Year: 1873

!
to act as Executive over this great nation


IL has been my endeavor iu the past to
naintan all the laws, aud, so far as lay
IN my power, to act for the best interests
OF the whole people. My best efforts will
be given ia the same direction in the fu


ture. aided, trust. by my four years ex


perTeuce in the Office When my first
! term OF tie Office of Chief Executive be
| gaS, the country had not recovered from
the effects of great internal revolution
aud three OF the former States of the
Union had not been restored to their Fed


eral relations 1t seemed to me wise that
no new questions should be raised so Ion !,
as that condition OF affairs existed There


lore, the past four years, so far as | could
control events. have been consumed in
the effort to restore harmony, public
credit, commerce, and all the arts o! peace
and progress. la a t


| 1t is my firm conviction that the civil-
zed world is tending toward republicanism
or government by the people, through
their chosen representatives., aud that our
own great Republic is destined to be the
guiding star 10 all others. Under our
Republic we support an army less than
that of any European power of any stand
ing, and navy less than that of either of
at least i've of them. There could be no
| extension of territory on this continent
which would cali for an increase of this
| force, but rather might such extension
enable us to diminish it. TIE theory OF
government changes with general pro


gress. Now that the telegraph is made
available for communicating thought, To


gether with rapid transit by steam, all
parts of continent are made contiguous
for all prrdoses of Government, and com


munication between the extreme limits of
/ the country made easier than it was
! throughout the old Is States at the be-
ginning of our national existence


The effects of the late civil strife have
been to free the slave and make him a
citizen, yet he is not possessed of the civil
rig hts hIch citizenship should carry with
it. This is a wrong. and should be cor.
rected 10 this correction | stand com
mitted so lar as Executive influence can
avail. Social equality is not subject to
be legislated upon. nor shall | ask that
anything lie done to advance the social
status of the colOred man except to give
him fair ci aoce to develop what there
is good in him Give him access to
schools and when he travels let him feel
assured that his conduct will regulate the
treatment and fare he Will receive. The
States lately at war with the General
Government are now happily rehabiita
ted. and 10 Executive control Is exercised
10 any ore OF them that would not be
exercised in any other State under like
circumstances.


TIE PRESIDENTS POLICY


In the first year of the present \ Admin
istration the proposition came up for the
admission of Santo Domingo terri
try of the Union. 1t was not question
OF my seeking. but was proposition from
The people of Slnate Domingo. and which
entertained. believe now as did
! then, thai it was for the best Interests of
this country, Ior.the people OF Sauto
Domingo, and all concerned, that the pro
position should be received favorabIy =
II was however, rejected constitutionaIly,
and therefore the subject was never
brought up again by me In future.
while | hold my present Office, the sub
ject OF the acquisition of territory must
have the support OF The people before |
will recommend any proposition looking
to such acquisition say here however
that | do not share iu the apprehension
held by many as TO the danger of Govern


ments becoming weakened aud destroyed
/ l. 81 -
Com mercc. education. and the rapid tran
sit OF thought and matter by telegraph
and steam have changed all this Rather
do | believe that our Great Maker is pre-
pairing the world in this our good time to
bccome one nation. speaking one lang
uage, and when armies ard navies will
be no longer required. My efforts in the
future will be directed to the restoration
Of good feeling between the different sec
ton of oar common country to the re
storation Of our currency TO hxed value
as com Jared with the worlds standard OF
values (gold), and il possible to par
with it TO the construction OF cheap
routes OF transit throus hout the land, to
he end that the products Of all sections
MAY uUb Il olhCtJ dbH iCa'S 'S
muneration to the producer to the main
tepance OF friendly relations with all our
neishbors. aud with distant nations: to
the recstablish hment Of our commerce and
our share 10 the carrying trade upon the
ocean to the encouragement OF such
manufacturing industries as Gao be eco
uonlically pursued 10 this country, to the
end that the exports OF home products
and industries may pay for our imports
the only sure method OF returning to
and permanently maintaining specie
basis to the elevation Of Ia Dor. aud by a
humane course to bring the aborigines OF
the country under the benign influences
of education and civilization. Ii Is either
this or war of externinatiou. Wars OF
exierminatiou. engaged in by people ipnr