Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-01-08
INAUGURAL ADDRES


INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gentlemen 81 the Senate
and ot The House Of REPRESENTATIVES
The past history and present condition Of the
State Of Ohio present interesting snhiocis f,r
the contemplation and instruction Of her lcg;s.
lators and Statesman. Ilalfa ccntnrv Los lint
lust elapsed since the victory of Novna ovnr tho
indians on the Naumec, and the CONSEQUENT
treaty of Greenyle rave to the NORTHWESTERN
Territory Peace, and to the tenants of its rustic
abodes assurance Of Safety.
This great central Valley Of the West was
then in all its primeval grandeur. its mountains.
lakes, and quilts rivers rlidinr over catarac's
or meandcrnr through vast allUvial plains-its
boundcss plaries and herds of bufillo6s-itsf for.
ests unriva.cd in extent and variety. and lis
great tribes of aboriencs. who. from time mn
known had been the lords ofthis vast Iomain.
The bold outlines of the scene remain rncbaur-
ed and interchangeable. The mouna,irs are here.
and the lakes-lhe rivers still flow in their chan
nes, but the bulialoe have been hunted from t.,a
praires and the deer from the forest. Iouan
and 1ecumsoh are no more. The spirit OF thoir
race is broken. Their children have snl'enly
retired beyond the Father Of Waters and bn-
red tie red scalpng-knile in the ashes ofdespair.
The wells otthc war-lance. the eloouence oltbe
council, and the incantations of the prophet. are
seen and heard no more but. in their stead.
halls Of legislation. courts Of Justice and tenn
| pies ccnsccratcd to Christianity. The annals Of
! Man present no example where tie tripmuhs O.
Civilization, in so briela period, have been SO
brilliant and complete.
Our own State of Ohio. embracing a vcrv IA
vored portion Of this Great Valley, stands out
before the eyes Of all men, a wonder for her
progress IN population, wealth and power for
ntr metropolis O! near hundred thousand souls;
her agricultural and mechanical productions,
her public works, her colleges, asylums and
schools; ana her population OF two millions Of
people, ENJOYING more of the nccessarcs and
comforts OF lie, and enduring fewer OF its priya-
tons, mscries and wants than any equal NUM-
Der OF men IN any age OF the world
compared with the great resources Of the
State, present and prospective. even her arpc
dcbt OF nineteen millions OF dollars is seen, at a
glance, 10 be entirely under her control. She
owns eight hundred miles of navigabc canals,
and Is largcl interested in twelve hundred miles
Of VI Adamizcd roads, beside her stocks in the
chains of railroads which will ere long be COM
peted from Lake Eric to the Ohio river. The
valuation returned Under her new revenue law.
shows that she Las over four hundred millions OF
dollars worth ottaXablc property.
And no.man born within the limits of the State
OF Ohio at the period Of the formation of her Con-
sttution, who has marked with tilial affection
and pride her every stcn from that hour uutil the
Ircscnt-no man who has ever been ont upon
her lakes and rivers. up and down her beautiful
valleys, over her hills and plains. in her mines
workshops, and houses. meeting. every
where, a population whose spirit Of cntcrpri,c
and industry endurch all things and never
ialCth, can avoid tie realization that She has
ut Just on'CIod lpon tie tlIcslud Of her future
/ greatness and IrtsI erv or fail TO see that her
| Or l4tt,