The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-16
7INAUcURAL ADDREss.
psnilenencf tke Senais,
M and ofslke Honse Of Representatives..

partielity, now tenderthe acknowledgement
Of my humble gratitude, to each and every
member Of this General Assembly, as the prop
er channel through which itmay be conveyed
to my constituents.
! If there is any thing, in this life, personal to
myself that desire to retain, it Is the conf
dence of my fellow citizens; and amidst the
unspeakable emotions Of my bosom feel as
surance that so long as merrited, it will not be
withheld.
| shall enter on the duties which have been
assigned me. by the late electioc, under the
New Constitution, with no vain belief that
am equal to the occasion, but with the hope
confirmed, from what has hitherto occurred,
that shall be liberallyan zealously sustain
ed, not only by the constituted authorities, my
associates IN labor, but by the people Of Ohio,
without party distinction, in every honest en-
deayor to promote their true happiness and
welfare. 3GaI9seA tGG54at 3dt 5e.59g
| Having, but few days since, communica-
ted TO the, General Assembly, in the annual
message, my views on what was then supposed
would be TIE most important subjects Of legis-
lation, Mt the present session, it can ither he
expected nor desired, that should again 70
peat what was at that time expressed.
On occasions like this, 1t has, especially Of
late, become customary TO speak Of the value
Of the Union of these States, and of the neces-
sity Of sustaining it, in the spirit of the con-
stitution. 1t has occupied the attention Of the
Executives Of several Of our sisters Of the con
federacy, within the lastfew weeks, aud their
Recommendations both North and South Of Ma
SON and Dixon's line, breathe atrue spirit Of
patriotism, by the expression of the most 10y.
al a., Chment to the 'Unioi,. This evinces
much better state Of feeling than has hitherto
existed. ioa VIA IHgJ freNtr 5E
1t il true, the terms Northern Fanatics are oc
casionally employed, as if they were known on
" in the NoiM; but, apprehend even this
fault will hereafter, disappear, when the true
history Of some of our Southern friends shall
be fully read and better understood. jrs fa75
/ But in her attachment to the Union, and in
her unfaulering determination to support it,
Ohio permits no others to lead. She neuer
kntw disloyalty. She neither has, nor will she,
assemble in Convention TO weaken that Union
by means in palpable violation of constitution
al duty. If she feels herself aggrieyed by the
measures Of Congress, or the acts Of other
States, 'in the Union, she will seek redress, and
not ou, ofu." To nullify the constitutional OBJ,
legations is not fayorite remedy with her peo1
pie. r..t. ,s'i.
The law known as the Compromise, which
has caused so much ill.feeling, is the act Of the
National Legislature, held to be Constitution
al by the judicial tribunals authorized to de-
eide that question; and if the measure itself,
as one Of policy, necessity and justice, were
not worth the parchment on which it was en-
crossed, the people Of Ohio, it is believed, will
never sully their integrity by its criminal VIC
lation
Under all the circumstances which surround
US, u should remain undisfurbed and this fruitful
source Of agitation and excitement be forever
closed. ~
The time for the agitation Of its repeal has
not, at all events, arrived for the results which
will flow from it, for good or for evil, cannot
have been fully tested, in SO short period Of
time. By letting it remain, neither its policy
nor justiceis admitted; but merely that the re
agitation Of it would produce greater evil than
the measure itself can effect. iT THl99l
While public opinion may be divided, per.
haps, on the subject Of agitating the repeal Of
the Fugitive Slave Law" there is, neverthe-
les, another matter in close connection with it,
on which, it is believed, the sentiment Of our
people is entirely united. The area of slavery
must never be extended in this government,
while the voice, the united voice and action of
Ohio, in any constitutional form, can stay it.
Here with propriety we may take our stand--
"3hus far prnnd irabe shall thou aduanee, but no
farther shalt thou Gomez aIq 4ilg Hps l,.l
That slavery is an evil, that it was brought
upon this nation by no moral right, and exists
by what is believed to be the force of necessity,
because it is interviewer with every political
relation and civil institution in the South is
not to be eontroverted. What is to be its end
the future only can disclose.
1t has long Appeared 10 me that the Ameri-
can Colonization Society presents the most ef.
fective organized agency to eradicate and final
tywlpe away the institution Of slavery. II is
true, it has encountered great prejudices and
determined opposition, and its operations, con-
sequently, have been slow; but the signs Of
the times now indicate that The General and
State Governments will, Gre long, contribute
their influence and means in support Of indi,
vidual philanthropy; that our African Colony
will btcome the home Of free, prosperous and
colored race. spreading Christianity and civil.
ization. the natural rssult of free institutions,
through the vast expanse of that dark and be
nghted quarter of the globe.
am not, myself, among the number who
believe that the evils Of slavery must necessa-
rily overthrow this Government This great |
fabric OF human wisdom, erected by our fore
fathers, for our welfare and protection, ioiH be
preserved; and thosewho think differently, in |
my opinion. falsely estimate the elements by |
which it will be Observation-Disclosures the III. |
tclligence, and the patriotism Of the American |
people. sceno reason why future generations |
may not look upon the old emblem Of our Un- |
ion and strength, as gracefully it shall spread |
its folds to the breeze, and neither stripe nor |
star shall be seen to have disappeared. q But,
on the other hand, new consl citations will |
arise, in the North, the South, the West, and
add to its interest, its beauty, and its strength
Not that other nations are to be brought into |
this Union by war conquest, or any unjust or
aggressive acquisition but by that peaceful and |
inhutnce which will cfanate from |
Durfree Institutions, our intelligence and en-!
terprise. At no distant day, comparatively
speaking, the American people may with truth |
exclaim: "Tbis boundless Continent is ours!P 1t |
is the destiny Of the Anglo Saxon racel
There is another consideration Of vast i'm. |
portance TO the interests of our State ltisthe |
Improvement Of our rivers and harbors, With. |
out being felt by the General Government; the |
navigation Of the Ohio, from |
to its junction with the Mississippi |
for nearly the entire year, might bo secured.sl |
The object is one of too deep interest not only |
to our great commercial metropolis, but to |
very large portion Of our people, to be longer
delayed, and too expensive to be undertaken by |
State authority, with heavy public debts and
extensive internal improvements to proyidefor
Of their own. .,ti N .to l;,,,...,., f.,s4.,t
The harbors along the great chain Of lakes
so auspiciously begun, should not be permitted |
IA fall In huchv The intnen an no,, ol 1osaae