Year: 1871

Two years ago the first soldier of tn,


nation laid down his sword to assume tht


honors and responsibilities of Chief Ma
gistrate. He began with promise o1


peace. and his promise has been faith
fully performed. He began with q pledg'
OF honesty and economy, and his pledge


has been nobly redeemed. He begar
with the declaration that he should have
no policy to enforce in opposition to the


known will Of the people, and in this re
spect he has filled the measure OF public
expectation.


The 4th day of March, 1869, was day
Of unfeigned rejoicing throughout the
land. On that day the people-not the
Republican party, but the peopte-felt
that welcome deliverarce was come to
them; deliveraHce from the storms and
perils that beset the country during the
official life of bad President; deliver
ance from the dangers incident to fierce
encounter between the legislative and
executive departments of the govern
ment; deligerance from the still greater
danger Of the establishment of slavery
and the resurrection of the lost cause
with the President as chief conspirator.
And that deliverance came. The de-
partmerfs Of the Government have since
that day moved on in harmony. The
country has had peace; ;peace SO profound
so rarely broken, even by warm controv-
ersy, that the people may have grown
in some measure insensible of the bless
ing they may have enjoyed and unmind-
full of the wisdom and moderation to
which it is due. 1t should not be sup
posed that because there has been no
sound there has been no vitality and no
euergy. 1t should not be imagined that
the administration has been wanting n
vigor because it has been disposed to ex-
ert itself wholly for the promotion of
peace and the material welfare Of the
country. Grants administration has
thus far been far more active than pass
i've. 1t has been eminently energetic,
and pre- eminently successful, as any one
may see if he will but contrast it with Its
predecessor.


In the days of Andrew johnson there
was bitterness, passion, strife and con-
slant danger of civil war-The public
credit suffered, capital was in terror, was
paralized, because there was no security.
These were days of violence and fearful
apprehensions.


How different since the Inauguration
of Grant. No sooner had he taken the
oath of Office than the turmoil ceased.
Confidence returned. The national cre-
dit began to rise. Peace came, and with
it came prosperity. During the two years
of Grant, taxes have been abolished to
the extent of eighty millions year, and
yet more than two hundred millions OF
the debt have been paid. Our bonds
have advanced nearly to par. Gold has
gone down from 1.35 to 1.l0. A fund
ing scheme has been adopted, which
promises before the close Of Grant s
term to reduce the annual charge for in
terest not less than twenty millions OF
dollars. And finally, emitting hundred
other things of minor consequence, our
vexatious and dangerous controversy
with England may be regarded as more
than half settled


These are some of the deeds of Grant s
administration, done without sound OF
cannon or blare of trum pet-done quiet
ly, but none the less with energy and
persistence. The platform upon which
the Administration has stood and propo-
ses to stand, is laid down in the Presl-
dents last message 1t is broad enough
and sound enough for all. Thus it runs:
In conclusion, | would sum up the po-
licy of the Administration to be thor
ough enforcement OF every law; faith
ful collection of the taxes provided for;
economy in the disbursement OF the same
a prou.p pit payment OF every debt In the
nation; reduction Of taxes as rapidly as
the requirements of the country will per-
nit; reduction of taxation, and tariff to
be so arranged as to afford the greatest
relief to the greatest numbers; honest
and fair dealings with all other people, to
the end that war. with all its blighting
consequences, may be avoided, but with
out surrendering any right or obligation
due to us; reform in the treatment OF
Indians mud in the whole civil service of
the country; and finally, in securing a
pure, untrammeIled suffrage SO that ev-
cry citizen who desires to vote may do SO
Just once at each election, without fear
of molestation or prescription on account
of his political faith, nativity or color.
MiUduk,ee Sentinel