Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-24
GOVERNOR CHAsES
INA UG U RAJ ADDRESS
DELvERED Jan. l4lh. 1856.
Fellow CITIZENS OF THE SENATE


AND HoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
1t has pleased the people OF Ohio to call me
to their service 10 the capacity Of Governor Of
the State.
Before entering upon the discharge Of the
duties to which | am thus summoned, am
required by the fundamental law to take an
oath or affirmation to support the Constitution
sof the United States aud Of this State, and to
take also an oath Of Office.
In compliance with venerable usage, not
established, indeed. by the Constitution. but
recommended by the examples of all my pre-.
decessoTs, | now appear before you for the pur-
pose of taking upon myself the solemn obliga-
'tiOns which the Constitution imposes of
declaring. briefly, the general principles by
which. in my judgment. the conduct Of pub
lie affairs should be regulated, and Of indica
ting some Of heir more obvious applications.
The constitutional duty of communicating 10
the General Assembly the condition of the
State, and of recommending measures by him
deemed expetent, devolved upon my prede
cessor. who has accordingly laid before you the
reports of the several State officers, accompan-
led BY such recommendations as seemed to him
most likely to promote the public welfare.
The duty which usage imposes upon me. re-
.qures no detailed exposition. or elaborate dis
eussion.
In the discharge of .hat duty shall speak
with dfidence, but with lrankness. A pro .
found sense of defective information and limi-
ted ability will forbid presumption while
gratitude TO the People as deep as it is fervent,
for the generous confidence with their sutfrages
evince. will constrain me, irresistibly, not only
to the best exertion of all my faculties in their
service, but to the plainest declaration of the
views Of public policy, which investigation
and reflection have led me to adopt, subject
always to the corrections of reason and experi>
ence.
If | may not hope for general concurrence
in these views, may at least expect. from the
intelligence and justice Of the people, candid
consideration and impartial judgment.
The sovereignty Of the People is the distin.
gushing characteristic of our Institutions. The
People constitute the State. Government is
nothing but the administration of the affairs of
the people by the agents of the peope, select
ed iu such manner and invested with such
powers as are best adapted, in their judgment.
to the security Of their own rights aud the ad-
vancement OF their own interests.
Tothe successful working of such institu-
tions two conditions are indispensable. The
first is. personal freedom the second is official
responsibility. Without personal freedom, in:
violably secured to every individual. there may
be community of privileged superlors and
degraded dependents but there cannot be, in
the true sense of the word, People. With
out responsibility, constantly exacted and
vigorously enforced, the servants of the People
are but too apt to become their masters Eternal
vigilance. it has been well said, is the price Of
Liberty.
In our own State, personal freedom is guar
anteed by the Fundamental law and the res
possibility of public servants is secured by The
partition of governmental powers, by strict
limitations of auth ority, and by frequent cleo
tions.
10 you, Senators and Representatives be-
longs exclusively the function of legislation.
No part OF this power, and no control whatever
over your exercise of it, is con6ded to the
Executive. To him belongs the duty Of rec
ommending to ycur consideration such meas
ures as he may think best adapted to promote
The public welfare; but there his duty ends
The rest is yours.
TO secure individual rights against invasion;
to furnish adequate remedies for the redress Of
: injuries; to provide the means and diffuse the
benefits of education; to rescue, from unhappy
destinies, those of sorrow, the deaf, the dumb.
the blind, the insane; to define the just course
and limits of individual and associated action
to develope the resources, protect the interests,
and defend the honor Of the State +; to main
tain the public faith, and make provision for
the discharge of the public obligations: these
are some of the high duties which the COnsti-
tuition of the State and the choice Of the Peo.
pie devolve upon you.
For the supply Of the means necessary to
the due performance of these duties, and to
the proper administration of the State Gov
ernment, the patriotism of the people may be
safely trusted; but they will justly require that
no more revenue be collected than is indispen-
SADLY necessary to these ends: and that clear
accounts be rendered of its faithful application
to proper public purposes:
The burdens OF taxation have become very
gievous. Reform, both iu measure and in