Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-01-27
P @ L [ [ [ C A L
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Senate
and House of Representatives.

emn obligations to preserve invlOlate, IN Its d.
visions of powers and duties, contemplates that
the Executive and Legislative departments OF
government may, by the force of circumstances
be placed in an antagonistic position. While
it invests the Legislature with authority to
enact laws for the government of the people, ii
does not require obedience to those laws un-
I'll they have received the sanction of the Ex-
ecutive But it is too late to call in question
the wisdom of provision so apparently in con-
fiict with the genius Of democratic govern
ment-which makes the will of one paramount
to that Of the many. 1t is to be accepted in all
its efficacy, and the duties it devolves upon US
are TO be established faithfully, conscientiously
and fearlessly.
The peculiar circumstances under which
am called, By your voice, to the Chief MagIs-
tracy of the State, must constitute my apology
for this public expression of the earnest hope |
cherish, that, however discordant our views
may be upon the questions heretofore at issue
between the great political parties Of the ma
ton, our councils and acts here may be in har-
mony. In the preservation of the rights of the
people of this State, in the general welfare we
have common interest. The preservation Of
those rights and the promotion Of that welfare,
constitute the legitimate purpose for which you
are assembled; and whatever measures you
may adopt for the furtherance of those objects
and in accordance with the spirit of the Con-
stitntiOn, will meet, as they will deserve, my
hearty approval.
In entering upon a new year, it may not be
inappropriate to call TO mind, for few mo-
ments, the year which is past. 1t has been an
: eventful one in the history of our own State,
of the Union, and the civilized world. 1t will
hn rod fn< TlP tba
first time ia the nineteenth century, with a
strong will, the strong arm of sovereign State
was stretched forth in the work Of moral re-
form,-tO arrest in its midway career, the pro-
gress Of the moral pestilence, intemperance.-
Other laws have been enacted in this and other
States, whose object and tendency were to im-
pede its progress, or confRe it within certain
defined limits; but It remained for the State Of
Maine TO erect, by Legislative enactments
which, in the hope and faith OF those who
framed them, could be neither avoided nor
evaded, barrier beyond which it was not 10
pass. do not not propose to discuss the mer
its OF that Legislation. l only alIude TO it as an
event in the history of the State, and the Union.
That it has been productive of evil as well as
good, is what may be predicted of all human
iegiSlatiOR- That it has enlisted ardent friends
in lss support, that il has met with strong Op-
position, that it has been made The instrument
in the hands Of warm-hearted, philanthropic
men, for the redemption of the degraded, the
temporal salvation of the almost lost.-that it
has been moral frebrand in the hands of the
fanatic,-that it has been Pros;ituted to the
base purposes Of the demagogue, are as much
matters Of authentic history as the existence of
the law itself
You are aware that some Of the provisions
contained ia the law in question, have been
made the subject of examination and adjudlca-
ljeu in two of our sister states, and in courts
whose judicial opinions are OF high authority.
If the principles recognized by those courts are
to be adopted by the courts of law in our own
State-and there is reason for the belief that
under similar state of facts they will be, and
applied as the rule Of construction TO our own
statute, those features which have been regard
ed as being in conflict with the constitution,
and therefore objectionable, have become still
more SO. In such contingency, the objection
should come from the friends of the law, rath-
er than its opponents. Ii 1t be true that the
material provisions, those which are its dlstnc-
tive characteristics, which constitute It's vltall-
~, are in conflict with the Constitution, and
therefore cannot be enforced, the law, SO far as
the attainment of its proposed object is con-
cerned, has become imperative. That the
people of the State demand law sufficiently
stringent Go close efectually every haunt OF ln-
temperance within its borders is undenlably
true, but a statute whose provisions cannot be
enforced in courts Of law, although even sus-
tanned by the moral sentiment OF the people, is
dead letter upOn the statute-boOk. Under
such state of facts it obviously becomes the
duty of all who would promote the cause of
Car ~ hd f01 10
Legislation to adopt that course which
will, with the least delay, settle at once
and forever the questions which are already
beginning to embarrass the execution of the
law. and the still more important question,
whether the law Of the land and public senti-
ment are ia harmony. The judiciary depart
ment Of government is the source TO which
the Constitution directs you for light, and
to my mind tits the dictate of wisdom TO fol-
low that direction.
| am not aware that any further legislation
upon the subject is contemplated. If it is,
can only invite You TO give il the calm and de-
liberate consideration to which subject mat
ter of such magnitude, involving principles so
important and consequences mOmeItOus, =
the moral welfare and civil rights of the peo-
ple.-is entitled But / would here, as else
where, in the name Of humanity, forbid the
banns between temperance and religious sect
or political party.
The past wear has witnessed the recurrence
of an event which under less highly favored
form of government often shakes the social
fabric to its centre, but with US is little more
than national holiday. refer to the cleo
ton of their Chief Magistrate by the sutfrages
of the people of these United States. Although
unattended by any circumstances other than
those ordinarily connected with it, 1t is an
event which we, as New England men, with
cut distinction of party, may be permitted to
note with peculiar pride. During the siFty-
four years which have elapsed since the Or
ganization of our general government, New
England, literally as she contributed in blood
and treasure to the establishment of our inde-
uendence-rich as she ever has been in moral
and intellectual worth, in patriotic and unwav-
erinO devotion to the Union, has been repre-
seuted but eight years in the person of the
Chief Magistrate. The election at this time
of New England man to this high position by
the almost unanimous voice OF the Stales as
uttered through their several electoral colleges,
following as it does close upon that Crisis IN
which sectional partialities and preJudlces, ar
rayinQ the South and North, threatened Inc
dismembernent of the Union, may be halieo
as AN auspicious omen. Il is an event which
NAV we'll give courage to the faint hearted
crnsh the reasonable hopes and schemes OF the
aoitator and disunionist of this generation al
least, and strengthen the faith of all 10 the per-
netuity of the Union, 1t is an event In the oc-
currence of which we as men OF New England
and of the Union, forgetting all party pred'iec-