The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-12-25
! inaugural Address,
K PRONOUNCED BEFORE THE

nv NrftHONOUdCEU pCrohs LIE
GEsgRAL ASSEMBLY OF SoUTH CAROLINA,
ny HaIs Excelicncy Jolin M.
+. MEANS.
Senators and Gentlemen Of The House Of Re-
prescntaliresof SoMh Carolina:
appear before you,o qualify for the
Office 10 which have been elevated by
your sniTrages, and although must cx
perience the emotions Of pride and gra-
tifca,on which scene like this would
inspire in any heart, yet the too painful
conviction impresses itself upon me,
that owe this murk Of your approbn.
ton more to the exer.ions OF old and
cherished friendships, than to any mer-
/, or my own; and should consider
myselfas an entirely unworthy recip-
lent Of your kindness. if my heart did
not ra.echo with gratitude 10 its inmost
feeessea.
The Office which am nbout 10 as,
snme. Is at alltines one Of Importance,
bu, more Particularly il is SO in this
eyentful crisis, when dangers and diff.
cu,ies are casting their dark aud
gloomy shadows around our federal rc
la,ions. trust ,ha, approach j, with
due sense Of the deep responsibility il
involves, and with t,rm determination
to devo,e all my powers and energies TO
the discharge Of its ar,luous duties.
And may no, indulge TIM, the same
Kindness which induced you to bcs,ow
the Office upon me, will promp. yon 10
assist and supper, me amid the Difficult
ties that mny encompass it ? | may, no
doubt will, frequently err, but never in
tentionally, for, thank God, bear about
me heart burning with indignation al,
my country's wrongs. and which has
never known thought, feeling or emo
tion, higher than that which beats for
the glory, honor and welfare Of my ma.
tive State.
Although the Office Of Chief Mngs-
trate is one full Of responsibility, be-
cause it involves the "faithfuI execu-
ton Of the laws" yet il has little or
nothing Of patronage or Of power con-
nected with it. Yet there is degree
ofinfuence that always belongs 10 high
official stations. which can be cx-
cried for good or for evil, to greater or
less extent, according to The capacity for
management, in the incumbent. 1t il
important, therefore, that the opinions,
the purposes and feelings Of him upon
whom it is bestowed, should be fully
known.
From the views have ever enter.
tanned Of our internal policy, see bu,
lille that would alter or amend, moth.
ing that ] would radically change. Be
ing in the firm conviction that the institu.
,ions Of country, exercise powerful
nay an irresistible influence upon The
formation Of the character Of its ci,i-
.SssFens. nnd being justly proud of tho re-
sssssstation which South Carolina has ever
iSsst ajned, come into this Office, to the
extent and meaning Of the word,
Esg Essa scrvative. Although am not
4 4 welded TO ancient laws and Gus
Sn account Of the snnc,itv which
Antiquity may throw around
& 81, yet, when under these laws and
loms, n nation characterized by eve.
that is great ornoble has grown
lSknd nourished, | feel that what expert
.ence has shown to he tho cause Of those
great results, should be protected from,
Ahc ruthless hand Of the innovator, and
should be held sacred on account ol
their usefulness and venerated ms time
honorcd monuments Of the wisdom ol
our ancestors. know that by many
abroad who cannot appreciate its cha.
ractcr, or are envious Of its tones, we
have been snecred nj as bragyarts or
account Of the just pride we feel in oul
beloved State. Yc, he who looks upon
that State as his nursing mother. who
with uniaterlng allegiance is willing tc
cling 10 her destinics through veal a:
weI as woe, is not ashamed to think hi:
God. that his lot hns been cast amongs
her warm .l,earted and generous sons
on | that her sunny plains contain The
homn around which nrc clustered ,hI