Year: 1869

! the Office OF PRESIDENT Ol ILe OulCSU
States. I have, in conformity with the
Constitution of our country, taken the
oath of office prescribed therein. l
have taken the oath without mental
reservation and with the determine
tion to do to the best of my ability all
that it REQUIRES of me. The response
bilities | feel but accept them without
fear. The office has come to me un-
sought: l commence its duties un-
! trammeled. I bring to it a conscien-
tfous desire and determination to fill
it to the best of my ability, to the sat
isfaction of the people. Onallthe lead
ing questions agitating the public
mind, l will always express my views
to congress and urge them according
| to my judgment and when think IL
advisable l will exercise the cOnstitu-
tional privilege of interpOsing a veto
to defeat measures which / oppose /;
but all laws will be faithfully yeXecuted
whether they meet my approval or
not. / shall on all subjects have a
policy to recommend, none to enforce
against the will of the people. Laws
are to govern all alike, those opposed
as well as those who favor them. L
know no method to secure the repeal
of bad laws so effective as their strln-
gent enforcement.


The country having just immerged
from a great rebellion many questions
will come before it for settlement IN
the next four years which preceding
administrations have never had to
deal with. In meeting these it is de-
sirable that they should be beapproach-
ed calmly, without prejudice, hate or
eectiOnal pride, remembering that the
greatest good to the greatest number
is the object to be attained. This re-
quires security of person and property
and for religious and political opinion
in every part of our country without
regard to local prejudice. Laws to Sc
sure 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, princi-
pal and interest, as we'll as the return
to specie basis as soon as it can be ac-
cOmplished without material detri-
ment to the debtor class or the cOun-
try at large, must be provided for.
| To protect the national honor,
every dollar of government indebt-
edness should be paid in gold unless
otherwise expressly stipulated in the
contract. Let it be understood that no
repudiatOr of one farthing of our debt
will be trusted in place, and will go faT
toward strengthening a credit which
ought to be the best in the world, and
would ultimately enable us to replace
the debt with bonds bearing less inte-
rest than we now have to pay. TIC
4 this should be added faithful collec-
ton of the revenue, a strict accOunta-
bility to the treasury for every dollar
collected and: the greatest possible re-
trenchment in expenditures in every
department OF the government. When
we compare the paying capacity of the
country now, with ten States still in
poverty from the effects of war but
soon to immerge trust into greater
prosperity tkan ever before, with its
paving capacity 25 years ago, anC
calculate what it probably 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 luXuTies. Why 1T looks as
Iif providence had bestowed upon us
a strong box, the precious metals lock
ed in the mountains of the far west
which we are now forging the key tC
unlock to meet the very contingency
which is now upon us. Ultimately II
may be necessary to increase the tacll-
tiles for reaching these riches, and II
may be necessary also that the gene
raj government should give its aid tC
secure this access, but that should only
be when a dollar of obligation to pay
secures precisely the same it costs now
| Ia
of specie payment is in allegiance the
prudent business man is careful about
contracting debts payable in the dis


tant future. The nation should adopts
similar rule. A prOstrate commerce
is to be rebuilt and all industries en-.
courage. The young men of our cOun.
try, those who from their age must be
its rulers twenty-five years hence have
a peculiar interest in maintaining the
national honor. A moments reflec
tiOn as to what will be our command
ing influence among the nations of the
earth in their day if they are only true
to themselves should inspire them
with national pride. All divisions
geographical, political and religious
can join in this common sentiment.


How the public debt is to be paid
: or specie payment resumed, is not &C
important as that plan should be
adopted and acquiescedin. A determi.
nation to do is worth more than divid.
ed council upon the method of doing
Legislation upon this subject NAV
not be necessary now, or even advisa.
BILE but it will be when the civil law
is more fully restored in all parts of the
country, and trade has resumed its
wonted channel, it will be my en-.
deavOr to execute all laws i'm GOOD
faith, collect all revenues assessed, and
to have them properly accounted fol
and economically disbursed. I will


to the best of my ability, appoint tC
office those only who will carry out thi:
design.


In regard to foreign policy, would
deal with nations as equitabIy as the
law requires individuals to deal with
each other, and would protect law
abiding citizens, native or foreign born
wherever their rights are recognized, Oh
the flag of our country floats. Woo
respect the rights of all nations, anC
demand equal respect for our own


If others depart from this rule in theil
dealings with us, we may be com
PEELED to follow their precedent.


The proper treatment of the Original
occupants of this land (the Indians)
is one deserving careful study. viii
favor any cause towards them which
tends toward their civilization, chris
tianization and ultimate citizenship.
The question of suffragei is one which
will agitate the public so long as a Dor
tiOn of the citizens of the nation ar,
excluded from its privileges in any
State. It seems to me very desirable
that this question should be settled
now. [ entertain the hope, and ex
press the desire that it may be settled
by the ratification of the 18th Articl,
of the Amendments to the Constitution


In candOr, L ask patience and for
'bearance, one to another, throughou


the land; and determined effort or
the part of every citizen, to do hi.
share toward cementing happy unioI
i--oaA Il och Tho -