Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-11-28
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
GOVERNOR REYNOLDS.
Felloc. Citizens of the Senate,
and House of Representatives

and House of Representatives.
CALLED by the sulfrages Of my fellow citizens,
to discharge the high and responsible duties in
cumbcnt on the chief Executive officer OF the
State, it becomes me, not only in accordance with
n time honored custom, but as solemn duty
which owe to the people, whose confidence and
partially have elevated me TO this exalted station,
to make on this occasion public declaration Of
the leading political principles by which shall
be governed in the administration Of the govern.
ment Of the State, SO far as they may relate to the
Executive Department.; and to recommend such
measures as are deemed Of greatest public inter.
est
In government like our own, Instituted for the
common welfare Of the people, from whom all
political power emanates, it becomes paramount
obligation on the part Of the candidate for pop.
uar lavors to consult, by an open exposition OF his
political principles, the wishes OF the people, in
order that the representatives may reflect the will
of his constituents. Actuated by this opinion
my own views in relation to the various important
and interesting questions oil national and State
policy, which so deeply agitate the public mind,
and in the determination of which are so largely
involved the happiness and prosperity Of our be-
loved country, were unreservedy communicated
TO the people OF Missouri during the present year.
That these views met with the appreciation Of a
large majority Of my fellow citizens, strengthens
my confidence in their correctness, and imposes
upon me the high, but gratifying responsibility, Of
closely adherring to their prospects in the discharge
Of my official duties.
The important bearing Of questions OF national
policy on the democratic affairs of the States,
seems 10 be universally acknowledged; whether
this influence may not, at some future period, be
felt to degree not altogether consistent with that
entire independence Of the general government,
which the States should exercise in their appropri.
ate spheres, will depend in great measure upon
the causes which impel that influence. That the
policy pursued by the general government affect
the interests Of each State. is most obvious, and is
we'll calculated to arouse the utmost vigilance o
the public mind, and render every important meas
IRE OF the national government. OF the deepest
interest to the people of the respective States.
One Of the greatest dangers unprecedented from
the formation Of our national government, by the
ardent friends OF liberty, was its tendency to en-
croach By elmost imperceptible degrees, upon the
reserved rights Of the States, and thus endangel
, that freedom which it was designed to Strengthen
and protect. That such must be the tendency O
the general government, unless confined within
its strict constitutional limits, does not seem, II
me, to admit of doubt Happily the government
. with but few exceptions, has been administered b.
! men who have labored to confne its action to tn
powers delegated and whose political maxim was
n that "whenever question ali es concerning tn
t constitutionali:y Of a political power, the frs
= question is, whether the power be expressed, il
B, the constitution. If it's the question is decided
. II it is not expressed, the next inquiry must be
: whether it is properly an incident to an expires
, power, and necessary to its execution. If it be
il may be exercised by Congress. If it be not
Congress cannot exercise it, With this great 20
litical truth for our guide, the general government
will be kept in its legitimate sphere and the right
u of the States remain inviolate.
f To define the powers Of the general government
= with that precision and accuracy, so desirable i
s. a matter Of such vast Importance, is not withou
its difficulties and embarrassments; the lights how
ever which have been shed upon the constitutio
re by some Of those enlightened minds who conduce
E. our government through the peris of its brit
i will serve to remove many of those difficultit
n which would otherwise embarrass its progress
Ie That no great public inconvenience might folio
II from the want Of power in the general govcrnmer
10 adopt measures Of manifest public utility whc
., were not anticipated, or from precaution Withheld
in the formation of the constitution, the wise an
t patriotic trainers Of that cherished instrument, pr
Is vded the remedy for such Inconvenience by a
I amendment Of the constitution in a prescribe
m manner II the requisite number OF States coul
y not be procured to sanction proposed amen
!. ment Of the constitution, for this purpose, it wou
4 only prove, that the power asked for was NJ
s. deemed Of general utility.
At The moment we pass the prescribed limits
,Tr the constitution, and enter the unknown region
lie constructive powers, that moment we cross tn
ID boundary designed by our Fathers as the barrie
e between liberty and unrestrained power. If eve
II the reserved rights Of the States are lost in ii
e. overshadowng influence of the general govern
ment this fatal change, for the liberties of the pei
e pie, will have been brought about by gradual Ell
= croachment in the shape of constructive power:
Better is it, then, for US to suffer even great ncoI
is venience from the want Of power in the nationa
government, in particular instance, than for
N seeming present advantage 10 incur the dangC
il Of subversion Of the very foundation Of our Ill
Of critics.
!" By absaining from the exercise of all doubtGl
" power, discounteEancing all lattudnarian col
i structons Of the constitution, and, in short, COZ
ms fning the action Of the general government strc
!" within its constitutional limits, we leave unin
or paired the rights Of the States, present an insu
We mounable barrier to all encoachments on the liz
G. critics Of the people, and preserve, in its origins
- purity, our republican form Of government Ii
c, from knowledge Of these facts, that we witnes
IN an mceasing effort, on the part OF those who ar
p inimical to those oemocratical principles whic
~ are founded upon equal rights and equal laws, an
&C which recognize no separate interests requiring til
is superior aid and protection Of the laws to enarg
III the power OF the general government by latitL
p. dnarlan construction OF the constitution, hereb