Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-03-12
Inaugural Address.
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sorrow over which | have been borne
to a position so suitable for others ra.
Their than desirable for myself
The circumstance rllat have been
called, CORA limited perioa,to preside
over The tles,iuies of the Republic. fills
me with profound sense ofresponsi'
bili,y-hu,w with nothing like shrinking
apprehension. repair to the post
assigned me, nu, us to one sought, but
lin obedience to the unsolicited ex.
preston of your sill, answerable only
fora fearless, faithful and diligent ex-
crcise Of my best powers.
Tough, to he and am truly grateful
for the rare manifestation of the ma
tons confidence but this, so far from
Tightening my obligations, only adds
to their weight, You have summon
ed me in my weakness-you must sus-
tain me by your strength: When
looking for the fulflmcnt of reasona.
BILE requirements, you will not be un-
mindful of the great changes which
| have occurred, even within the las,
quarter of a century, and the conse.
aucnt augmentation undcomplexity of
the duties imposed in the administra-
ton both Of your home and foreign
Affairs.
Whether the elements Of inherent
force in the Republic hive kept pace
with its unparalleled progression in
territory, population aud wealth, has
been The subject Of earnest thought
and discussion on both sides of the
ocean.
Less than sixty.three years agothe
Father of his Country made the then
recent accession ofthe important State
Of North Carolina to the Constitution
of the United States, one Of the sub
jects Of his especial congratulations.
At that moment, however, when the
agitation consequent upon the revolu'
'ionary struggle had partly subsidized
when we were just emerging from the
weakness and .embarrassments of the
confederation. there was an evident
consciousness of yigor equal to the
great mission so wisely aud bravely
fulfilled BY our fathers. 1t was not q
presumptuous assurance, but calm
faith, springing from clear view OF
the sources Of power in government
constituted like ours. 1t is no para
dox to say that, although comparative
ly weak, the newborn nation was in
trinsically strong. Inconsiderable in
population and apparent resources, ii
was upheld by broad and intelligent
comprehension of rights, and an all
pervading purpose to maintain them
stronger than ornaments. 1t came
from the furnace Of the Revolution
tempered to the necessities Of the
times. The thoughts of the men o
that day were as practical as theirsen
,iments were patriotic. They wastes
no portion of their energies upon idl'
/ You'd the governmental Landmark.
which had hitherto circumscribed the
limits ofhuman freedom, and planted
their standard where it has stood u
gainst the dangers which have threat
ened from abroad, and the interna
agitation which has at times fearful,
meuaced at home. Theyhave proved
themselves equal to the solution ofthe
great problem, TO understand which
their minds had been Illuminated by
the dawning lights of the Revolution.
The object sought was not thing
dreamed Oft was a thing realized.
They had exhibited not only the pow
er to achieve, but (what all history az
frmed 10 be SO much more Unusually,
the capacity TO maintain. The oppres-
sed throughout the world, from thai
day to the present, have turned theil
eyes hilherward-not to find their
lights exiting uished or to fear lest the,
should wane, but to be constant,
cheercd by their steady and increasing
radiance.
In this, our country has (in my judg'
mont Tina far fnlfiiIel ira highest du.
" to suffering humanity. 1t has spo'
ken, and will continue to speak, moi
only by its words, but by its acts, the
language Of sympathy, encourage
ment and hope, to those who earnest,
ly listen to the tones which pronounce
for the largest rational liberty. But,
after all. the most animating encour-
agement and potent appeal for free
dom will be its own history, its trials
and its triumphs. Pre-eminently the
power of our advocacy reposes in our
example; but no example, be il re-
membcred, can be powerful for last
ing good, whatever apparent adyanta.
ges may be gained, which is not based
upon the eternul principles Of right
and justice. ~,
Our fathers decided for themselves,
both upon the hourt to declare and the
hour to strike. Theywere their judy
es of the circumstances under which it
became them to pledge to each other
their lives, their fortunes. and their
sacred honor, for the acquisition of