Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-03-12

slavery was ovelthrown, andthat both races
were made equal before the law We mny
hasten or we may retard, but we can not
prevent, final reconciliation. Is il not posi-. |
BILE for us now to make a truce with time bylI
anticipating and accepting its inevitable YER
dict? Enterprises of the highest Importance
TO oilr moral nhdi material well.bcing invite
us to offer An ample scope for the employs
tfent OF Our best powers Let MI bur people, 1
leaving behind them the battle ields OF dead
issues, move forward, and in the strength OF
Liberty and restored Union win the grandest
victories of peace.
The prospe ity which now. prevails Is with
out q parallel IN our history. Fruitful seasons
have done much to secure 1t, Bit they bave
not done all. The preservation of public
credit and theresumpiiono of specie payments,
so successfully obtained by the administra.
tion of my predecessor has enabled our peo-Y a
pie to secure the blessings which the seasons
brought, BY the experience OF commercinl
nations in all ages II has been found that gold
for monetary system. Confusion has recent.
ly been ereatediby variations in the relative
value of the two1netals, but confidently be
lieye that arfan ngeJpesra can be made between
the leading commercial nations which Will
secure. the general us90f beth metals. Con-
gfess Should pfosiGe that tie compulsory
coinage of silver no " required bylaw fnaynot
disturb our monetary system by driving either
metal out of civilization. II possible such an
adjustment should be made, that the purchas
ing power ofeveiy coined dollar viii be ex.
actly equal to It's debt-paying power jim all
markets of theiwoI1d. The chief duty OF the
National Government in connection with the
currency of the country Is to coin and
declare its value. Grave doubts have been
entertained whether Congress is authorized
by the Constitution to make any form OF pa.
perDloney legal tender. The present issue of
United States notes has been sustained by the
necessities of war, but such paper should
depend for its value and currency upon its
convenience In use and its prompt redemp.
ton in coin at the will OF the holder, and not
upon its compulsOrycircularf0n Thesenotes
are not money, but promises to pay money.
If tlie holders demand it the promises should
be kept. Tie refunding Of the national debt
at n dover rate of Interest should be. accom-
plished without compelling the withdrawalot
the national bank note, and thus disturbing
the business Of the country. Iventureto re-
fer to the position ! have occupied on the
financial question Curing long servicein Con-
gress, and to say thattlme hhd experience has
strengthened the opinionsl have 50 often ex:
pressed on these subjects. The finances of
the Governments shall suffer no detriment
which it may be possible for my administra-
ton TO prevent.
The interests of agriculture deserve more
attention from the fGoveIiinis Mt than they
have yet received The farms Of the
United States afford homes and etfti
ployment for more than -half
our people and furnish much thelargest part
OF all our exports. AS stheGoyernment lights
the benefit of commerce, oitshould give to the
tilers of the soil the lights of practical science
and experience. Our manufacturers are rap
IDLY making us industl1ously Independent ana
are opening to capital andlabor new and prof;
itable fields of employment. This steady and
healthy growth should still be maintained,
Our facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued Improvement OF
our harbors and great interior water ways
and by an increase to our tonnage
on the ocean. The development cf the
worlds commerce has led to an urgent de-
mand 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 have been
sufficiently matnred to warrant US in extend
| ing peeuniary aid he subject is one which
will Immediately engage the attention OF the
| Government, with view to thorough protec-
! ton to American 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 1t TO
/ be tile 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 inter
| ests." I. 'H
The Constitution guarantees absolute re-
| ligious freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any lawsrespecting the establishment
| OF rellglOn or DrOnlDltlng the Tree exercise
| thereof. The Territories of the United states
are subject to the direct legislative authority
| OF Congress- and hence the General Govern
ment is responsible for any violation of the
Censtitution in any of them. 1t is, therefore,
a reproach to the Government that In the
most populous of the Territories constitu-
| tional guarantee is not enjoyed by She people
and the authority OF Congr ess is set ut nansht
| The Mormon Church not only offends the
moral sense of mankind by sancti0nine
| nnlVUnm1V. hIlf nppVQntg fnn administration Ot
| Justice. IN my judgment Congress, while re-
| specting to the utteiplOst the conscientious
convictions and religiots scfpples OF every
| Citizen ought to prohibit within its julisdic-
tion all CRIMINAL practices, especially OF thitI
class which destroys family relations and en-
! dangers the social order Nor can any &C.
clesiastical organization be safely permitted
to usurp in the smallest degree the functions
and powers of the National Government
| The civil service can never be placed on q
satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law
for the good of the service itself. for the pro
| lection OF those who are entrusted with tn
i appointing power, against the waste OF time
and the obstruction OF public business causet
by the inOrdinate pressure for place, and fol
the protection of ncumbentS against intrigue
and wrong i shall at the proper time ash
Congress to fix the tenure of minor offices o
the several Executive departments and pre-
scribe the grounds upon which removals shal
be made during the terms for which the In
tumbents have been appointed finally, ,nctinf
| always WltDln Ut1c bhtHOf1CN anu luc l1llUd
tions of the Constitution, invading neitherthl
rights OF the State nor the reserved rights o
the people. r.- s.. y......'.. ..i...
twill be the purpose of my administration
to maintain authority mall places within IT.
jurisdiction, and TO enforce ODcd ence to thu
laws of the Union The interestso of the peo
pie demand economy in all the expenditure
of the Government, and require honest ant
faithful service OF ali executive officers, re
membering that offices were created, not TO
the benefit of incumbents or their supporters
but for the service of the Government. p :
And now, fellow citizens, am about to as
sumo the great trust whichyou have commit
ted to my hands. ! appeal toyou for tina
earnest and thoughtful support which make
this Government in fact, MS it is in law, aGov
ernment of the people. shall greatly rel
upon the wisdom and patriotism of Con
gress and of those who may E shar
with me the the responsibilities and duties c
the Administrator. And upon our effort
to promote the welfare OF this great peopl
and the Government, / reverently invoke til
support and blessing of the Almighty God.