Washington telegraph., 1852-11-24
Gov. Elias N. COnyyay's inaugural
Address.
he Senate and House Of Reps:


Chosen by the free suffra ges of my fellow
citizens to be the Governor of the State of
Arkansas and having taken the official oath
preparatory to assuming the duties of the
ssatiapF Fthe FIRST impulse Of my heart prompts
me to acknowledge my sincere gratitude to
the sovereign people of this State for con-
ferring upon me SO distinguished proof Of
their confidence. The magnitude of the
trust, the high nature of the duties enjoined
by the constitution and laws, and the iulpor-
tance that they should be faithfully, efficient
ly and wisely discharged, have not escaped
my consideration: but justly estimating them
and conscious of my humble abilities, shall
undertake the functions OF chief magistrate
with the greatest solicitude and anxiety for
the result
The patriots of past generation fought
and won the battles of our Independence
In the right Of self-government we enjoy the
fruits Of their valor, their patriotism and
their wisdom The great and essential prin-
ciples Of liberty and free government, hav-
ing been acknowledged aud established in
our written constitution. 10 dark cloud Of
uncertainty cbscures the workings of our
system from the scrutiny OF the people, and
they do not look to their supreme executive
authority for concessions of liberty, rights
and privileges. The people rule-and those
whom they elevate to power are but their
servants, by whose instrumentality they GO
vern themselves The executive authority
is depository Of power limited and defined,
and for an exposition of the principles by
which | shall be guided and governed in its
exercise, point to that proud monument of
wisdom, the constitution Of tn, United States,
as well as to that Of our own State. These
sacred instruments are founded Ga the firm,
immutable and indestructabe principles Of
justice--the true principles Of social order,
liberty and happiness. Love of happiness
actuates the human heart and secures the
affections of the people for our system Of
government Their Judgments approve it;
and by their valor they are ever ready to de-
fend it-nd their constitutional rights.
The federal government can exercise no
powers except those delegated to It by the
States, and defined and limited by its con
stitudon-ail other powers are interdicted
and stano like the forbidden fruit-it cannot
touch them without incurring the maledic-
tions of the States and the people--endang
ering its own happy existence--the freedom,
sovereignty and independence of the States,
and the rights, peace, happiness and liber-
ties Of tie people. The States cannot be
too vigilant and watchfal ia guarding against
encroaohments upon their sovereignty for
aggressions upon it by the federal govern
ment are like monuments that mark with
certainty steps in the road that leads to con-
solidation and monarchy.
AS parties to the compact forming the
Union the several States are bound to COM
ply with every injunction of the constitution,
and to all laws enacted by it's authority-a
refusal of any one Of them would be an act
of bad faith and violation Of sacred duty
which, if persisted in, would not fail to lead
to consequences fatal to the existence of the
Union.
The rule of strict adherence to, and COM
pliance with our organic laws, with federal
and State in all their parts, is not onlya safe
one but so essential to the proper order and
harmonious working of the various depart
ments, and to the preservation of our system
of government, that these insurements en-
Join its observance by the most solemn sane
ton.
| am fully aware that these facts are gen.
orally well understood. | deem them. how
ever, of such great moment, and the princi-
Piles which they inculcate so essential to the
of our institutions, that state
them not only with the view of impressing
them on the minds of others, but of acllnowl-
edging that they are deeply fixed in my
own.
The people of the State of Arkansas are
intelligent and patriotic-they know and
will willingly perform all their duties to
their sister States and to the Union--they
are magnanimous-understa their rights
and possess the frmness and bravery to adj
here to and maintain them. Such, gentle
men, are the people whose servants we are.
1t is a high honor to be deemed worthy of
their confidence, and to be entrusted with
it, my heart tells me, imposes deep and
lasting debt of gratitude l know they do
not expect that debt to be repaid in words,
none that | can command could describe,
much less discharge it, for such empty sym
bols, with all their force. could not rouse the
mind to imagine the feelings of truly CRATE
ful heart. [ shall seek to illustrate them to
the best of my abilities in the firm and faith
ful discharge of the executive duties-should
l succeed in performing these to the satisfac-
tion of the people and lasting benefit to the
State, shall attribute my success mainly to
the patriotism and wisdom of the General
Assembly; for much will depend on the en-
actment of such laws as are demanded by
the wants of the people, and the interests
and honor of the State feel happy in the
reflection that the people have chosen from
among themselves Legislators, who will re-