Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-01-30
GOVERNOR SEHUNA,s
INAUG URAL ADDRES

Friends and Fello,c Catizens:-i appear before
YOU in obedience to the will of the lreemen of
Pennsylvania, to give the solemn pledge prescribed
by the Constitution. and TO enter upon the otlce
Of Governor.
When | contemplate the interest of our Com
monwealth, as an independent sovereignty, and as
member of the community of American States
the multiplied relations over which it exerts su-
pervising guardianship. and the peculiarly weigh
ty obligations that press upon 1t at the present mo-
ment. / feel how imperfecty am qualihed to
discharge, and even to comprehend Alright. the ar
duous and complicated duties to which | have
been called To Him who watches over the des
TIMES of States, as well as men, and whose favor
is light and strength, look upwards with humble
trust, that He will override my errors and give e-
ficiency to my honest efforts for the pubic good.
Happily the principles which should regulate
the administration of the State, have been long
since declared and established by republican
fathers. They are few and clear. That equal
and exact justice should be administered to men
of all parties in politics. and OF all persuatIons IN
relgion-that our public faith should be kept sa-
cred under all crcumstances-tha freedom of re-
gisn, of suffrage, and of the press should be held
inviolate-that general education Is essential to
the preservation of libertyhat the separate rights
and powers of the executive, legislative and judi
cial departs of the Government should be strictly
mantained-that the Government should be faith
fully, but frugally administered, and all to whom
it is entrusted held frequent and strict account
abiity-that particular mischief should be cor
rected by general rather than by special laws
that the grant of exclusive privileges 10 some, is
repugnant to our whole system the intent of which
is to make firm the equal rights OF all-that men
associated for gain, should, in common with 9th
ers, be liable individually for all their joint en-
gagements, and that the obedience of the public
agent to the will of his constituents is essential to
a right administration of the Government, and to
the preservation of freedom.
| These are the leading principles by which [
propose to be guided in the performance OF my
official duties They are all of them primary
truths, affecting the basis of our government, and
needing nc better confirmation of their value than
is to be found every where in the history OF our
country.
Thus far the action Of our system has illustrated
the capacity of man for self government, and has
shown that entrusted with his own political des
TIMES, and unincumbered by bad laws, he advan-
ces steadily in knowledge and true happiness
The doubts at first entertained Of its adequacy TO
meet all the contingencies which arise in the al
fairs of nations have been dissipaed by expert
ence. The practical operation of the governments
of the States and of the Union III advancing the
welfare Of the inhabitants of our extended and ex-
tending country, demonstrate their utility. IhlS
is the result of that simple and natural organlza-
lion. founded upon the assent of the people, by
which their sovereign will rules in their local af
fairs-is extended to the State governments, and
by happy combination gives direction to the 60
vernment of the Union. Their competency to 60
vern themselves is confirmed by the peace, haPpi-
ness and prosperity which their government has
secured to the citizens of these States, and is all
assurance that in their hands the welfare OF all
will be, as it has been, guarded and advanced
FeIIo,c-citisens of The Senate and House Of Rep
resentatires 1T has not been my purpose to en-
ter at this time upon the consideration OF Partlcu-
lar topics, which may more properly be reserved
for other communications. There is, however,
one subject of such vital interest to the honor and
well-being of the Commonwealth. as to challenge
the yery earliest expression Of my views respect
inc it. alude, of course, to the condition of our
public debt
If there is one distinguishing trait Of character
in our citizens, it is that of living within their
means, and honestly paying their debts; and it
there is one certain result in the working of Onr
representative system, it is, that the character OF
r the government is identical with that OF the peQ
. pie. BY the application of this truth, which is
equally simple and certain cur duty under existing
circumstances is rendered as plain as it is obhga-
tory. The credit of our State must be redeemed
We are urged to the performance OF this duty, not
only by fidelity representatives but also by
the principles of sound morality, by our honest
pride as Pennsy lvanians, and by our obligations
to the Union to maintain and elevate the national
, character.
shall. of course, not be understood in these re-
marks, as expressing any opinion ON the question
of the immediate ability of the State Treasury TO
~esu,ne its naymeuts of interest This question