Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1873 — THE INAUGURATION. [ARTICLE]

THE INAUGURATION.

Washington, March 4. The morning was very clear hut .bitter cold. Many thousands, on their way from streets remote from the ronte of the inaugural processsion found it Impossible to keep themselves comfortable. This, however, did not nave any effect in lessening the universal anxfety to be early on the ground. Early In the day the military and civic organizations, from their ’different headquarters, began assembling on Pennsylvania avenue west of the Executive mansion. By 10:30 a. m. they were nearly all in position. The avenue by this time was alive with persons to witness the military portion of the ceremonies. Many of the visitors went their way to the Executive Mansion to see the start, many visited the White House before the time for the parade, but it was closed and no person admitted. The clerks and military attaches of the President were at the Capitol. Prompt at the time decided upon by Gen. Barry, Grand Marshal, for moving the procession the troops were in readiness and began the line of march. They were preceded by a platoon of mounted police, followed by the Second United States Artillery Band, with the Grand Marshal and his assistants and the Military Committee on Organization. The President occupying an open carriage, accompanied by Senators CTagln, Logan and Bayard, joined the procession soon after it started, taking position in the third division of the parade. The carriage in which he sat was drawn by four mouse colored horses. His appearance was the signal for hearty cheering, waving of handkerchiefs, and other demonstrations of applause as he rode along. Immediately preceding ms carriage was his escort, the first troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry. One division was under command of Col. Audenreid,'and the additional military part of it consisted of the President’s mounted guard of this city, the Governor’s mounted guard, and the Boston Lancers; the Vice-President elect and the Governor of the District completing the division. The first and second divisions of the procession consisted of the military in Washington, the Cadets from Weat Point, the midshipmen from Annapolis, United States artillery on foot, a battalion of United States marines, the Old Guard of New York. Company A, the St. Louis National Guards, the volunteer organizationsfrom the city. The first division, consisting of United States troops, was commanded by General Upton. Among the organizations in the fourth division were organizations from Philadelphia, Albany, Baltimore, Duquesne, and the Grays, of Pittsburgh, and five bands of music. In the fifth division were the 2d Connecticut, the sth New York, the 3d New Jersey and the sth Maryland regiments. The Sixth Division consisted of colored troops, who presented a creditable appearance. The remaining part of the procession was divided into six divisions, and were under the marshalshlp of members of the Washington Fire Department. These divisions included, officials of the general and local governments, political clnbs from 'dlfferent States, Washington and Baltimore Scheutzenverein. A large mounted squad of police preceded the procession, and< kept the immense crowd from encroaching on the line of march. THE TNAUGVRAL ADDRESS. The following is the Inaugural Address delivered by President Grant, after he had formally taken the oath of office for his second term. Fellow-Citizens: Under Providence, 1 have been called a second time to act as Executive over this great nation. It has been my endeavor in the past to maintain all the laws, and, so far as lay in my power, to act for the best Intersets of the whole people. My best efforts will be given - in the same direction in the future, aided, I trust, by my four years’ experience in the office. When my first term of the office of Chief Executive began, the country had not recovered from the effects of a great internal revolution,, and three of the former States of the Union had pot been restored to their Federal relatione. It seamed to me wise that no new question should be raised as that condition of affairs existed; therefore, in the past four years, so far as I could control events, I have endeavored to restore harmony and advance the public credit, commerce and all the arts of peace and progress It is my firm conviction that the civilized world Is tending toward republicanism, or the government by the people through their chosen representatives, and our own Republic is destined to be the guiding star to all others. Under our Republic we support an army less than that of any European power of any standing, and a navy less than that of at least five of them. There could be no extension of territory on this continent which would call for an increase of this force, but rather might such an extension enable us to diminish it. The theory of government changes with general progress. Now that the telegraph is made available for communicating thought, together with rapid transit by steam, all parts of the continent are made contiguous tot all purposes of the Government, and communication between the extreme limits of the country made easier than it was throughout the old thirteen States at the beginning 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 rights which citizenship should carry with it This is wrong, and should be corrected. To this correction I stand committed, so far as Executive influence can avail. Social equality is not a subject to be legislated upon, nor shall I ask that anything be done to advance the social status of the colored man, except to give him a fair chance to develop what there is good in him. Give him access to the schools, and when he travels let him feel assured that his conduct will regulate the treatment and fare that he will receive. The States lately at war with the General Governmenpare now happily rehabilitated, and no Executive control is exercised in any one of them that would not be exercised in any other State under like circumstances. In the first year of the past administration, the proposition came up for the admission of Santo Domingo a* a territory of the Union. It was not a question of my seeking, but was a proposition from the people of Santo Domingo, and one which I entertained. I believe now, as I did then, that it was for the beet interests of this country, for the people of Santo Domingo and all concerned that the proposition should be received favorably. It was, however; regarded as unconstitutional, and, therefore, the subject was never brought up again oy me. In future, while I hold my present office, the subject of the acquisition of territory must have the support of the people before I will recommend any proposition looking to such acquisition; I say here, now. however, that I do not share in the apprehension held by many as to the danger of a government becoming weakened and destroyed by reason of their extension of territory. Commerce, education and the rapid transit of thought and matter by telegraph and steam have changed this belief, or, rather, this disbelief 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. My efforts in the future will be directed to the restoration of good feeling between the different 'sections of our common country, totherestoration of our currency to a fixed value, as compared with the world's standard of values, gold, and, if possible, to a 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 a market and leave a living remuneration to the producer: to the maintenance of friendly relations with all our neighbors and with distant nations; to the es tabllshment of our commerce and share in the carrying trade upon the ocean; to the encouragement of snch manufacturing industries as can be economically pursued in this country, to the end that the exports of home products and industries may pay for onr Imports, the only sure method of re turning to and permanently 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*. It is either this or war of extermination. Wars of extermination, engaged iu by people pursuing commerce and all Industrial pursuits, are expensive even against the weakest people. and are demoralizing and wicked. Our superiority of strength and. the advantages of civilization should make us lenient toward the Indian. The wrongs already inflicted upon him should be taken into account and the balance placed to Jiis credit The moral view of the question should be considered, and the question asked: Cannot the Indian be made a useful and productive member of society by proper teaching and treatment? When the effort is made in good faith we will stand approved before the civilized nations of the earth, and in our own consciousness for having made it. All these things are not to be accomplished by one Individual, but they will receive my support and such recommendation to Congress as will in my judgment best serve to carry them into effect. I beg your support and encouragement. It baa 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, methods of appointment and promotion were established and have been traced. My efforts for such reformation shall be continued, to the best of my judgment, and the spirit of the rules adopted Will be maintained. 1 acknowledge before this assemblage, represent- , Ing, as It does, every section of our country, the obligations 1 am under to ray countrymen for the great honor they have conferred on me by returning me to the highest office within their land, and the further obligation resting on me to render them the beet services within my power. This I promise, looking forward with thegreatest anxiety to the day when I shall be released from responsibilities that at times are almost overwhelming, and from which I have scarcely had a respite since the eventful firing upon Fort Snmti-t in April, 1851, to the present day. My services were then tendered and accepted under the first call for troops growing out of that event. 1 did not ask for place or position, and was entirely without, influence or the acquaintance of persons of influence, but was re-

solved to perform my part in a struggle threatening the very existence of the nation. I performed a conscious duty without asking promotion or command, and without a revengeful feeling toward any section or any individual. Notwlthstandlngthis, throughout the war and from my candidacy for my present office tn 1863 to the close of the last Presidential campaign, ! have been ’the subject of abuse and slander scarcely ever equaled in political history, which to-day I feel that I can afford to disregard, in view of yonr verdict, which I gratefully accept as my vindication.