Year: 1873

| rather believe that our Great Maker is
preparing the world in His own good
time to become one nation, speaking one
language, and when armies and navies
will be no longer required.


FUTURE POLICY.


Nv efforts in the future will be direct
ed TO the restoration of good feeling be-
tween the different sections Of our COM
mon country; to the restoration of our
currency to a fixed value as compared
with the worlds standard. of values of
gold, and if possible to par with it; to the
construction of cheap routes of transit
throughout the land, to the end that the
products of all sections may find mar
ket and leave a living remuneration to
the producer; to the maintenance of
friendly relations with all our neighbors
and with distant nations to the estab-
lshment of our commerce and share IN
the carrying trade upon the ocean to
the encouragement of such manufactur-
ing industries as can be economically
pursued in this country, to the end that
the exports Of home products and indus
tries may pay for our imports, the only
sure way of returning to permanently
and maintaining a specie basis; to the
elevation of labor, and by a humane
course to bring the aborigines of the
country under the benign influences of
education and civilization.


INDIAN QUESTION.


1t is either this or war of extermina-
ton; and wars of determination engaged
in by people pursuing commerce and all
industrial pursuits are expensive, even
against the weakest people, and are de-
moralizing and wicked. Our superiority
of strength and advantages of civilization
should make us lenient toward the In
dian The wrong already inflicted upon
him should be taken into account, and
the balance placed to his credit. The
moral view of the question should be con-
sidered, and the question asked, Can not
the Indian be made a useful and produc-
tive member Of society by proper teach
ing and treatment When the effort is
made in good faith we will stand higher
before the civilized nations of the earth
and in our own consciences, for having
made it. All these things are not to be
accomplished by one individual, but they
will receive support and such recommend
alton to Congress as will in my judgment
best serve to carry them into effect, in
which beg your support and encourage
ment.


CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.


1t has been and is my earnest desire to
correct abuses that have grown up in the
civil service of the country. To secure
this reformation rules, regulations and
methods Of appointment and promotion
were established and have been traced
Ny efforts for. such reformation shall be
continued to the best of my Judgment,
and the spirit of the rules adopted will be
maintained.


HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY.


I acknowledge before this assemblage,
IL ~
the country, the obligation / am under to
my countrymen for the great honor they
have conferred on me, by returning me
to the highest office in their land, and the
further obligation resting on me to rem
der them the best services within my
power. This / promise, looking forward
with the greatest anxiety to the day when
shall be released from responsibilities
that at times are almost overwhelming,
and from which | have scarcely had a res
pite since the eventful warning upon Fort
Sumter in April, 1861, to the present day.
My services were then rendered and ac-
cepted under the first call for troops
growing out of that event. l did not
ask for place or position, and was entire
ly without influence or the acquaintance
of persons of influence, but was resolved
to perform my part of struggle threat
ening the very existence of the nation.
performed a conscious duty without
asking promotion or command, and with
out a reyengeful feeling toward any sec
ton or any individual Notwithstand-
ing this, throughout the war, and from
my candidacy for my present office in
1868, to the close of the last presidential
cam paign, L have been a subject OF abuse
and slander scarcely ever. equalled in po-
litical history, which to-day | feel that
can afford to disregard in view of your
verdict, which gratefully accept as my
vidication.