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


GENERAL ASSEMBLY or SOUTH CARolLsA,
ssy Has Excclicncy JOhn M.
MEANS.
Senator's and Gentlemen of The House Of Re-
personalities Of South Cdroli'm:
appear before you 10 qualify for the
Office TO which | have been elevated by
your snflraycs, and although must OK
pericncc the emotions Of pride and gra.
LITIGATION which u scene like this would
inspire in any heart, yet the toe painful
conviction imprcsscs itself upon me,
that | owe this mark Of your approba-
ton more 10 the cxcr!ions Of old and
cherished friendships, than 10 any mer.
it OF nv own; aud | should consider
myself as an entirely unworthy recip.
lent OF your Kindness. il my heart did
not rn-ccho with gratitude 10 its Utmost
seoesseR.
The Office which ! am about 10 MS
sume. Is a. all tunes Que of Importance,
bu. moro particularly i, is SO in this
%even,ful crisis, when dangers and diff
cuilics urc casting their dark md
gloomy shadows around our federal 70
l%alions. trust that | approach it with
u due sense Of the deep responsibility ii
involves, and with a nrm determination
to devote all my powers and energies to
the discharge Of lis arIuous duties.
And may 10, indulge TINT the same
Kindness which induced you TO brStow
the Office upon me, will promp, yon 10
assist and supper, me amid the difficult
ties that may encompass it. | may, no
doubt will, frequently err, but never in
%fentionally, for, thank God, | bear ahou,
nc n heart burning with Indignation at
my coun,ry's wrongs and which. has
never known n thought, feeling or emo
ton, higher than that which beats for
the glory, honor and welfare Of my ma.
tive State.
Although the office Of Chief Mngis.
trale is n full Of responsibility. be
cause it involves the "iaithful exccu-
ton Of the laws" yet il has little or
nothing Of patronage or Of power con
nccled will, it,. Yet there is u degree
ofin1uencc that always belongs 10 high
official stations. which can be OK
erlcl for good or for evil. TO u greater or
less extent, according tolhe capacity for
management; in the incumbent. 1t il
important, therefore, that the opinions,
the purposes and feelings Of him upon
whom il is bestowed, should be fully
known.
From IT, views have ever enter.
tanned Of our internal policy, | sec but
liitie that would alter or amend, moth.
Ing that would radically change. BE
my in the firm conviction TINT the institn.
lions OF u country, exercise a powerful
nay an irresistible influence upon The
formation Of the character of its ci,i.
a.ens. aud being Justly proud Of the re-
tu,ion which South Carolina has ever
2inch, | come into this office, to The
extent and meaning of the word,
X scrvative. Although ! am no,
"a welded to ancient laws and Gus.
II account Of the snnc,ilv which
antiquity may throw around
:, yet, when under these laws and
&, IotnS, II nation characterized by eve.
Thing that is great or noble has grown
aud nourished, | feel that what expert
cncc hns shown to be the cause Of those
great results, should be protected from,
Ahc ruthless hand Of the innovator, and
should he held sacred on accoun 0
their usefulness and vcncruted MS time
I,onorcd monuments Of the wisdom ot
our ancestors. know that by many
abroad who canno appreciate its cha.
ractcr, or are cnviOus Of its tones, we
have been snecred ut as bramuarts or
account Of the just pride we feel in GU
beloved State. YET he who looks upor
that State as his nursing mother. who
with unfalterIng allegiance is willing tc
cling 10 her 1cstinics through veal q.
well MS woo, is not ashamed to thank hi.
God. that his lot has been cast umongs
her warn hearted and generous sons
m that her sunny plains contain tht
home around WHICH nrc clustered ll'