Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-12-14

With these hopes and wishes for the. welfare Of
iowa and our common country. retire from the Of
ice with which, have been honored.
.a STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD.
Eoua City December 9th.
GOVERNOR eRIMED
INAUGURAL AIDE ESS.
Gentleman Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives:
Having now, in your presence, assumed
the duties Of the Office to which have been
elevated by the SURFACES of my fellow citi-
zens; it becomes my duty, under the Consti-
tuition, to call your attention to such subjects
as believe demand your consideration.
No one, however connected with legislation,
can too highly estimate the responsibilities Of
his position. He cannot feel too deeply the
delicacy of his labors, and in his ignorance
of the complicated structure and conflicting
interests Of society over which he is called to
exercise control. To legislate is the noblest
employment in which he can be engaged
and the most difficult of satisfactory execu-
ton. at
1t is 50 everywhere, but il is peculiarly SO
in new and growing State, where the popr-
lation is drawn from all quarters Of the civil
liked globe, where the public policy and pub
lie institutions are just being established, and
where different portions of the State are in
different conditions Of progress and develop
ment. 1t is difficult task to protect and adj
vance the pioneer interests of our western
settlements and also encourage and establish
on substantial basis the commercial and
manufacturing interests of the old counties
by general laws that shall operate equally
and bene6cially upon all. 1t is net an easy
matter to lay strong and deep the foundations
Of the educational Institutions of q new State,
and to rear thereon superstructures that shall
honor the state and bless mankind. The duty
of restoring reason to those who are bereft Of
it, of giving sight to the blind and hearing to
the deaf, by the establishment and proper
endowment Of charitable institutions; of re-
pressing evil, Of Furnishing crime, Of stimu-
lating industry, Of protecting public virtue,
and Of maintaining the integrity Of the state
sovereignty, cannot be exercised without in
curing grave responsibilities.
Government is established for the protec-
ton of the governed. But that protection
does not consist merely in the enforcement Of
laws against injury to the person and proper
ty. Men do not make voluntary nbnega-
ton Of their natural rights simply that those
rights may be protected by the body polite.
1t reaches more vital interests than those Of
property. Its greatest object is to elevate
and to ennoble the citizen. It would fall far
short Of its design, if it did not disseminate
intelligence and build up the moral energies
of the people. 1t is organized sto establish
Justice, promote the public welfare, and Sc.
cure the blessings of liberty.'' 1t is designed
to fos er the instincts Of truth, justice and
philanthropy that are implanted in our very
natures, aid from which all constitutions and
laws derive their validity and value. 1t
should afford moral as we'll as physical pro-
lection by educating tue rising generation,-
by encouraging industry and sobriety,-by
.teadfastly adhering to the right, and by be-
ing ever true to the instincts Of freedom and
humanity.
TO accomplish these high aims Of Govern
ment, the first requisite Is, ample provision
for the education Of the youth Of the State.
The common school fund of the State should
be scrupulously preserved. and more eff.
cient system of common schools than we now
have, should be adopted. The State should
see to it, that the elements Of education, like
the elements Of universal nature, are above,
around and beneath all.
1t is agreed that the safety and perpetuity
of our Republican institutions depends upon
the diffusion Of intelligence ameng the mas
ses of the people. The statistics of tho PEN
itentiaries and almshouses throughout the
country abandantly show, that education is
the best preventive of pauperism and crime.
They show also that the prevention Of those
evils is much less expensive than the punish
ment Of the one and the relief of the other.
Education, too, is the great equalizer Of hui
man conditions. 1t places the poor on an
equality with the rich. It subjects the appe-
tites and passions of the rich to the restraints
of reason and conscience, and thus prepares
each for career Of usefulness and honor
Every consideration therefore of duty and
policy, impels US to sustain the common
schools of the state in the highest possible
efficiency. #TfI A
am convinced that the public schools
should be supported by taxation of property,
and that the present RATE system should be
abolished. Under the present system of q
of the poor are in a measure excluded from
the benefits Of the schools, whist the chill
dren of the opulent are withdrawn from them,
to be educated in private institutions. Pro-
perty is the only legitimate subject of taxa
ton. 1t has its duties, as well as its rights.
1t needs the conservative indences of educa-
ton; and should be made to pay for its pro-
lection.
Suggest the propriety Of establishing in
each school district in the State, . district
school library. believe that an act appro-
priating to each district small sum Of
money for this purpose, provided the district
would appropriate an equal amount, would
be received BY the people with the highest sat-
isfaction. It would establish in each district,
complying with the provisions Of the act, q
NEucLEus around which in few years would
be gathered respectable libraries that would
be accessible to all. These Libraries would
ha rreat aida in thu f3ifFus;nn If general IN.