Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-01-14
Inaugural Address of Gov. msdiIl.
Gezfiensen Of fAs Senate
aRd Hoase of Rrpreseafafipes -

confederacy Of American Stnies. is fresh
in the memory of many who are noA |
befsre me. Little more than half al
century has elapsed since That event.
She entered into the Union with
population Of hardly sixty thousand. OfI
the ihiriy-one States which now constitute
that Union, she is The third in respect Of
population. More than two millions of !
citizens, in the full enjoyment o. civil
and religious Liberty, now live within her |
borders.
Her resources have been adequate
not only TO the expense Of Government,
but have seen applied to The construction
Of long lines Of canals he establishment
and maintenance Of magnificent, system
Of public institutions, and to the erection I
and support Of large and expensive insiilu.
lions for the education Of the unfortunate.
Private enterprise has kept pace with
the increase of wealth anil the growth of
population. The wilderness has given
place TO cultivated fields, and smiling
villages raise their spires where but a few
years ago the lofty oak displayed its
iolinge. Colleges and other institutions
of instruction have been founded and
endowed. Places the most remote have
been brought into close proximity by
extensive lines of railroads. Indeed, the
number of miles Of finished and projected
railroads, is greater than that of any other
State in the Union,
Such rapid growth in all the elements
which makes grea and prosperous people,
must fill The heart of every citizen with
patriotic hope and honorable pride. The
future prospects Of our people are as
promising as the past has been prosper.
Gus. He would be unworthy of your
confidence and respect who did net feel
honored Mt being called by the voice Of
its people, to the Chief Magistracy of so
great and growing State. Words, Indeed.
are inadequate to express my thankful.
ness for the confidence which has been
reposed in me, and my sense of The res
possibilities Of the position in which I
have been placed.
The growth of our State and The high
posIion which she now occupies, have
been produced by the self.reliance, energy
and industry of her people. The chnr
acter of the government has tended to
encourage the qualities, and has had an
important agency in augmenting the NOR
al force of the people.
Personal sccurily-freedom from vio-
lence and insults the primary and i'm.
portant object Of the establishment of all
civil government. The weak must be
protected from the aggressions of the
strong. Life is hardly desirable where i,
is not secure, or " hen i, is constantly eX-
posed to the fear Of oppression and the
apprehension Of wrong.
Our laws throw their shield around all,
and grant impunily to none. In them
the weak find refuge and support, and
none are so powerful as not to need their
protection. Under their equal operation
all enjoy the fruits Of their labor in secu.
rity and peace. Our comparative free
dom from anything like monopo.ies, by
WHICH compeiuion is cut on, LABOR reA press
ed, and generous and ennobing rivalry is
degraded, has encouraged our citizens to
embark in schemes Of public and private
improvement, which in society differ.
emily constituted, would never have beer
undertaken.
The grant of any special privilege has
not only produced the evils inherent in
the system, but has been the just cause of
dissatisfaction and uneasiness in The minds
of the people. They have naturally felt
that their rights have teen abridged, and
the rule Of equality, which constitutes the
very foundation of human freedom, and
which should prevail in all legislative &C.
tion, has been violated. The result, too,
has always been unfortunate, and demon
strated the folly of going beyond the lin.
its Of declaring and securing the rights OF
individuals and furnishing and redressins
their wrongs.
Government has no right to interfere
with the pursuits of the governed. When
it assumes TIE power OF discriminating
between different classes, i. is usurping a
power of sovereignty which the people
have never conferred. The exercise oil
talents and industry should be left within
he limits of the general laws. No class
or particular body Of men should possess
rights or privileges not enjoyed by the
whole masses of the body polite.
We are accustomed fully to consider all
the advana ages Of the general prevalence
of The principle of equality in our politi.
cal system. Like the air which we breathe
, its very commonness is an obstacle to the
full appreciation Of all its blessings
The ordinary discharge of the duties Of
4 citizenship calls into exercise all the men.
tai faculties. The administration of pub.
lie affairs, by requiring the cooperation
Of the people, furnishes them with the
most useful and practical lessons in gov.
, eminent and legislation. AS jurymen.
they are called upon to consider the
weight of evidence, to reconcile the con.
: lradictions Of different statements, and ia
:, pronounce on authori,ive judgment upon
!. the Jaw as modified Ky the facts thus de.
: termined.
# The right Of suffrage requires them te
q inform themselves of, and pronounce
. judgment upon, the actions Of their agents
T and the propriety oflegisla,ion. The ex
q ercise Of these rights and duties require
j. intelligence. The possession of knowl