Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-01-23
QuADRgAA5 ADDRESS
GOVERNOR WILLIAM BIGLER
Delivered January 90, 1852.


,yiu of the people has called an humble cIlizen
10 the performance of the duties OF her Ihlel
Executive Office. In accordance win the rGfu'-
sition thus made upon me, and an obedience To
the provisions of the Constitution, appear oe-
fore you to-day for the purpose OF subscribing
10 the oath of office and assuming the 0"'lts'
embrace this opportunity to express Inc Proiouho
gratitude | feel toward the people lor lhis as
fincuished mark OF their confidence:
IN contemplating the high and delicate nature
ofShe duties appertalning 10 t''A s'd'oh-t'ieil
comuicx and difficult character, ihe magnitude
of the interests involved In their faithful per
formance. | am most soiemny impressed with
.,he resnonsibiIitv they necessarily impose. The
Junior OF all my predecessors Ia tins high sta
fior. I enter upon the discharge OF us duties
with the utmgst dIstrust OF my own quailca-
lions for the task. | have, howe resolved to
devote my best energies, my hopes and prayers
TO a faithful discharge Of the obligation ] have
lust taken, and look TO the people for that gen
erous indulgence which has ever characterized
their action towards public servants who have
honestly endeayOred to perform their whole Gu
t. The efforts OF man, at best, are but IeeoIe
all the aid that his wisdom can bring 10 the ac-
compllshment Of any great purpose must IAN,
unless accompanied and controlled by the guar
ulan uare Of him who gives direction to all hu-
man affairs On his power and good pleasure
allrcsuit, must depend. On Him we should rely
ln a spirit of humility and Christian confidence.
Our republican Institutions are based upon
the axiom, that the people are the only rlghtluI
source Of power. Under these Institutions, thus
founded, the viii OF the people rejected through
1he ballot box, gives direction to pubic affairs.
Through this meaium the humbIest citizen, not
less than the most distinguished, can stamp the
ampress OF his will upon the public policy OF the
country. This feature of our Republican syo-
tenn is its great distinguishing characteristic,
and, guided by the general intelligence and pa
trIotSm Of the people, the cause OF our success
as nation. The right of suffrage should, there
fore, be held most sacred and InYlolate, and ITS
independent exercise enjoyed by every citizen
To prepare the minds of the people for this
high trust, bv general education, by the luculca-
lion Of moral preCepts and religious truth,
should be accounted the noblest purpose OF the
Government. All that we are, and all that we
can hope to be, as a nation, IS dependent upon
this source Of power. The right OF the citizen
over property-hls personal liberty aud security
the freedom of speech and liberty Of the press
the free liberation Of religious sentiment, are
alike subseryient 10 this great source Of human
law. How important IS II then that tins great
head should remain pure and independent
- When the fountain is pure, the stream eman-
ating therefrom Will be also pure" Then, by
promoting the moral and Intellectual culture Of
The peOPie-the source and vitality OF our gov
ernment--our laws will be made wise, our insti-
Unions be preserved pure, and our country re-
main ree, prosperous and happy.
The experience OF the world seems 10 dem
oDstrate that general intelligence aud republic
-canlsm must move together. The successful
government of the people Is the government Of
intellect, directed by virtue 4 thorough cdu-
cation Of the youth of our country will, there
fore, tend far more to the security Of our insti-
tutions and the maintenance OF our national
honor, than all other means beside. Common
school education, high literary attainment, 4
knowledge of the arts and sciences, a compre-
hension Of individual rights, and the prime Piles
of the Christian religion, constitute the very
hulWark OF our republican government. The
schemes and Vaccinations Of the demagogue
will fail harmless before people thus thorough
is educated.
The dangerous tendencies Of monopoly, and
The corruptIng influence Of money, are met and
counteracted by the power and virtue Of this
knowledge. Liberal expenditures by our gov
.GTnment for the purpose OF education, may well
be regarded as rigid economy, aud the payments
Of the people for the support Of this cause, as
pure devotion to republicausm. 1t should be
the first care of the parent aud the government,
and lis fruits accounted the richest lcgacies we
leave TO posterity.
In the discharge Of the various duties OF the
Office, ] have Just assumed, 1t will be my anxious
desire to do equal aud exact Justice TO all men,
OF whatever persuasion, religious or political, -
and especially to advance the interest Of this
great CommonWealth-to increase the resources
OF her trGasury-husband her means-dlmiHish
her debt, and elevate the standard Of her credit
TO favor such measures as may be calculated
&c deEelope her vast resources, aud stimulate
alike her agricultural, mining, manufacturing,
mechanical and commercial interests, aud to
cooperate most Cheerluly with the legislative
branch Of the government in the adoption Of
such policy as may tend TO lessen the present on
cTous burlhcus Of the people.
Our vast debt should be reduced az rapidly as
practicable lis injurious effects upon the growth
Of our population, aud the migration Of capital
10 the State, is much more potent than the casu-
al observer would suppose. This may not be
most readily accomplished by too parsimoni-
ous use Of the means already secured TO the
treasury. 1t may be wise to apply portion Of
these 10 complete public Improvements now far
advanced in construction. bat yet unproductive
The abandonment Of such improvements would
involve the loss Of a large amount OF capital
ALREADY eXpenaed, and sacrifice entirely the
chance Of future returns 10 the treasury from
these sources Indeed the speedy completion OF
.7bc North Branch Canal is IN my opinion, con
Gistcnt with the truest principles Of economy.
PENNSYLVANIA is, perhaps, unrivalled BY any
Of her sister States IN natural elements Of great
ness aud wealth. She is 10 less the garden
spot Of our common country than she IS the
'' Keystone of the Federal Arch Astounding
an inexhaustiblc and varied mineral resources
an abundanbe Of well located water power, ad
nlrahly adapted TO manufacturing and mechani
cal operations, together with vast extent o
s7ne best agricultural soil, she can doubtless EN-
ploy, subsist and prosper . greater number ol
human beings than any other State in the Union
her mountains, her rug2ed bills and lovely val
1eNs, are rlch with natural advantages to man
Her people are intelligent. industrious and en-.
.terPrIsing, and II notreslraiued by unwIse legis
iauon, viii soon occupy and improve these ad
vantages to the fullest extent, and thereby rea.
der our beloved State prosperous and wealth,
il an eminent degree.
thorough knowledge Of the science Of agri
culture by our people will have most beuef
cal effect, if not quite essential to the prosper
- Of El-Ln- IL -r.L.-r. l..L..L - ~.