The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-16

venture to refer TO the business ! have
occupied on financial questions 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 dctriment
which it may be possible for my admin
istration to prevent.
The interest of agriculture deserves
more attention from the government
than they have yet received. The farms
of the farmers of the United states
offer homes and employment for more
than One-half Of our people, and furnish
much the larger part of all our exports.
As the government liz hts our coasts for
the protection of our mariners and the
hencti of commerce, So it should give
the tiller Of the soil the best lights of
practical science and experience. Our
manufacturers are rapidly making us in
dustrially independent, aud are opening
to capital ard labor new and profitable
schemes of employment. Their steady
and healthy growth should still be main
! taincd.
Our facilities for transportation should
| be promoted by the continued improve
ment of our harbors and the great in
terror water ways, and 10y the increase
| Of our tonnage on the oceans.
The development of the worlds COM
merce has led to an urgent demand for
shortening 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 will need consideration but none of
them has been sufficiently maturcd to
warrant united aid, The subject, how
ever, is one which will Immediately en-
gage the attention of the government
with view to a thorough protection to
American interests We will urge no
narrow policy, nor seek peculiar or eX-
elusive privilege in any commercial
route, but in the language of my pre-
dccessor, "Ibclieve 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
interests"
The constitution guarantees absolute
freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting IN establish
mcnt of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof. The tcrritorie- Of the
United States are subject TO the direct
legislative authority Of Congress, and
hence the general government is reHp0n-
siblc for any violence Of the constitution
in anv of them. II is therefore, re
proach to the government that in the
most populous of the territories the CON
stitutional guarantee iS not enjoyed by
the people, and the authority o Con-
grc.s is Hct at naughl. The Mormon
church is not only an oticnsc to the
moral sense Of mankind by sancllunlng
poIvgamv, but prevents the administra-
| ton of Justice through the ordinary in
strumentalitics OF law. In my judg-
mcnt it is the duty of Congress, while
respecting to the uttcrmost the conEclrn-
tious convictions and religious scrupIcs
of every citizen, to prohibit within its
jurisdiction, all criminal practices, cs-
pcciaIlv of that class which deetroy fam
ily relations and cndangcr social order.
Nor can any ecclesiastical organization
be safely permitted to usurp in the
smallest degree the functionsand powers
of the national government
The civil service can never be placed
on a satisfactory basis until it Il rcgula-
ted 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 obstruction
tn public business caused by the innrdl-
nate pressure for place and for the pro
lection Of incumbent against intrigue
and wrong. shall, at the proper time,
ask congress to fix the tenure Of minor
Offices OF the several executive depart.
ments, and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall be made during
the terms for which incumbcnt5 have
been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the All
thority and limitations of the con-ttu-
ton, invading neither the rights Of the
states nor the reserved rights OF the pco-
pie, it will be the purpose OF my admin
iatration to maintain tie authority Of
the nation, and in all places within its
jurisdiction enferce obedience to all the
laws of the union; on the interests of
the people to demand rigid economy in
all the expenditures OF the government,
and to require the honest and faithful
service of all executive Offices, remem
boring that the Offices were created, not
for the benefit of the incumbents or their
supporters, but for the service of the
government.
And now, fellow citizens, am about
to assume the great trust which you
have committed to my hands. appeal
to you for that earnest and thoughtful
support which makes this government,
in fact, as it is in law, government of
the people. shall greatly rely upon
the wisdom and patriotism of congress,
of those who may share with us the re
sponsibilitics and duties Of administra
ton, and above all on our efforts to pro
mote the welfare Of this great people
and their government, | revercntIy in
woke the support and blessings OF Al
mighty God.
SIS Patriotism Dying Out!"
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