Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-23
GOV. CHASSIS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
Eaov ciiisen. @t Ssnoss
DstrvKkrD JAN. i4rH, 1856.

It has pleased the people Of Ohio I
call me TO their service in the capacity {
Governor of the State.
Before entering upon the discharge {
the tuties to which | am thus summoned
am required by the fundamental la,
to tsks an oath or affirmation TO supper
the Constitution of the United States an
Of this State, and to take also an oath Q
et6ce.
In compliance with venerable usage
not established, indeed, by the Constifu
ton, but recommended by the example,
Of all nv predecessors, l now appear be
fore you for the purpose of taking upol
myself the solemn obligations which The
Constitution imposes, and of declarin.
briefly, the general principles by which
in my Judgment, the conduct Of public
affairs should be regulated.
The Constitutional dutHef communi
eating to the General Assembly the con.
dition of the State. and oerecommending
measures by him deemed expedieut, de.
tolved upon my predecessor. who has
accordingly laid before you the report.
Of the several State officers, sccompan
led BY such recommendations az seemed
10 him most likely to promote the public
aelfare.
The duty which usage imposes upon
me, requires no detailed exposition. or
elaborate discussion.
In the discharge Of that duty, / shall
speak with difidence, but with frankness.
A profound sense of defective informa-
ton and limited ability will forbid pre-
sumption; while gratitude to the people,
as deep "a it is ~fervent, for the generous
confidence which their suffrsges eyince,
viii coustrain me, irresisibly, not only
To the best exeition of ali my faculties in
their service, but TO the p~lainest declar-
alton of the views Of ru5lic policy, which
investigation and reflection have led me
TO adopt, subject a'ways to the correc.
uon OF reason and experience.
III may not hope for general concur
rencein these views, | may at least expect
from the intelligence and Justice of the
people. candid consideration and impair
tisl judgment.
The sovereignty Of the people is the
Distinguishing characteristic Of our Insti.
~tutions- The people constitute the
State. Government is nothing but the
administI alton Of the affairs Of the PEG
Pae by the agents Of the people, select
ed in such manner and invested with
such overs as are best adapted. in thtir
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 indispenss-
bic. The first is. personal freedom; the
second is official responsibility. With
out personal freedom. inviolably secured
to every individual. there may be a COM
munity Of privileged superiors and de-
graded dependents; but there cannot be,
IN the true sense of the word, a people.
Without responsibility. constantly e1ac-
ted and vigorously enforced. the servants
Of The people are but too apt to become
their masters. Eternal vigilance, it has
been said, is the price Of Liberty.
In our own Stale, personal freedom is
guaranteed by the fundamental law; and
the responsibility Of public servants is
secured by the partition of governmental
powers, by strict limitations of authority,
and by frequent elections.
To you, Senators and Representatives,
belongs exclusively the functions of leg,
islsiion. No part of this power, and no
con rol whatever over FOUR exercise of
it Is confded to the executive. To him
belongs the duty of recommending 10
your consideration such measures 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
Of injuries; TO provide the means and
ditfuse the benefits of education; to res
cue. from unhappy d%estinies. those chill
dren of sorrcw, the deaf, the dumb, the
blind, the insane ; TO define the Just
course and limits Of individual and asso
ciated action 10 develop the resources,
project the interests, and defend the hon.
or OF the Stale to maintain the public
faith, and make provision for the dis
charge of the public obligations these
are some Of the high duties which the
Constitution of the State and the choice
Of the people d.volve upon you.
For the supply of the means necesss-
~ to the due performance Of the duties,
and to the proper administration of the
State government, the patriotism of the
people may be safely trusted; but they
will justly require that no more revenue
be collected than is indispenssbly neces-
sary to these ends; and that clear &C.
counts be rendered Of its faithful appli-
cation to proper public purposes.
The burdens of taxations have become
g%revious. Reform, both in measures
and in mode Is universally demanded :;
and | earnestly invoke your most serious
attention to this important matter. As
far as possible, the aggregate of Taxa
ton should be reduced by the introduce
ton of rigid economy into every branch
Of the public service and the greatest
care should be taken to apporlhon its
burdens equally upcn all non exempt
property OF every description. By whom.
soever held. No favor and no dis favor
should be shown towards one descrip-
sion of property or class Of owners, rath
or than towards another.
Under instructions issued by the late
Auditor of State, the statuary right of
excA citizen to deduct his debts from his
credits, in listing his property for taxa
zion, has been denied. In issuing these
the late Auditor was gov.
erned, doubtless. by respect for a decis-
Jon of q majority CT the Judges of the
Suppeme Court. by which the section of
the act which allows this deduction. was
declared to be unconstitutional. Not |
Eithstandmg that decision. however, the
kas not thought best TO re-
peal the lay. and it may be doubted {
whether The Court. upon reconsideration,
will adhere to the opinion heretofore ex I