The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-10
Legislature of Georgia-G0vernOr Cobb's
inaugural Address.

The Legislature of Georgia assembled at
Mlledgeville, on the Sd instant, and both houses
were organized by the election of Mr. MILLER,
of Richmond, as President Of the Senate, and
Mr. MERlwETHER as Speaker of the House of
Representatives. On "Wednesday, the 9th in
slant, as we learn from the Mlledgevile Re
corder, both branches, with large concourse
of citizens, assembled in the Representative
Hall, when his excellency, Governor COBB,
delivered in an impressive manner the follow
ing inaugural address, (which (says the Re
corder) will command the enthusiastic appro-
val of the great body of the people of Georgia,
as well as the respect and approval of the
Constitutional Union people Of the entire
country"
SENATOR'S AND REPRESENTATIVES,: In obedience
to the popular voice of the State, appear before
YOU to- day to assume the duties of the executive
chair. We have been called, gentlemen, to our
respective stations, at interesting period in the
history of our State In all the departments OF life
which stamp the impress of progress and greatness
upon people, Georgia occupies an eminent posi-
ton among her slater States of the Republic. In
agriculture the noblest pursuit of civilized man,
she Yields the palm of superiority to none. En-
lowed by Providence with salubrious climate
and fertile soil, under the culture of her enter.
| priaing citizens, she stands forth the generous
! rival of the foremost amongst her successful
and fourishing sisters. In manufactures and
| the mechanical arts, State presents n PIC
ture which her proudest sons may contemplate
with pleasure and qualification. The youngest
among us may remember the time when the walls
of the first factory were raised IN our stare, ana
now in every aectlon of it may be seen the daily
| increasing evidences of the success which has
attended the efforts of our energetic citizens In the
manufacture OF the great American staple. Inc
| progress We have made for the last few years, In
| this and other branches of manufacture clearly
ioreshadows the period not far distant IN the
future when she Will rank among the most success
full of the manufacturing States Of the Union
! Nor has Providence been less generous TO us In
| the bestowal of those natural advantages which
constitute the basis OF commercial greatness.
Amidst all the evidences that mark the progress
sve spirit OF our people, TO none should Georglans
| look with more qualification than to those which
characterize the energy and efforts OF her principal
| seaport. Linked and bound together as are the
different sections of State, by her system OF in
ternal improvements, we begin to feel more truly
and Justly the identity of Interest and feeling
| which should exist between our mountains and
seaboard 1t has made us nelghbors In distance
Ii should make neghbors In interest and feeling
In contemplating these results from our railroad
enterprises, our pleasure should be enhanced by
the reflection that il is the almost exclusive work
of individual effort and private capital. The State
road constitutes the only exception TO this general
| remark This work in It's origin gave promise OF
great advantages to the State, IN developing the
| resources Of that vast and interesting Sec
ton of country through which II passes, ana
| in forming the most important link connect
ing the western waters with the Atlantic coast
In the realization of these anticpations, we find
| ample compensation for the labor and capital
which have been invested in this important enter
prise. Ii now depends, in a great measure, upon
the fostering care, enlightened Judgment and un-
bending firmnnss of the representatives OF the
pnnfp n n
| wisdom and forecast of its patriotic projectors
Whilst the attention of people has thus been d.
rected with characteristic energy to these sources
of national wealth, they have not been unmindiu
of that important and paramount duty-thc cdu-
cation OF their and daughters 1t Is in
deed grateful spectacle to witness throughout
the State the increasing interest manifested on
this interesting and important SUBJECT In
free Government like ours, where all power ema-
mates from the people, we cannot too highly esti.
mate the importance of preserving, throughout the
land pure hearts and enlightened minds Those
who shall place it within the power of every
son and daughter Of Georgia to receive the
benefit of plain and practical education, will
be justly regarded among the noblest benefac-
tors OF the State. Let united efforts be d.
rected under the blessing of Providence TO the
contamination of this great object-the education
OF the hearts and minds OF the neope.
To our hands, gentlemen, for the time being,
has a coniding people committed these various
and important interests of the State. We should
onler upon our duties with a consciousness OF
| Ia
mination SO to discharge them, that there may ex
list in the public mind no just cause to regret the
trust that has been reposed in u.s. Nor, gentle
men, s the present less interesting period, when
considered in reference TO our Federal relations.
| Our Federal Government is now passing through
an ordeal which may justly be regarded as the
severest test to which it has ever been subjected
In the issue ia involved not only our own peace and
happiness but the solution of that great problem,
which has engaged much of the time OF the
abcst and purest men who have ever llved-the
| capacity of man for self government
At the commencement OF the last Congress Inc
| country was convused with bitter sectional con-
trovcrsy, growing out of the institution OF slavery
as il exists in the southern States. The ablest
heads were appalled, with the magnitude OF the
danger that threatened the integrity of the Repub-
lic-and the stouest hearts faltered under the
weight Of responsibility. Ii would be inappro-
pirate to this occasion TO review the history OF that
| angry and threatening controveray-nor would l
. | necessarily refresh your memories with many oil
It's painful rehections-but there are lessons and
admonitons to be drawn from its consideration;
, which cannot be too deeply and forciby Impressed
upon the public mind OF the country.
This threatening issue was ultimately brought
20 a close in our National Legislature by the adop-
! ton Of series of measures fanlllarly known to
| the country as the Compromise. That Compro-
mise was based upon two important principles:
The first recognised the great American doctrine
Of the right OF every people, In the organization OF
| their State governments, to determine for them
| selves whether not they would have the IN
stituuon Of slavery as part OF their social
, | system, a principle dear To every republican
I heart, and one upon which rests the whole
fabric OF American institutions, thus repudiat-
. ing that other doctrine, justly odious to the
people Of the South, of the right and duty OF
Congrcss 10 reject n State applying for admission
: int, The Union because her constitution tolerated
4 the Institution OF slavery. The other cardina
ptlnc ipe IT the Compromise recognises the consti
tationai obligation 20 deliver up our fugitive slaves
when they may escape into the non slaveholding
statss--a duty expressly imposed by the letter
the Constitution and the enforcement Of trhieh a. %
ssafial b ne psrasanencs Of the Republic. Aftei
i Ire adoption of this Adjustment by Congress, cir
rusrstasscss supposed upon tho people, Of Georgit
tis important DUTY Of pronouneing the first author
isstiFs Judgment upon a.
i TO cor action the eyes Of the whole country
uers digra trd aud fellow citizens everywhere
= tsskrd a. our movements with anKious eolicitude
A. as Under thcao circumstances that Georgia wa
= 4 caglsai uurA e. speak She Hpoke. and her voice
tfsafhesi mingled spirit 81 ardent devotion to th
tnian. and "a patriotic warning 10 iis northern
. fsieuHa tqotinN ID the pact, and considering tn
rtNta ans Interests that bad been Involved in tn
~ arNf iffiifulfipH which had