
sts Of the people; to demand rigid
economy in all the expenditures of
be government, and to require the ,
onest and faithful service Of all ex- 9
cntive officers, remembering that the q
ffices were Gre ted not for the benefit
f incumbents Or their supporters, but .
OF the service of the government.
And now, fellow citizens, l am
bout to assume the great trust which
on have committed to my hands. =
ppeal to you for that earnest and .
thoughtful support which makes this $
overnment in fact, as it is 10 law, G
overnment of the people. I shall .
realty rely upon t wisdom and e
o. Congress and of those t.
no may share with me the response Q
ilities and duties of administration -
nd above all, upon our efforts to n
remote the welfare of this great peo- 81
lie and their government l reverently n
woke the suDnork and bleaainUs If q