Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-01-25
'AECUTIVE UEPARTMENT,
City of Jackson, Jam, 1910. {
INAUGURAL ADDRESS


of ALEXANDER G. McNUrr, ESQ, Governor
tIect' y The Stale Of Mississippi. Delivered
~ th' Representative Hail. before the Senate
and House Of Representatives. in convention
assembled, and before large body Of citizens.
FELLOW CITIZENS Fortunate in having re-
ce'Ved large majority of the votes of the people
Tor The most distinguished office in their cft with
out having resorted to The usual mode Of canvas
sing tor their suirages, feel assured tina, my of.
heal acts have met with appreciation. For this
renewed manifestation of their indulgent regard,
tender them my profound acknowledgements and
cordial thanks. a reelection by Freemen watch
tul OF the conduct of their public servants and
jealous Of encroachments on their rights, is the
highest evidence Of their favor and the sweetest
soace public officer can receive. II has fallen
to my LOT to be placed at the helm of State at a
most trying crisis. When came INTO office two
years. ago, great calamity had befaen the
country the people were Iaboring under embar.
lassment; cries of distress were heard in every
direction, many looked 10 the Government for
relief, others sought to obtain il by resoftng to
an increase OF Banks Forgetting that their crea-
ton and ImprovIdent management had been the
prolific source Of all Of our troubles Failing TO
receive the cooperation Of the Legislature, in
the passage OF Laws calculated as conscien.
tIously believed TO bring about an Improvement in
our currency and TO alleviate the pressure Of the
times. could only mIerpose TO prevent the G.
nactment OF Laws tending to iasten The existing
evils upon us. crisis has taken place in our
affairs, 1t IS evident that Temporary measures of
financial relief are no longer available In enter.
mr. The dsnhafua ~ A. 1 4,
cult duties am about TO assume. am cheered
with the hope, that ere my term expires, the
clouds that oyerhang the State, will have passed
away; that the products of our fertile soil viii
have relieved the distress of the country and all
our citizens be convinced that their welfare de.
ponds mainly upon their own exerlions
Our National Government was formed for spe
c6c purposes, aud IT'S powers are claIly defined
10 the Constitution. The experience of fly
years has fully demonstrated that its constant ten.
dency is TO consolidation. 1t requires The un.
ceasng ygenco of the States to keep uwithin
proper bounds. While we should al all times be
prompt IN resisting the enroachments of The Gen.
era Government on State Sovereignty. we should
cautiously abstain from the exercise Of powers
prohibited to the States by the Federal compact
ing the Union, was to guard against the insuffer.
able evils OF paper currency. The power 10
charter a National Bank, aud to grant corporate
privileges, was asked for and denied BY he Con.
ventlon that formed the Constitution Thai in.
stTument expressly provides that no State shall
com money, emit bills Of credit, or make anv
thing but gold and silver coin tender in the nav
ment of debts. II may therefore we'll be cues.
toned, whether We have right to ycs, in como
raons, power we are forbidden 10 exercise our.
selves. A frequent recurrence to fundamental
principles, is necessary TO preserve our complex
system in It's purity. II experience proves il 10
be defective, We should rather seek 10 change i
IN he manner prescribed, than to attempt 10 ex.
erclse doubtful powers on the uncertain and haz
ardons grounds Of construction and expedieucy.
Tbs States are competent TO their own protection.