Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-24
OHIO LEGISLATURE.
Jan. l4tb, SESArE.-Prsyer by Rev. Dr.


Jan. l4tb, SKSArE.-Prsyer by Rev. Dr.
Hoge.
Mr.. Brszee introduced a bill to provide
for the sale of railroads and other corpora
tons, which vas read the first time.
After the orders Of the.dsy were disposed
of, Lieutenant Governor Ford appeared,
with the committee appointed to wait upon
him, and was Announced as ready to take
the oath Of office, and to enter upon the
discharge of the dn,ies OF His post. He
was then sworn in by Judge Green Of Ross,
when he ascended 10 the Chair ot the
President Of the Senate which was vac tied
by Ex Lieut.. Gov. Myers, and proceeded to
real the following:
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gentlemen oftie Sendie:-
The duties ,phich pertain TO the Office to
which have been called by the people,
except on the contingency provided for in
the Constitution, are limited, though not
without responsibilities; responsibilities
which will doubtless for time cause me
no small degree of embarrassment, for am
entirely wanting in a knowledge Of the
duties of the chair. But this deficiency
shall be remcdied, as fat as proper re:
gard for the advice Of those better acqua-
inted with Parliamentary rules than myself
and unremittlng exertion OH my part, can
avail. In the meantime hope this honor
able body will cordially extend to me q
considerate indulgence, resting well assured,
as you may, that I come TO preside over
you with no other feelings than those Of
justice and courtesy, with firm determine
ton, to the best of my abilities, to apply
the rules established by yourselves with
strict impartiality, to protect the rights and
respect the feelings Of all.
AS the presiding officer Of the Senate
not authorized to participate in debate. and
only to vote when that body may be equal
ly divided, must, Notwithstanding, feel a
deep interest in the result of those deliber-
ations, as they shal, tend to advance the
interests of the commonwealth.
To the executive head Of the Govern.
ment belongs the privilege, as it is made
his duty, to recommend to the General AS.
sembly such measures as he may deem OF
importance to the public veal. As there.
fore, it is not expected, so it would seem
improper that the presiding officer Of thi,
bodyshould assume in any way the exercise
of that function
The intimate official relations which
hear, however, to this branch Of the Gov
ernment, may excuse me il | shall venture
to aiude to the circumstances under which
the General Assembly is convened.
E .i ho ,ira n
the State Government, has greater re
spensibilty devolved upon the lsw.makins
power, in view of the demand for promp
and well-consiGered Legislation on the mos
important and intricate subjects Of taxation
and finance than it is now called upsn L
meet.
The real sources OF the we'll founded
complaints that come up from every quart
er in regard to the burlhens of taxation
lie bevond the vision of the mere superficial
observer, to whose eye nothing but gener
al prosperity is appare mt. TO your wisdom
is confided the task of probing this subjec
with the confident expectation o! remedy
and relief.
There are not a few, however, and o
those are to be found. numbers of the mos
valuable citizens, who look TO the action
or the General Assembly with doubt, it not
dis,rust. s. absorbed has the public mns
Cor, to speak more properly, the minds o.
those who assume to think for the public,
Of late been in the consideration of nation
al affairs, that the interests of the State
and of the people have been to grea
extent, lost sight of.
1t would not be going too far to say tina
The power and patronage of the Fedora
Government exercise such an influence owe
the &C tioA OF political parties, and, by sym
pa,hy over that of individual citizens as :,
give rise to well grounded apprehension
that the sovereignty, honor aud dignity o
the State may become objects of secondar.
consideration.
The relations which the National ant
State Governments bear to each other, ant
the lealty which, as citizens, we owe II
each within the sphere prescribed to then
by the theory OF our Union, shall no
presume to conGider. Suffice it to say tha
the tendency which have referred to j,
inmical to the integrity of both, if it be
admitted, as il cannot be de MED, that We
shall best secure the crest purposes FOL
which they have been established, by re-
garding such as supreme within the limits
of it's legitimate, constitutional sPere of ae.
ton. TO the Congress of the United
States is committed the exclusive power tt
legislate upon national affairs. To the Gen.
eral Assembly of Ohio is alike committed
the exclusive powe- of providing for the
wants aud of developing the interests OF
the State and the people. Willis. on the
one hard we shall not hesitate to resist
encroa achments upon the rights OF the State
or the people, come from whatever quxrter
they may, so on the other we shall best
maintain just appreciation Of our own
rights by abstainng from any interference
with subjects committed to other powers
and devoting ourselves to the exclusive oon-
sideration of the various and diversified inv
terests of the people Of Ohio which they
haya cnnhdet IN n,ir CHARGE