Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-01-13

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF COVE NoR
THOMAS was delivered in the Senate Cham
Der, at Annapolis, on Monday the Sd inst,
in the presence of the members Of both
branches of the Legislature and a large as
semblage of citizens.
The greater part Of the Address is devot-
ed to the subject Of Unconventional Reform
and Retrenchment." The views Of Mr..
Thomas on this question are so nearly SINH
lar to those advocated in our columns, but
few months since, by "Planter," that we
think it entirely unnecessary to place that
portion of the address before our readers
We, however, give in the following extract,
all that the Governor said on other topics !:
A discussion of the causes of the war
with Mexico, in which the country is now
engaged, or of the manner in which hostili-
ties have been prosecuted, might not be con-
sidered appropriate to the present occasion.
While the constituted authorities Of the
country, with extraordinary unanimity, have
declared that the war exists by the act of
Mexico, the wisdom which has conceived
and the skill and valor which have execut-
ed the plans of campaign are vindica,ed by
the brilliant and uninterrupted successes
with which our arms have been crowned.
There is one topic, however, growing
collaterally out Of the question, in which
the people of Maryland, in common with
the South, have deep and abiding interest.
A scheme is already on foot, and will be
pertinaciously pressed, for the exclusion of
slavery from any territory that may be &C
quired by treaty of peace.
The territory Of the United States now
owned, or to be hereafter acquired, is the
common property of all the States, purchas-
ed with the common treasure, or won
with the common blood of the whole
people.
The institution of slavery is regarded by
the Constitution as municipal regulation.
and property in slaves is recognized, guar
anteed and protected. The right of the Cit
liens of each and all of the States to emf
CRAZE with their personal effects, to any ter
ritory of the Union is clear and indefeasibe.
Any regulation, therefore, intended to ex-
clude the people Of the slaveholding States
from an equal participation in the enjoy
ment of territory to be hereafter acquired by
the United States, would be palpable vio-
lation of the Constitutional deprivation of
the citizens of such States of their interest
in the common property, and degrade
ton Of the States themselves from an
equal rank with the other States of the
Union.
Such condition Of things is not for a
moment to be tolerated. The subject ad
mts of neither compromise nor Cancellation,
and if persisted in, must inevitably endanger
the permanence of the Union. To arrest,
if possible, SO great an evil, it would be we'll
for the representatives of the people Of Ma
ryland, respectfully and fraternally, but with
frmness and dignity, to warn those who are
engaged in this nefarious crusade against the
rights of the South and the compromises Of
the Constitution. of the painful consequences
to which persistence may lead
The condition of the finances, as repre-
scented in the annual message of the Govern
or, and the report of the Treasurer is sub
iect of profound congratulation. While it
has been the privilege of my distinguished
predecessor, by his assduity, firmness, and
ability to rescue Maryland from the vortex
of insolvency in which he found her en-
guphed, and to elevate her to that proud
position before the world which the char
acter of her people entities her to occupy,
it will be my more humble aim to discharge
the functions of the Executive office with
such fidelity as to insure stability to the
revenues, inspire increased confidence in
the honor and integrity of the State, and to
prevent the possibility of a relapse to her
former cherries and degrading condition.