State of the Union AddressesHayes, Rutherford Birchard
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State of the Union Addresses
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
Whatever belongs to the power of Congress and the jurisdiction of the
courts of the Union, they may confidently be relied upon to provide and
perform; and to the legislatures, the courts, and the executive authorities
of the several States I earnestly appeal to secure, by adequate,
appropriate, and seasonable means, Within their borders, these common and
uniform rights of a united people which loves liberty, abhors oppression,
and reveres justice. These objects are very dear to my heart. I shall
continue most earnestly to strive for their attainment. The cordial
cooperation of all classes, of all sections of the country and of both
races, is required for this purpose; and with these blessings assured, and
not otherwise, we may safely hope to hand down our free institutions of
government unimpaired to the generations that will succeed us.
Among the other subjects of great and general importance to the people of
this country, I can not be mistaken, I think, in regarding as preeminent
the policy and measures which are designed to secure the restoration of the
currency to that normal and healthful condition in which, by the resumption
of specie payments, our internal trade and foreign commerce may be brought
into harmony with the system of exchanges which is based upon the precious
metals as the intrinsic money of the world. In the public judgment that
this end should be sought and compassed as speedily and securely as the
resources of the people and the wisdom of their Government can accomplish,
there is a much greater degree of unanimity than is found to concur in the
specific measures which will bring the country to this desired end or the
rapidity of the steps by which it can be safely reached.
Upon a most anxious and deliberate examination, which I have felt it my
duty to give to the subject, I am but the more confirmed in the opinion
which I expressed in accepting the nomination for the Presidency, and again
upon my inauguration, that the policy of resumption should be pursued by
every suitable means, and that no legislation would be wise that should
disparage the importance or retard the attainment of that result. I have no
disposition, and certainly no right, to question the sincerity or the
intelligence of opposing opinions, and would neither conceal nor undervalue
the considerable difficulties, and even occasional distresses, which may
attend the progress of the nation toward this primary condition to its
general and permanent prosperity. I must, however, adhere to my most
earnest conviction that any wavering in purpose or unsteadiness in methods,
so far from avoiding or reducing the inconvenience inseparable from the
transition from an irredeemable to a redeemable paper currency, would only
tend to increased and prolonged disturbance in values, and unless retrieved
must end in serious disorder, dishonor, and disaster in the financial
affairs of the Government and of the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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