The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-12-27
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS
HON. wHITEMARsH B. sEABRooK.
IF THE GOVERNOR sLEc-

For the distinguished privilege of addressing you on
This public occasion, an indebted. Senators and Re.
prcscnlatvcs, 10 your spontaneous sufmgos To q
planter, unsupported by the influence which profes.
sional merit imparts you about to entrust tho
functions of the Executive Office For this signal
manifestation of your confidence and partially, accept
the homage of grateful and ovcrAowing heart. With
scadfist resolution 10 devote his energies to the
discharge Of tho high trust committed TO Ills care, he
feels abiding assurance, that his fellow. citizens,
whose support he shall with unabated confidence rely,
will award him The need Of purity of intention.
Among the various duties Of the constituted au-
thortcs the melioration Of the morul and intellectual
condition Of the people, the most obligatory and i'm.
porunt. The cause of education and learning is
cessurily progressive. While the impcllen, power of
civilization is annually diminishing, the sphere Of
mental darkness, the spirit Of liberty is every whero
largely contributing TO the practical fuflment Of the
divine declaration, that was formed in the image
Of his Maker. In the grand Of human advance
mcnt, obviously the design of Providence that
every rational being should compete If, from igno.
rance, the aid Of one member Of society be withheld,
degree Of usefulness may be lost for which &C.
counabity is somewhere lodged. These solemn con.
sideratious apply with peculiar force 10 the political
communities of this country. TO the guardianship Of
their citizens, if enlightened be sustained by the
ennobling nct ntivc Of patriotism. the Federal Com
pact might be indefinitely entrusted. Bear in remcm
brance then, the adnonitory truth that the highest
evidence Of the intelligence Of people is Tree nsttu
tons, these cannot be preserved in their purity without
The untrummclcd agency Of the authority that called
them into being.
In relation 10 the number and variety OF her staple
commodities and her capacity from geographical posi-
on for raising other valuable products, South Carolina
may be pronounced one Of the wcalhcst members Of
the conf dcrucy. Under the operation Of mild, equal
and constitutional federal laws, assisted by the judi
cious system of agricultural economy and improve.
mcnt she would become tho home Of as prosper.
Gus and happy people as tho history Of society has
exhibited. Legislators, the resources Of the Slne
hitherto only partially appropriated, yet 10 be fully
developed. Let it be your especial duty therefore, 10
collect and disseminate information on this subject
Adopt proper for stimulating the industrial
classes 10 excrtons the field of invention and
cn,erprize; in word show by your action that you arc
friendly 10 energy and progress, and in the increased
comfvrs Of ou, population, and the rapid advance of
The commonwealth, you will find your true and mos,
honorable reward.
The constitutional authority ofthe Governor is con-
fined within narrow bounds In granting rcprrcs and
pardons, and emtting fines and foeilurcs lis highest
prerogatve is TO be found The occasions for The cx.
ercisc of The power Of pardon in free governments arc
ffcstly very rare. Where new and decidedly "a.
poFable testimony cannot be adduced and there exists
no circumstance Of strongly palliative character, the
verdict Of Jury should never be disturbed. The vio
atos of the law need not, Consequently rely upon me-
Chief Magistrate 10 shield them from the consc
quences Of their own misdecds
The political history Of the United States is replctc
with instructive admonton to the friends of constitu.
tional freedom. While, Conederucy. our progress
has esse aRs qf aaaPRssdu s uH5H He55HHaHafSy
''domcstc tranquility" is limited 10 a geographical |
line, and the blessings Of liberty" arc only section
ally enjoyed lncitcd by sinister influences to enlarge
the boundary Of its ju':sdicon the central authority
has repeatedly assaulted the independence and sover.
egny OF the States and arraycd them in fearful oppo.
slon 10 it and zach other BY substituting the edc,
Of an absolute majority for the will of the people, as
ascertainod and recorded by the founders of the Re
public. the tederativo principles Of the government
have in effect been subverlcd. Power, restrained by
no limits but lis own discretion is now permanently
lodged in the hands OF an agency, representing copah
ners, whose welfare would seem depend on an arl.
lrary disposal Of the tights and interests of their
minority associates. Dissatisfied with its SUCCESS in
sxactin. humilating tribute from one portion of the
American lamily, and oypcnding it among another in
,rdcr by this two fold operation the better to level the
distinctions which, in their physical resources, nature
selv utcd If ia ripy f, |
low its acts Of oppression and injury, but 10 furnish
higher and to the South appalling. evidence of '
he omnipotcnce Of its dominion. Whilc the fanalic
md demagoguo have fra,ornizcd for the purpose Of
ulling down somo Of the pillars Of the Federal EJ
co, which they assert TO be unnecessary TO its prcscr
alton, il is superuous 10 remind you, gentlemen, Ii
hat on The entirety oftIe structure depends lis valuo
ono half the Confedcrucy. Whenever tho citizens O
the Slave tcs shall firmly beovc that tho Com. 81
act TO which their fathers subscribed secures neither tt
bcrty nor property to them their posterity it will
ido TO waste tino in conjectures concerning the fu
lre. The result is ulready known. Tho head and a
,art Of tho patriot proclaim it. That period. in the
emn judgment Of him who addresses you, is rapidly
'proaching. To be ready 10 moe il. is duty you
ve 10 tho State, tho Union and The cause Of Con. p
i,uonul liberty.
Of the two geographical parties IL which tho crisis
given brlh we already behold the enthusiastic IA
lily resolving 10 execute its ncfarous purpose; the
cr, calmly awaiting tho progress Of events without
organized effort TO dispcrsc the por,entous clouds
j, ovcrsladow the political horizon. Relying OH the te
'ce Of their pncpcs tho express provls ions and Sc
,ra power of the Conctiiution tho enactments Of
ngress the glorious recoleclions Of the past and n
bright unticipaons Of the future; citizens FL
uctant to admit, that disruption Of the tic which
ties tho States is possible from any supposed cause w
internal discord, earnestly entcat you 10 consider pa
expectation fatal dcuson. The decree, it may
al.a..l.