Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-12-29

Fellow CIrIzls<s.-Tho viii of a free and ind,
pendent j. eonIe Hayilr asglin ASSIGNED 10 me tn
duties Of M trst executive Office within their off
have IN vo.r presence. and that of Heaven boun
raFs If by IL. ,ost solemn nledue. 10 the ta,hf,
dls5tarc. OF the trust coniidtd TO my hands. I'll
period through WHEN have passed. since FIRST nc
cupf.sr my present station has been attended vii,
difficulty ana re.t3Is b;I.y For Ibis proof On tn
part of lny follow citizens Of their annroba.on a
my past Official con3u,t-t,r his renewed and in
creased EXPRESSION of their condolences IN the roc
tiuIdc of m, fItnra ;ntcrtions ,onacr rho hon,
age OF grateful heart. Despair NO of fndin.
terms adequately expressive OF my sense of thu
obligation conferred. shall cndcavor show it, Il
the best Of my humble talents, in my continued
and # possible, IN my increased cNertons 10 guar,
lnef ti2htS' protect me" interests, ana promote
: taeiT welfare.
\ brief retrospect OF the condition of our State
allir>, especially Is furnishing lesson for the flu.
ture. may not be regard as inappropriate on this
( occasion. When | h.st entered upon the duties OF
The DISTINGUISHED ojice 10 which have aoain been
elevated by the Partially ofmy fellow citizens, the
degree and extent Of suffering throughout the en-
tire community without parallel in our
state Almost every one who had possessed credit
was III debt, and very large number TO all hui
man appearances hopelcssly Business was bro
ken up. enterprise was paralizcd, and individual
credit was almost ann.hllated Relief laws, as
laey arc usually termed, hao been ihicrposed 10
prevent The general and suddensacrIice OF SO large
portion OF the property OF the citizens, that the
currency IN ihc community, IN the absence OF such
laws, "o4ld have been niue more than suinctenf
10 Ply ~. costs q lteatoh mus threatening 10
strip the a'biof q the means OF paying MS debts
w!thoot AZ me same tune benehtlng the creditor.
hlt II tle condition ana prospects OF The people
4,ldifi3.aIt' were gloomy, what slall be saiG OF
mos OF me state, Need 60 INTO calculation
% ,ie ntliiol9 81 lIab'liy -oi 'iie Alpine heisht
OF maj debt, resting like an incubus upon the state
10 poaoeiouS ioad!
Our best citizens, dcspairing OF cXtrication from
the shachles of debt, sacrificing their homes
and removing beyond the limits of the State,
Whlle Capital and Industry avoided our blighted
shores in their onward lido 10 the west.
How many cf our citizens belicyed-nay was thero
ono who believed, that the full and entire amount
CT our public debit principal and interest, would
ever be paid? How many thought that we should
ever be able TO plunge to tho full depth of our
,'9llsy' ana pluck up drowned honor by the
LOCKS!
What is tho condition of the great mass
Of our fellow citizens? Let answer for itself.
Il is true, it Is yot all that could be desired,
but its proceptibio Improvement teaches u.s. that
tho only reliable means Of reaching that full degree
Of prosperity 10 which. under Providence we may
hopefully aspire, Is tho systematic adherence 10
those m2xlms of industry and frugalty by tho
poople-.o that strict economy by the State govern.
mont, and to that abstinence from schemes of VII
sOnarY wealth the part of both, by observ-
Of which, our altered condition for the better
has been mainly produced. Above all, dosre,
on tins solemn occasion, to raise my warning voice
against tho allurmonts of credit. This caution.
n all times proper, IS more partic ularly needed
IN times Of prosperity, of return of which,
should a satisfactory arrangement be made Of
our State dcot, We already have encouraging owl
denco. Prompt payments, where there is ability,
are always better Tor both seller and purchaser,
and Whero there IS not ability, It IS better, in tho
great majority OF cases, that tho purchase should
not DO made That credit IS sometimes desirable.
II IS not intended to deny; but 1t IS believed that
such instances are of rare occurrence. Actuated,