Title:  State of the Union Addresses of Ulysses S. Grant

Author:  Ulysses S. Grant

Release Date:  February, 2004 [EBook #5026] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] [Date last updated:  December 16, 2004]

Edition:  11

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK of addresses by Ulysses S. Grant ***

This eBook was produced by James Linden.

The addresses are separated by three asterisks:  ***

Dates of addresses by Ulysses S. Grant in this eBook: 
  December 6, 1869
  December 5, 1870
  December 4, 1871
  December 2, 1872
  December 1, 1873
  December 7, 1874
  December 7, 1875
  December 5, 1876

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State of the Union Address
Ulysses S. Grant
December 6, 1869

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

In coming before you for the first time as Chief Magistrate of this great nation, it is with gratitude to the Giver of All Good for the many benefits we enjoy.  We are blessed with peace at home, and are without entangling alliances abroad to forebode trouble; with a territory unsurpassed in fertility, of an area equal to the abundant support of 500,000,000 people, and abounding in every variety of useful mineral in quantity sufficient to supply the world for generations; with exuberant crops; with a variety of climate adapted to the production of every species of earth’s riches and suited to the habits, tastes, and requirements of every living thing; with a population of 40,000,000 free people, all speaking one language; with facilities for every mortal to acquire an education; with institutions closing to none the avenues to fame or any blessing of fortune that may be coveted; with freedom of the pulpit, the press, and the school; with a revenue flowing into the National Treasury beyond the requirements of the Government.  Happily, harmony is being rapidly restored within our own borders.  Manufactures hitherto unknown in our country are springing up in all sections, producing a degree of national independence unequaled by that of any other power.

These blessings and countless others are intrusted to your care and mine for safe-keeping for the brief period of our tenure of office.  In a short time we must, each of us, return to the ranks of the people, who have conferred upon us our honors, and account to them for our stewardship.  I earnestly desire that neither you nor I may be condemned by a free and enlightened constituency nor by our own consciences.