Year: 1869

INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


Citizens of the United States: ~'


Your sufrages having elevated me to
the Office of President of the United
States, l have, in conformity with the
Constitution of our country, taken the
oath of office provided therein. have
taken this oath without mental reserva-
tion, and with the determination to do, to
the best of my ability, all that is required
of me. The responsibilities of the posi-
ton feel, but accept them without fear
The Office has come to me unsought, |
commence its duties untrammeled. l
bring to it conscientious desire and de-
termination to fill it to the best of my
ability, and to the satisfaction of the
people. H %


On all leading questions agitating the
public mind, 1 will always express my
views to Congress, and urge them accord
ing to my judgment, and when think it
advisable | will exercise the constitutional
privilege of interposing veto to defeat
measures which Ioppose; but all laws will
be faithfully executed, whether they meet
my approval or not. shall on all sub
jects have policy to recommend, none to
enforce against the will of the people;
laws are to govern all alike, those opposed
to, as well as those who favor them. /
know no method to secure the repeal of
bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their
stringent execution.


The country having Just emerged from
great rebellion, many questions will
come before it for settlement in the next
four years which the preceding Admins
trations have never had to deal with. In
meeting these it is desirable that they
should be approached calmly, without
prejudice, hate or sectional pride, remem-
bering that the greatest good to the greatest
number is the object to be attained. This
requires security of person and property,
and toleartion for religious and political
opinion in every part of our common coun-
try, without regard to local prejudice
Laws to secure these will receive my best
efforts for their enforcement.


A great debt has been contracted in
securing to us and our posterity the Union.
The payment of this, principal and in
terest, as well as the return to q specie
basis, as soon as it can be accomplished
without material detriment to the debtor
class or TO the country at large, must be
provided for. Il aL1J EikeJl A


We must protect the national honor.
Every dollar of the Government indebted
ness should be paid in gold, unless other
wise expressly stipulated in the contract.
Let it be understood that no repudiator of
one farthing Of our public debt will be
trusted in public place, and it will 60 far
toward strengthening a credit which
ought to be the best in the world, and will,
ultimately, enable us to replace the debt
with bonds bearing less interest than we
now pay. To this should be added faith.
full collection of the revenue, strict &C
countability to the Treasury for every
dollar collected, and the greatest practical
BILE retrenchment in expenditure in every
Department of the Government. When
we compare the paying capacity of the
country now, with ten States still in pow
erty, from the effects of war, but soon to
emerge, | trust, into greater prosperity
than ever before, with It's paying capacity
twenty-five years ago, and calculate what
it will be twenty-five years hence, who
can doubt the feasibility of paying every
dollar then with more ease than we new
pay for useless luxuriesf


Why, 1t looks as though Providence had
bestowed upon us the strong box-the
precious metals locked up in the sterile
mountains of the far West, which we are
now forging the key to unlock-to meet
the very contingency that is now upon
us. Ultimately it may be necessary to in
crease the facilities to reach these riches,
and 1t may be necessary, also, that the
General Government should give it's aid to
secure this access, but that should only be
when dollar of obligation to pay secures
precisely the same sort of dollar to use
now, and not before


Whle the question OF specie payment
is in allegiance, the prudent business man
is careful about contracting debts payable
in the distant future. The nation should
follow the same rule. q PROSTATE COM
merce is to be rebuilt and.all industries en-
couraged. The young men of the country
those who, from their age, must be its
rulers twenty five years hence have pc,
culiar interest in maintaining the national
honor. A moments reflection as to what
will be our commanding influence among
the nations of the earth in their day, If
they are only true to themselves, should
inspire them with national pride. All di-
visions, geographical, political and re-
ligious, can join in this common senti-
ment.


How the public debt is to be paid, or
specie payment resumed, is not 80 i'm
portant as that plan should be adopted
and acquiesced in A united determina-
ton to do, is worth more than divided
counsel upon the method of doing. Leg
islation upon the subject may not be
necessary now, or even advisable, but it
will be when the civil law is more fully
restored in all parts of the country, and
trade resumes its wonted channel.


1t will be my endeavor to execute all
laws in good faith, collect all revenues as
sessed, and to have them properly ac-
counted for and economically disbursed.
shall, to the best of my ability, appoint
to office those only who will carry out
this design. er EfN~r -,
In regard to foreign policy, would deal
with nations equitably, as the law re-
quires individuals to deal with each other,
and would protect law-abiding citizen,
whether of native or foreign birth, wher-
ever his rights are jeopardized or the flag
of our country floats. Iwould respect the
rights Of all nations, demanding equal re-
spect for our own. If others depart from
this rule in their dealings with us we may
be compelled to follow their precedent.
The proper treatment OF the original oc-
cupants of this land-the Indians-is one
deserving care and equal study, and / will
favor any course towards them which
tends to their civilization, Christianiza-
ton and ultimate citizenship.


The question of suffrage is one which IS
likely to agitate the public 80 long as
portion of the citizens of the nation are
excluded from its privileges in any State
1t seems to me very desirable that TINS
question should be settled now. / enter
tain the. hope, and express the desire,