Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-12-03
ADDR F S S.
Delirered by hc Honorable John Gayle at lis Inau-

scrDed by the COnSttut0n Of the Unted States ana the Constitution and laws of this State.
 avail myself of tln opportunity which the occa sion affords of tenderlg, through you, 10 my fellow citizens, the homage ofmy thanks and gratitude.
 The high estimate place upon this evidence of their confidence is greatly enhanced by the cons iteration. that my competitors were among the most distinguished of our citizens forintegence, and for pure and distinguished patriotism. Tobe preferred to such individuals by majority of thirty thousand freemen, for the highest office within their gift, might well be esteemed compliment by any one, however aspiring his ambition or elevated his pre- | tentons.
 A just diffidence in my qualifications for the sta tion upon the duties of which am about to enter admonishes me that shall stand greatly in need of | that political foresight and enlightened wisdom, which have heretofore characterized the dehber- tions of the General Assembly. If from these sour ces the public good required that the high endow- mcnts of my predecessors should be hberay aided, there will exist with me stronger necessity o draw upon the same iuad The harmonious co-oDeration othe different departments of the goyernmnt is es sental to the objects of its institution andthis can only be established and maintained by that frank and confding intercourse which, while 1t mtgates the abors of the public service, indicates tn. general welfare as their common object. 1 shal yield to this conviction with pleasure, and invoke cores | bonding disposition your part.
 | The State of Alabama is now in the thirteenth year of her political existence and every pige o her history attests who certainly and rapidly 'he IS mo- wing onward take her stand by the proudest of her sisters But few years have passed since almost the whole of her territory was carved out from the wilderness and the fact that her population falls but little short of four hundred thousand souls fur nishes abundant evidence of her superlorly over al most any other region, in the saubrty oi her climate, the fertility of her soil and in her commercial fa- cilities.
 | Though our navigabe streams are numerous, and to great extent enable planters to carry their produce to market free from the trouble and expense of land conveyance yet they are susceptible oi such | improvements as would be of incalcuable vaue.- On our eastern border the difficulties in the naviga ton of the Coosa River will claim the early sollc- tude and prompt attention of those who entrusted with the management of public affairs. When the map of our beautiful State shall be filled ou by the acquisition of the Indian country Tn that quarter, there will be six eight densely populated counties, covering body of land oi uncommon fertility, that will be denied the benefits of water transportation, which are enjoyed by citizens every where else The removal of the Instructions which impede the navigation of this stream, and the conneM0n ot Its waters with those of the Tennessee, wil form an interesting in our history It IS a work that and s SqaEnHie adTnnsges in % ur are beyond the power of calculation. It is believed that Congress would not hesitate to make an appro- priation ofthe public funds, sufficient to accomplish these desirable objects fit were requested ] am aware that the power in the general government to make appropriations of this kind Is denied by some of our citizens whose opinions are entitled to respect Whatever weigh might have been due to this ob- lection originally conceive the question 1t involves. no longer open for serious discussion. The power has been exercised under every administration since the adoption othe federal constitution, on the most mature and deliberate consideration, and 1t IS ex ceedngy to be regretted that doubts should now be raised, among ourselves, with view ot causing to be withheld from us the bounty of the government. l ntI,n session of Congress. which it is willing to besow on us, and of which we stand so much Tn need. The public lands within our limits are now rapidly dis | appearing through the government sales, and unless we avail ourselves of the opportunity and the means yet within reach, we shall soon be de- priyed of this resource-an event greatly to be de- pricated, for will damp the hopes and destroy the agricultural prospects of q large and respectable | portion of our citizens.
 The first object of every government should be, to afford the citizens protection, Tn their great natural and inaenabe rights of personal security, oi perso- nal liberty, of life property and reputation. We are enjoned to the performance of this duty by the so- lemn behests of the Constitution. Wherever these rights are placed upon the best footing. wherever they are best protected from the encroachments of the strong and the machnatons of the wicked, there we find the best state of society Vice and immo- raliiy, and all the evils which follow Tn their tran give place to good order, to harmony, intelligence and virtue
 Auxiliary to this great end is the education of our youth. This at least is the only true and faithful sentinel of liberty its shield and bucker. Learning and its companions, religion morality and virtue
 like the star of the wise men, in the east, Is conduct
 ing man to the high and exalted destiny which awaits him. It elevates the peasant to an equality with the lord conlOunds the demagogue, and renders the arm of the tyrant powerless Already has 1t razed their deep foundations, many of tine insu- tons of the old world. It has given liberty and law | tIi mir in nnH sustaining the Poles, in the nobes effort for national liberty, which the world has witnessed.
 With what anxious solicitude then, should we watch over and protect the rising interests ot our infant University Its operations have been com menced under circumstances promising the happlest results. The public lands which the liberay of the general government has bestowed on us for Its sup port have been generally disposed of at the highest prices which, nader any circumstances, they were | capable of producing. The amount of these sales has been well secured and the greater part prolta- bly, and securely nvested-so that 1t IS now as am ply endowed n any similar institution in the United | States Suitable and commodous buildings have been erected and eminent professors employed, who are already at their posts About ninety young men are in course of instruction and this number will doubtless increase with the preparations for their | accommodation.
 | These young men, and those who are to succeed | them will soon be called to hold the places we now occupy To their hands will be committed the cha racter and fate of the country. Should the proper and necessary attentionbe paid to their qualifications for these high trusts they will honorably continue the race already commenced with our sister repub lies, of national distinction and independence. | am required, by the oath am about to take, to support the Constitution of the United States and my construction of that instrument must necessarily | guide me in its observance.
 | The power claimed for a state to interpose its au thority to prevent the execution of m act o Con