Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-01-26
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO
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GAd H'at' y Re PressatafiFes:
A century ago. the territory now eoustiiu.
ting The State Of Ohio. was an unbroken wild.
ernsA. Her admission into the great eOnfed.
eracy Of American States is fresh in che mem
ory Of many who are now before me. Little
more than half a century has elapsed since
that event
She entered the Union with population Of
hardly sixty thousand inhabitants. OF the
thirty one Ststes which now constitute that
Union, she is The third in respect Of population.
More than two millions Of citizens 10 the full
enjoyment ofcigil aud religious liberty now
live within her borders.
Her resources have been adequate not on
ly to the expenses Of Government but have
been applied to the construction OF long lines
OF canals; TO the establishment and maintenance
Of muni6cent system Of public instruc ton.
and TO the erection and support Of large and ex-
pensive institutions for the education Of the un-
fortunate.
Private enterprise has kept pace with .he in
crease Of 6ealth and the growth ofpopulstion.
The wilderness has given place to cultivated
fields. and smiling villages raise their spires
where bu.a few years ago the lofty oak dis
played its foliage Colleges and other insttu-
tons OF instruction have been founded and en-
dowed. Places the most remote have been
brought iElo close proximity by extensive lines
Of railroads. Indeed, the number Of miles OF
our flushed 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 gil
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 confidence
and respect who did not feel hOnored at being
called By the voice Of its people to the Chief
Magistracy Of so great and so growing State
Words, indeed, are inadequate TO express my
thankfulness for the confidence which has been
reposed in, me, and my sense of the RESPONSE
bities of the position in which have been
placed.
The growth Of our State and the high posi-
ton which she now occupies, have been produ-
ced by the self reliance, energy and industry Of
her people.
The character Of the government has tended
to encourage these qualities and has had an
important agency in augmenting the moral
force of the people.
Personal security-freedom from violence
and insults the primary and important OBJ
ject Of the establishment Of all civil govern
ment. The weak must be protected from the
aggressions Of the strong. Life is hardly desi-
rable where it is aot secure, or when it is con-
stantly exposed to the fear CT oppression aud
the apprehension Of wrong.
Our laws throw their shield around oil and
grant impunityto none. In them the weak
find refuge and support and none are so pow
erful as not to need their equal operation all en-
Joy the fruits Of their labor in security and
peace.
Our comparative freedom from anything
like monopolies, by which competition is cut
of, labor oppressed. and generous and emo
bling rivalry is degraded, has encouraged our
Gtizens to embark in schemes Of public and
private improvement which in a society differ
emily constituted would never have been un.
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 uneasness in the minds OF the people
They have naturally felt that their rights had
been abridged and the ruleof equality, which
constitutes the very foundation of human free
lom, and which should pre- 'ail in all legisla.
live action, has been violated.
The result, too, has always been uufortun-
ate, and demonstrated the folly of going be.
Vond the limits Of declaring and securing The
ights of individuals and furnishing and re.
lressng their wrongs.
Government has no right to interfere with
he pursuits ofthe governed. When itassumes
he power Of discriminating between different
,lasses, it is usurping power OF sovereignty
which the people have conferred. The exercise
,ftalents and industry shoald be left within
he limits ofgeneral laws. No class or partcu
lar body of men, should possess rights or priv.
leges not enjoyed by the whole mass Ofthe body
polite.
We are not accustomed fully to consider all
he advantages of the general prevalence of the
'rinciple Of equality in our political system
ike the air which we breathe, its very COM
nenness is an obsticle to the full appreciation
Of al'its blessings.
The ordinary discharge of the duties of citi
senship calls into exercise all the mental facul-
les The administration ofpublic affairs, by
'equiring the cooperation Ct the people. fur
nishes them with the most useful and practical
essons in government and legislation.
AS juryman, they are called upon to consider
he weight Of evidence. to reconcile the contra
1ictions of different statements, and to pronoun.
,e an authoritative judgment upon the law as
modified by the facts thus determined.
The right ofsuffrcge requires them to inform
themselves Of, and pronounce judgment upon
he actions Of their agents, and the propriety
II legislation. =
The exercise Of these rights and duties re.
luires intelligence. The passion Of knowledge
gives moral force, discussion and activity to the
Individual Its universal diffusion, power and
to the people and perpetuity to
heir institutions
The Union OF these States is another very
cause Of our growth and prosperity
Ind that Of every other State. The free dom