Year: 1873

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PIATTS INAUGURAL FOR GRANT.


Don Piatt has written an inaugural address.
such as he thinks President Gran. should have
delivered, from which we take tho following
extract, the whole address being too lengthy
for our columns It is one Of the best produce
tions Of the talented correspondent, and We
regret that we are unable to publish the docu-
ment entre: e..l sx


FELLOW CITIZENS { without regard to
race, color or previous condition Of servitude)
Il appear before you to take the oath which
the constitution prescribes to, as President Of
the United States As took the same oath
four years ago. / do not myself see any Partic.-
ular use in taking it again. However, sup
pose. something is proper to be taken on sucn
an occasion, and an oath is 40 easy to take as
anything that has so little dampness about IT,


do not know but swearing agrees with my
health, for do not remember anything else
that have done that l had afterwards SO little
to recall. / am glad to meet so many OF my
fellow citizens and citizenesses as are present
on this occasion, and hope that they will agrees
with me that this is the greatest event of tho
occasion. have taken uncomm0no pains to
commit my speech to memory, and, alter tne
pious manner of our ancestors, have requested
the prayers OF the clergy for my safe delivery.
Although this ia admitted to have been rather
a bad year for Christians feel that have been
considerably borne up and strengthened by their


petitions, and that fit were as tedious as
king could find it in my heart to bestow it NIL
upon my fellow citizens on this occasion. Du-
ring the past four years feel that have done
my duty 1t is said that man. acts best hls
part when he attends to his own affairs and lets
those of others alone. l have in most cases
made that my rule of conduct. ! have taken
good care of my own interests, and let the
country take care of its: and have reason to
believe that the country is as well satisfied as
am with the arrangement. II have mado
any deviation from this rule it has been with


view to the comfort Of my friends and family
thereby fulfilling the most sacred and binding
o1 demestic and foreign obligations. l feel


good deal indebted to the Republic-that is 70
say, the Republicans-for the honor OF second
election. In consequence Of the complicated
manner in which / disposed OF my dwelling IN
this city. should otherwise have had no place
of residence. 1t is true that take upon my
self the new responsibilities with considerable
reluctance. not more, am assured, than they
| felt in bestowing them upon ne i his muluai-
| ity OF feeling is to me a source OF the !iveiiest


satisfaction and is one Of the most violent assur-
ances of our future mutual good understanding.
/ Had tue utDcT tEdlVlUudi VIII su So"S~-


auence of the alarming increase in the number
| of INV friends in Pennsylvania been elected, Q
| large body of persons who are now gaining their
| honest bread by the sweat of their virtuous
brows would have been deprived Of tho means
| of subsistence the progress Of admlnistratre
reform aud competitive examination would


have been thrust back for at least four-tifths OF


century 1t is proper on this occasion that


should ailude to the successor which the constr


tuition has appointed in case of my removal by


natural causes before the expiration Of my ofti-


cial term. With my last Vice, Mr.. Colfax,


part with feelings of the profonndest variety.


NV relations with him. rs with my other vices
have been cordial Few men have been en-
dowcd by Providence with larger allowance


of vital piety or by nature with shorter mem


ory. the first of which is preservative OF his


religious character and the last Of his moral IN.


tecrity: aud. while he retires to the enJoyments
Of private usefulness from which 1t is not prob


able he will again emerge. it affords me greae


pleasure to reflect that my incoming Vice will
not fall a particle behind him in either OF these
endowmcnts have feelings of great respect
for Mr.. Wilson. especially on account OF his pow
ertv, ms he was poor shoemaker and poor
Senator. There is every reason to believe that


he will be poor Vice Presidcnt-in fact, that
he will be a model of destitution in all the de-


uartments of social and official life. a