UNITED STATES. 



845 



two continents. Various plans to this end have been 

 suggested and will need consideration, but none ot 

 them have been sufficiently matured to warrant United 

 States aid. The subject, however, is one which imme- 

 diately engages the attention of the Government, with 

 a view to a thorough protection to American interests. 

 We will urge no narrow policy nor seek peculiar or 

 exclusive privileges hi any commercial route, but, in 

 the language of my predecessor, I believe it to be the 

 right and duty of the United States to assert and main- 

 tain such supervision and authority over any inter- 

 oceanic canal across the isthmus that connects North 

 and South America as will protect our national inter- 

 est. The Constitution guarantees absolute religious 

 freedom. Congress is prohibited from making any 

 law respecting an establishment of religion or prohib- 

 iting the free exercise thereof. The territories of the 

 United States are subject to direct legislative author- 

 ity of Congress, and hence the General Government is 

 responsible for any violation of the Constitut.on in 

 any of them. It is therefore a reproval to the Gov- 

 ernment that in the most populous of the Territories 

 the constitutional guarantee is not enjoyed by the 

 people, and the authority of Congress is set at naught. 

 The Mormon Church is not only offensive in the 

 moral sense of mankindj by sanctioning polygamy, 

 but prevents the administration of justice through 

 the ordinary instruments of law. In my judgment, it 

 is the duty of Congress, while respecting to the utter- 

 most conscientious convictions and religious scruples 

 of every citizen, to prohibit within its jurisdiction all 

 criminal practices, especially of that class whiclj de- 

 stroy the family relations and endanger social order. 

 Nor can any ecclesiastical organization be safely per- 

 mitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions 

 and powers of the national Government. Civil serv- 

 ice can never be placed on a satisfactory basis until it 

 is regulated by law for the good of the service itself, 

 for the protection of those who are intrusted with the 

 appointing power against waste of time and obstruc- 

 tion to public business caused by inordinate pressure 

 for place, and for protection of incumbents against in- 

 trigues and wrong. I shall, at a proper time, ask 

 Congress to rix the tenure of minor offices of the sev- 

 eral executive departments, and prescribe the grounds 

 upon which removals shall be made during the terms 

 for which incumbents have been appointed. Finally, 

 acting always within the authority and limitations of 

 the Constitution, invading neither the rights of the 

 States nor the reserved rights of the people, it will be 

 the purpose of mv Administration to maintain the au- 

 thority of the nation, and in all places within its ju- 

 risdiction to enforce obedience to all laws of the 

 Union in the interest of the people ; to demand rigid 

 economy in all expenditures of the Government, and 

 require honest and faithful service of all executive 

 officers, remembering that offices were created, not 

 for the benefit of the incumbents or their supporters, 

 but for the service of the Government. And now, 

 fellow-citizens, I am about to assume the great trust 

 which you have committed to my hands. I appeal to 

 you for that earnest and thoughtful support which 

 makes this Government, in fact, as it is in law, a gov- 

 ernment of the people. 



I shall greatly rely upon the wisdom and patriotism 

 of Congress, of' those who may share with me the re- 

 sponsibilities and duties of tne Administration, and, 

 above all, upon our efforts to promote the welfare of 

 this great people and their government, I reverently 

 invoke the support and blessings of Almighty God. 



At the close of the address the oath was ad- 

 ministered by Chief-Justice Waite, then the 

 new President turned and sainted his mother 

 and wife with a kiss, and received the congrat- 

 ulations of those about him, and the cheers and 

 applause of the crowd. 



For some weeks previous to his inauguration 

 General Garfield had been in consultation with 



leading men of his party, and showed great 

 solicitude for the united support of that organi- 

 zation for his Administration. The post of 

 Secretary of State had been offered to Senator 

 James G. Blaine, of Maine, soon after the re- 

 sult of the election was definitely ratified by 

 the presidential electors of the States. The 

 following letter, in response to the offer, was 

 not made public until some time after the death 

 of President Garfield : 



"WASHINGTON, December 20, 1880. 

 Mr DEAR GARFIELD : Your generous invitation to 

 enter your Cabinet as Secretary of State has been 

 under consideration for more than three weeks, though 

 it had really never occurred to my mind until at our 

 late conference you presented it with such cogent 

 arguments in its favor^ and with such warmth of per- 

 sonal friendship hi aid of your kind offer. I know 

 that an early answer is desired, and I have waited only 

 long enough to consider the subject in all its bearings, 

 ana to make up my mind definitely and conclusively. 

 I now say to you, in the same cordial spirit in which 

 you have invited me, that I accept the position. It is 

 no affectation for me to add that I make this decision, 

 not for the honor of the promotion it gives me in the 

 public service, but because I think I can be useful to 

 the country and to the party, useful to you as the re- 

 sponsible leader of the party and great head of the 

 Government. I am influenced somewhat, perhaps, by 

 the shower of letters I have received urging me to ac- 

 cept, written me in consequence of the unauthorized 

 newspaper report that you had been pleased to offer 

 me tne place. While I have received these letters 

 from all sections of the Union, I have been especially 

 pleased, and even surprised, at the cordial and widely 

 extended feelings in my favor throughout New Eng- 

 land, where I liad expected to encounter a local jeal- 

 ousy and perhaps rival aspirations. In our new rela- 

 tions, I shall give all that I am, and all that I can hope 

 to be, freely and joyfully to your service. You need 

 no pledge of my loyalty in heart and in act. I should 

 be false to myself did. I not prove true both to the 

 great trust you confide to me and your own personal 

 and political fortunes in the present and future. Your 

 Administration must be made eminently successful and 

 strong in the confidence and pride of the people, not 

 at all directing its energies for re-election, and com- 

 pelling that result by the logic of events and by im- 

 perious necessities of the situation to the most desira- 

 ble consummation. I feel that next to yourself I can 

 possibly contribute as much influence as any other. I 

 say this not from egotism nor vainglory, but merely 

 as a deduction from the plain analysis of political 

 forces which have been at work in the country for fiye 

 years past, and which have been significantly shown 

 in two great national conventions. 1 accept it as ono 

 of the happiest circumstances connected with this affair 

 that in allying my political fortunes with yours, or 

 rather, for "a time" merging mine in yours, my heart 

 goes with my head, and that I carry to you not only 

 political support, but personal and dcvoteu friendship. 

 I can but regard it as somewhat remarkable that two 

 men of the same age, entering Congress at the same 

 time, influenced by the same aims and cherishing the 



steadily grown with our growth and strengthened with 

 our strength. It is this fact whi'-h l;:i> led me to the 

 conclusion embodied in this letter ; for however much, 

 my dear Garfleld, I might admire you as a PtiitcMn;.n, 

 I would not enter your" Cabinet if 1 did not believe in 

 a man and love you as a friend. Always faith- 

 vours, JAMES G. BLAlNE. 



The full list of Cabinet appointments was 

 submitted to the Senate on the 5th of March, 



