The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-12-16
,N>UGURAL ADDRESS OF COVER
NOR RICHARD son. &t


confidence of the SiAie-"''h ot'P anu
,nx;ous soicitudc f,r the moment Wil'o'
,nav merit it, and with a solemn oe'ef-
,.;n.,;on 10 devote my best energies to
,,or sorv;ce. approach To assume lhe du-
,;es @ If the hig h aad asni;ied station as
s Res,ect - for thatlish authority 10 whose
,..,m,,p of my services, every feeling oil
I,,b, AID difidence on my part, must on
such an occasion dster-and sense OF
u,,riolism that knows no earthly oblIga-
lion so high as that of the mandate OF inc
S,a,e--bids me cherish the hope, while It
nc,uates 10 the determination OF dischar-
r;nu them to her best veal and interests
Under any circumstances anu IN any
,snect of events, so high a distinction as
that which has been conferred, could not
bn, be gratifying to the best feelings OF lhe
citizen and patriot. But when accoii'pd'
nicd by the high and honorable motives
,mE;.h have SO successfully conducted 10
,ho oblitera,ion Of all past differences and
J;v5sions. and when it devolves on me as
,ho cxponent of this restored confidence
and harmony, it cannot but immeasuraOly
increase the sense of duty and Of obllga-.
ton which the dignity and Importance ol
the station must always impose.
Happy indeed, is that existing sta'e 0,
,,,;nrs' when every shade of doubt and
dis,rust is dispel!ed from the hearts ana
couutenances Of our people-whch al!
nar,ics arc restored into one general ana
n,ore characteristic term Of Carollnian-
ybcn the energies Of the State have re-
sumed their fuIl moral tone anu visour
when every citizen stands armed IN ,ne
same ranoply of patriotism to cheF,s' hei
in1erests md defend her rights and when
discarding forever all the ca5altsnc terms
If nar,y, we may exclaim in the spirit and
almost in the language of MIR. Jeiiersoh'
.swe are all Nullifiers, we are all Union
men,"
If there should he aught in my official
conduct TO obscure these gratifying ieHcl-
,a,ions for the future, then shall l have
sionailv failed in the highest hopes and
most ardent wishes which have cherish
ed, in delicating myself this day to the
service of the State.
Connected by the most intimate poiit'-
cal relations with the great Federal Unlon'
of Which this State is one ofthe sovereign
and Independent parties, it cannot oe pre-
sumed that any branch of our State TO-
vernment could ever be insenslbie to It's
action on the rights and interests ot our
citizens, or TO the policy or principles by
which its measures are Influenced and dl-
rected. But perhaps, of all ethers, a du'
ty at once so important and imperative,
ieyolves more peculiaraly on that depart
ment of our State government, which
nm now called to administer; and whose
high province it is, to supervise tho eHecu-
tion of the laws, for the veal and protec-
ton of both State and citizen. For inc
manner in which hope 10 discharge this
obligation, shall look 10 the illustrlous
examples of my predecessors, and to the
great principles of the Republican party
of '9S and 80; and which this Stale IN all
its controversies and struggles to preserve
its constitutional rights. has 50 successful
" and pre-eminenuy maintained. lhose
advantages, which her stern and ardent
patriotism may have been mainly lnstru-
mental in achieving, in the salutary refnr-
nations in the administration OF the fede-
raj government, so happily illustrated by
the iudicions measures, and of sounc po-
licy, those into whose hands II is now
committed-my efforts shall be unremlt-
,ingly directed, to cherish and improve:
And whatever success may have accrued
10 the unceasing vigilance, aud ineXorable
firmness, with which she has asserted her
rights, her principles, and her ersovereign-
ty, no act of negligence, or OF concession
on nv part, shall ever tarnsh or abale.
Happily for US, and for the cause OF
Liberty, The Constitution, ard the Coun-
try, the triumphant vinGication and ascen'
dancy, for the last three years, OF those
great State Rights and Democratic princl-
pies, upon which a sound administration
of the Government eau only obtain, have
left us now but little more to perform,
than the mere duty Of preserving the ad-
vantages already acquired, over the advo.
Gates of Federal abuses and usurpations.
Already has it adjured, under the conduct
and influence of the present administra-
ton, the right of exactions upon the indus
try and products of one section of the
Union, for the benefit Of another; and re-
pudiated the pernicious and unconsttu'
tonal innovations upon The practice OF the