Year: 1869

GENERAL GRANT took the oath of office
as President of the United States al noon
on the 4th, and soon afterward delivered
his Inaugural Address, which is as fol-
lows:


INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


Citizens of the United States:


Your sutfrages 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. 1 have
taken this oath without mental reseIya-
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. |
bring to it conscientious desire and de-
termination to fill it to the best of my
ability, and to the satisfaction of the
people.


On all leading questions agitating the
public mind, will always express my
views to Congress, and urge them accord
ing to my Judgment, and when think it
advisable will exercise the constitutional
Va lutCi pOoiHS tCtO W OClCsil
measures which oppose; 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 vel 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
a 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 COM
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 a specie
basis as soon as it can be accomplished
without material detriment to the debtor
class or 10 the country at large, must be
provided for.


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 go far
toward 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 tnan we
now pay. To this should be added faith
ful collection of the revenue, a strict ac
countability to the Treasury for every
dollar collected, and the greatest practlca-
BILE retrenchment in expenditure ii 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 If war, but soon to
emerge, | trust, into greater prosperity
than ever before, with its 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 now
pay for useless luxuriess


Why, it 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,
end it may be necessary, also, 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 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. A PROSTATE com
merce is to be rebuilt snd;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
cuiGr interes; in maintaining the national
homer 4 moments reflection "a TO what
vii. be ouf commanding influence among
ihe asliene of the earth in :lcir day, u