Year: 1877

Uitu lO repeat Tie puDiiC CCi Cihohidt oc-
gun by Washington. observed by all my
predecessors. and now time-honored
custom which marks the commencement
OF new term of the Presidential Office.
Called to the duties of this great trust.
proceed, in compliance with usage TO
announce some of the leading principles
on the subjects that now chiefly engage
the public attention. by which it Is my
desire to be guided i'm the discharge of
those duties. | shall not undertake to
lay down irrevocably principles or meas
ures OF administration. but rather to
speak Of the motives which should ami
mate us, and 10 suggest certain import
ant ends to be attained in accordance
with our institutions and essential to the
welfare Of our country.


At the outset of the discussion which
preceded the recent Presidential election
it seemed to me fitting that should
fully make known my sentiments in re-
gard TO several of tho important ques-
tions which then appeared to demand
the consideration of the country. Fol
lowing the example. and in part adopt
ing the language of one of my prede-
cessOrs. wish now, when every motive
for miSapprehension has passed away. to
repeat what was said before the election.
trusting that my cou"trymen will can
didly weigh and understand it, and that
they will feel assured that thesenlimen's
declared i'm accepting the nomination for
the Presidency will sbe the standard of
nv conduct in the path before me.
Charged as l now am with the grave and
difficult task of carrying them out in the
practical administration of the govern
ment. SD far as depends under the con-
stitution and laws on the Chief EXecu-
tive Of the Nation. the permanent pacifi-
cation of the country upon such prince
Piles and by such measures rs will secure
The complete protection of all its citizens
i'm the free enjoyment of all their con-
stitutional rights is now the one subjecr
i'm public affairs which all thoughtful and
patriotic citizens regard us of supreme
Importance.


THE SOUTHERN STATES.


Many of the calamitous effects Of the
tremendous revolution which has passed
over the southern states sill remain
The immeaslIrabie benefits which will
surely follow sooner or later the hearty
and generous acceptance of the
legitimate results OF that revolution, have
not yet been realized. Difficult and EN-
barraSSing questions meet us ut the
threshold of this subject. The people OF
these states are still impoverished.s and
the inesimable blessings of wise. honest
and peaceful local governments are not
fully enjoyed. Whatever difference ol
opinion may exist as TO the cause of this
condition OF things, the fact is clear that
i'm the progress of events the time has
come when such government is an i'm
perative necessity, required by all the
varied interests. public and private, OF
those states. but il must not be forgotten
that only local government which rec
ognizes and maintains inviolate the
rights of all is a true self-gOvernment
with respect to the two distinct races
whose peculiar relations to each other
have brought upon us the deplorable
complications and perpleXities which eX-
iSt in these states. 1t must be a govern
ment which protects the interests of both
races carefully and equally. 1t must be-
a government which submits loyalty and
heartily TO lbe constitution and laws.
both the laws of the nation and the laws
of the states themselves, accepting and
obeyIng faithfully the whole cOnstilu-
ton as it is. Resting upon this sure and
substantial foundation. the superstruc-
ture of beneficent local government can
be built up, and not otherwise.


In furtherance of such obedience TO
the letter and spirit of the constitution.
and i'm behalf Of all that its attainment
implies, all sO-called party interests lose
their appalent importance and party
lines may well be permitted to fall into
insignificance. The question we have TO
consider for the immediate welfare of
those states of the Union, is the question
of government or no governments. of So
cial order and all the peaceful industries
and the happiness that belongs to it. or a
return TO barbarIsm. 1t is question in
whic'. every citizen Of the nation is deep
ly interested, and with respect to which
we ought not to be i'm partisan sense
either Republicans or Democrats. but
fellow citizens and fellow men, to whom
the interests of a common country and
common humanity are dear.


The sweeping revolution of the entire
labor of large portion of orr country.
and the advance of 100000 of people
from condition of servitnde to that OF
citizenship, upon an equal footing with





without presenting problems of the
gravest moment, to be dealt with by the
emancipated race. by their former mas,
tiers and by the general government. the
author of the act OF emancipation. That
it was wise, just and providential act.
fraught with good for all concerned. is
now generally conceded throughout the
country. That a moral obligation rests
upon the national government to employ
its constitutional power and influence to
establish the rights of the people it has
emancipated and to protect them i'm the
enjoyment of those rights when they are
infringed or assailed is also generally ad
mitted. fhe evils which effect the south
ern states can only be removed or rem.
edied by the united and harmonious tf-
forts OF both races, actuated by motives
of mutual sympathy and regard. and
while in duty bound and fully determined
to protect the rights OF all by every cor.
stitutiOnal means at the disposal of my
administration. am sincerely anxious to
use every legitimate influence in
favor of honest and efficient
local government as the true
resource OF those states for the promotion
Of the contentment and prosperity ol
their citizens. In the effort / shall make
to accomplish this purpose. ask the cor
dial cooperation OF all who cherish al
interest in the welfare of the country
trusting that party ties and prejudices o
race will be freely surrendered i'm behal
of the great purpose to be accOmplishet
in the important work of the restoration
of the south. a AK s.ss
1t is not the political situation alone
that merits attention, The material de
yelopment OF that section of the country
has been arrested by the social and polit
ical revolution through which it ha
passed, and now needs and deserves th'
considerate care of the national govern