The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-01-19
Inaugural Address.
OF THE
GOVERNOR OF OHIO.
Gentlemea ofMe SenaLe

dud mouse o. Representatives.:
A century ago, the territory now consti-
tuting the State of Ohio, was an unbroken
wilderness. Her admissioninto the great
confederacy Of American States is fresh in
the memory Of many who are now before |
me. Little more than half century has |
elapsed since that event.
She entered the Union with a population |
of hardly sixty thosand inhabitants. or
the thrty-one States which now constitute
that Union, she is the third in population. |
More than two millions OF citizens, in the |
full enjoyment OF civil and religious liber-
ty, now live within her borders
! Her resources have been adequate not
only to the expenses OF Government, but
have been applied 10 the construction sof
I!ong lines OF cannls Ito the establishment
and maintenance of a magnificent system
of public instruction, and to the erection
and support of large and expensive insti-
tutions for the education and restoration OF
the unfortunate.
Private enterprise has kept pace with
the increase of wealth and the growth Of
population.
The wilderness has given place to culti-
waited fields, and smiling villages raise their
spires where but a few years ago the lofty |
oak displayed its foliage. Colleges and
other institutions of instruction have been
founded and endowed Places the m oIt
remote have been brought into close prox-
unity by extensive lines of railroads. In
Decd the number Of miles of our finished
and projected railroads, is greater than that
of any other state in the Union.
Such rapid growth in all the elements
which make great 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 prosperous.
He would be unworthy of your conf
dence who did not feel honored at being call
ed, by the voice its people, to the Chief
Magstracy ofso great and SO growing a
state. Words, indeed, are inadequate to
express my thankfulness for the confidence
which has been reposed in me, and my
ense Of the responsibilities of the position
in which have been placed.
The growth of our State and the high
position which she now occupies, have been
produced by the selfreance, energy and
industry OF her people.
The character Of tho government has
tended TO encourage these qualities, and has
had an important agency inaugmenting the
moral force of the people
Personal security from violence
and insult lis the primary and important
object of the establishment of all civil gov.
ernment. The weak must be protected
f from the strong. Life is hardly desirable
! where tits not secure, or where it is con-
slant exposed to the fear of oppression and
the apprehension of wrong.
Our lawsthrow their shields around ab
, and grant impurity to nome In them the
weak find refuge and support and none
are so powerful as not to need their protec-
; tion. Under their equal operation all en-
Joy the fruits Of their labor in security and
peace.
Our comparative freedom from anything
{ like nonopolies, by which competition is
: cut off labor oppressed, and generous and
: ennobling rivalry is degraded, has encour-
aced our citizens to embark in schemes OF
public and private improvements which, in
8 society differently constituted, would new
er have been undertaken.
The grant Of any special privileges has
not only produced the evils inherent in the
system, buthas been the just cause of dis
{ satisfaction and uneasiness in the minds OF
the people. They have actually felt that
!, their rights had been abridged, and the rule
= of equality. which constitutes the very
! foundation of humman freedom, and which
" should prevail in all legislative action, has
. been violated.
The result, too, has always been unfor-
: tunate, and demonstrated the folly ofgoing
u :, beyond the limits of declaring and securing
: the rights of ofindividuals, and punisliing and
:. redressing their wrongs.
- Government has no right to interfere with
: lhe pursuits of the governed. When it as
: sumes the power of discriminating between
y different classes, tits usurping portion oi
= severe eighty which the people have never
: conferred. The exercise Of talents and in
- dustry should be left within the limits OF gen
- erallaws. No class particular body oil men
~ should possess rights or privileges not en-
:, ~ joyed BY the whole mass of the body poll
: tic.
= We are not accustomed fully to consider
70 all the advantages Of the general prevalence
N of the principle of equality of our politica
system. Like the air which we breathe, IL
u y yerv commences is an obstacle to the ful
- :. apprec iation of all its blessings.
h. The ordinary discharge of the duties o
L. citizenship calls into exercise all the men'a
n. faculties. The administration Of public oil
TO fairs, by requiring the cooperation OF tn
= people, furnishes them with the most use
of ful and practical lessons in government an
IS legislation.
rs AS iurymen, they are called upon to con
he slider the weight Of evidence, to reconcil
N Ethe contradictions Of different statements
o and to pronouncsan authoritative judgmen
a upon the law as modified by the facts thu
%. determined.
The right Of suffrage requires them to IN
I'd form themselves Of, and pronounce jude
er ment upon, the actions of their agents, an
IT. the proprety Of legislation.
* The exercise ofthese rights and dutit
To- requires intelligence. The possession
of knowledge gives moral force, decision an
as activity to the individuai;---its universal di
fusion, power and respectability to tn
zee people and perpetuity to their institutions.
h. The union Of these States is anotht
m very influential cause ofour growth ar
prosperity, and that of every State. Tt
freedom of intercourse, by which the ci
A., izen of one State is entitledt to the rights
citizenship in every other--the freedom
- \, trade, permitting the transportation Of Il
ios products of agriculture and of art witho
ns impost or duty, to every extremity OF Q,
10 extended territory, has stimulated and u
III. same time, encouraged and rewarded i
in dustry. =
,ha Inthis point of view, the continuance
Al. of H. .. n of n