Year: 1869

Citizens of the URiled Sidies.- Your suffra- | ges having elevated me to the office of Pres ident of the United States 1 have, in con | formity with the Constitution of our country, | taken the oath of office presented therein | 1 have taken this oath without mental reser- | vaton, and with the determination to do to | the best of my ability all that 1t requires of me. The responsibilities of the position 1 l feel but accept them without fear. The office l has come to me unsought, and 1 commence the duties untrammeleG. bring to it a con- | scientious desire and determination to fulfil | 1t to the best of my ability and to tho Satis- faction of the people. On all the leading questions agitating the public mind win express my views to Con- gress and urge them according to my judg- ment; and when l think it advisable l will always exercise the constitutional privilege of interposing veto Co defeat measures which I oppose. But all the laws will be faithfully executed, whether they meet my approval or not. I shall on all subjects have a policy to recommend-none to enforce against the will of the people. Laws are 10 govern all alike; those opposed 10 as well as those who favor them. I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws So effective as their stringent execution.

 The country having just emerged from a Sicab Icoctiols many QuesAlohs VIII COuie De- fore it for settlement in the next four years, which preceding administrations have never had to deal with. In meeting this, it is de- sirable that they should be approached calm ly, without prejudice, or state or sectional pride, remembering that the greatest good to the greatest number is the object to be at tained. This requires security of person, property, and for religious and political opin- ion in every part of our common country, without regard to locality or prejudice Laws to secure these will receive my best efforts for their enforcement.

 A great debt has been contracted in secur- ing us aad our posterity the Union. The pay ment of this principal and interest, as well as the return to a specie basis. as soon as 1t can be accomplished without material detriment to the debtor class, or the country at large, must be provided for To protect the national honor, every dollar of the Government In- debtedness should be paid in gold, unless otherwise expressed and stipulated in the contract Lstst be understood that no re- pudiator of one farthipg of our public debt, will be trusted in public place. and it will go far towards strengthening 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 VIC now pay

 To this should be added faithful coilec- ton of the revenue, a strict accountability to the treasury for every dollar collected, and the greatest practicable retrenchment in ex- penditure in every department of the Gov ernment. When we compare the paying ca pacity of the country now, and ten States still in poverty from the effects of war. but soon to emerge, trust into greater prosper ity than ever before, with its paying capacity twenty five years ago, and calculate what it prohahlv will ka -fva vn.rs ka,ca who can doubt the feasibility of paying every dollar then with more ease than we now nay for useless luxuries. Why, it looks as though Providence has bestowed upon us q strong box of the precious metals locked up in the sterile mountains of the far West, which we are now forging the key to unlock and meet the very contingency that is now upon us.

 Ultimately it may be necessary that the General Government should give its 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. While this question of specie payment is in abeyance, the prudent and bus iness man is careful about contracting debts payable in the distant future. The nation should follow the same rule. A prostrate commerce s to be rebuilt and all the indus tries encouraged The young men of the country-those who, from their age, must be its rulers 25 years hence, have particular interest in maintaining the national honor In moments reflection as to what will bt our commanding influence among the nations of the earth in their day, if they are only true to themselves, should inspire them with na tjonal pride. All divisions, geographical, DO Htical and religious, can join in this common sentiment. How the public debt is to bs paid, or specie payment resumed, is not ss important as that plan should be adopted and acquiesced in. A united determination to do it is worth more than divided counei upon the method of doing it. Legislation upon this subject may not be necessary now or even advisable, but it will be when thu civil law is restored in all parts of the conn try, and trade resumes it's wonted channel

 It will be my endeavor to execute all law in good faith, collect all revenues assessed and to have them properly accounted for an, economically disbursed. It will be, to tn best of my ability, my endeayor to appoin to office those only who will carry out thi design.

 Tn regard to foreign policy, would dea with sections as equitably as the law require individuals to deal with each other, and

 would protect law abiding citizens, whethe of native or foreign birth, wherever his right are jeopardized, or the flag of our countr floats. would respect the rights of all ma tions, demanding equal respect for our owr If others depart from this rule in their deal ings with us, we may be compelled to follow their precedents.

 The proper treatment of the original occu pants of the lands, the Indians, is one desery ing care and equal study. win favor an course towards them which tends to thei civilization, Christianization and ultimate ci, .fzsnship.