Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-01-24
GOVERNOR CHASE'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Delivered January IA, 1896.

call me 10 their service in the capacity Of
> Governor of the State.
Before entering upon the discharge OF
the duties to which | am thus summoned,
i am required by the fundamental law to
take an oath or affirmation 10 support the
Constitution of the United States, and OF
this State, and take also an oath OF office.
In compliance with venerable usage
, not established, indeed, by the Constitu-
ton, but recommended by the examples,
of all my predecessors, l now appear
) before you for the purpose of taking up
IN myself the solemn obligations which
the Constitution imposes; of declaring,
briefly, the general principles by which,
in my judgment, the conduct OF public
/. affairs should be regulated, and OF indlca'
ting some of their more obvious oppllca-
tons.
The Constitutional duty Of comnuni-
eating to the General Assembly the con-
diion Of the State, and Of recommending
measures by him deemed expedient, de-
VOWED upon my predecessor, who has ac-
,cordingly laid before you the reports OF
the several State officers, accompanied by
such recommendations rs seemed to him
mostlikely TO promote the public welfare.
The duty which usage imposes upon
me, requires no detailed exposition or
elaborate discussion.
In the discharge Of that duty | shall
speak with d~ifidence, but with frankness.
A profound sense Of defective information
and limited ability will forbid presump-
ton, while gratitude to the People, as
deep as it is f%ervent, for the generous o n
fdence which their suifrages eyince, will
constrain me, irresistably, 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 investl-
cation and reflection have ledme to adopt,
subject always to the corrections OF reason
and experience.
i'll may not hope for general concur
renee in these views, | may at least ex-
,pect, from the intelligence and justice OF
the people, candid consideration and i'm.
partial Judgment.
The sovereignty of the People is the
distinguishing characteristic of u lnstl-
tutions. The People constitute the State
Government is nothing but the admins
tration of the affairs of the People by
the agents of the People, selected in such
manner and invested with such powers as
are best adapted, in their Judgment, to
the security Of their own rights, and the
advancement of their own interests.
To the successful working Of such in
stitutions, two conditions are indispensa-
sble. The first is personal freedom; the
7secondi S official responsibility. With,
out personal freedom inviolably secured
10 every individual, theremay be a
community of privileged superiors and
degraded dependents; but there can
not be, in the true sense of the word, a
People. Without responsibility. con
.stantly exacted and vigorously enforced,
the servants of the people are but too apt
to become their masters. Eternal vigil
lance, it has we'll been said, is the price
of Liberty. =.
In our own State personal freedom is
guaranteed by the fundamental law: and
the responsibility of public servants is Sc
cured by the partition of governmental
powers, by strict limitations Of authority
and by frequent elections.
To you, Senators and Representatives
belongs exclusively the function of legis
Iation. No part of this power, and nj
control whatever over your exercise Oft
is confded to the Executive. To hin
belongs the duty Of recommending t
your consideration such measures as b
may think best adapted to promote tn
public welfare; but there his duty ends
The rest is yours.
To secure individual rights against in
vasion; to furnish adequate remedies TO
the redress Of injuries; to provide tn
means and diffuse the benefits 0 feducation
to rescue from unhappy destinies thos
children of sorrow, the deaf, the dumb
the blind and the insane; to define the jus
course and limits of individual and assc
ciated action; to develop the resources
protect the interests, and defend the hon
or Of the State: to maintain the publ
faith, and make provision for the dis
charge Of the public obligation: these ar
some of the high duties which the Con
stitution Of the State and the choice G
the People devolve upon you.
For the supply Of the means necessar
to the due performance of these duties
and to the proper administration OF th
State Government, the patriotism OF tn
people may be safely trusted; but the.
will Justly require that no more revenu
be collected than indispensably necessar.
to these ends; and that clear accounts b
rendered Of its faithful application to prop
er public purposes.
The burdens Of taxation have becom
very ~grieyous. Reform, both in meas
ure and in mode, is universally demand
ed; and l earnestly invoke your most Sc
rious attention 10 this important mattel
AS far as possible the aggregate OF tax
ton should be introduced by the iatrodut
ton of rigid economy into every branc
of the DubIic service; and the create!