Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-05
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV. HARRIS.
Gentlemen of the Senate and

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV. HARRIS.
Gentlemen of tile Senate and
House of Representatives:
Having been called by the popular vote of the
people of Tennessee to the Chief Executive Office
of the State, appear before you to take the oath
of Office prescribed by the Constitution, and TO
define, to some extent, the principles and policy
by which I expect to be governed during my Off
cial term.
Impressed with profound sense of gratitude for
the confidence implied in my selection for this i'm
portant trust, enter upon the discharge OF its du
ties with an unaffected distrust of my ability TO
give full and entire satisfaction.
The long lire of able and distinguished men who
have preceded me in this position admonishes me
that it will be difficult if not impossible, to equal
them in the public administration.
Yet, l am encouraged by the reflection that they
have left luminous record to guide aud direct the
steps of their humble successor.
The present ceremony "a constantly recurring
one in the form of gOveTnment) presents striking
and favorable contrast with the Installation into
office in other and dissimilar governments where
an inaugural ceremony is but too often the con-
Guiding scene in the bloody drama of revolution,
where position is attained through the blood of in
nocent victims, and the seat of power reared upon
the crushed hopes and violated rights of an OPP
pressed and suffering people.
But it is a characteristic and glorious feature of
our governments that power is quietly transferred
from one hand to another, according TO constitu-
tionaI forms, and in accordance with the voluntary
will of the people az expressed by the silent and
peaceable operation Of the ballot-box.
The excitement of a popular election subsding
so soon as the public will is declared, and the A
merican citizen, whatever may have heen his par.
tialties his prejudices bows with genuine loyalty
to the will Of the majority of his cOuntrymen, by
which means our governments are made to promote
and subserve the public interest, and their efficacy
to depend in a great degree upon the public conf
dence.
The constitution requires me to take the oath
which each of you have taken "tO support to Con-
stitution of the State and Of the United States
which imposes the duty of obedience to each and
of allegiance to two distinct governments
This imposes the necessity OF enquring to some
extent, least to the relative position, rights
powers and duties of EACH
Our whole system of government is based upon
the simple and sublime truth that man has capacity
to govern himself, and that supreme sovereignty
rests with the people.
For their own convenience and security they form
ed State Governments, each of which indie
pendent of the Others possessing all the attributes
of a free, sovereign and independent nation
But subsequently, ''in order to form a more per-
feet union, establish justice insure domestic tram
guilty, provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare and secure the blessings of lib
erty to themselves and their pOsterity," they Oon-
federared all of those States into General Gov
ernmet, deegating to it, by the Federal Constitu-
ton certain powers therein specifically enumerated.
by the constitution, prohibited by it to the
States are reserved to the States respectively to
| the people"
From which it manifest that each of those Gov
ernments possesses powers which are denieO to the
other, and beyond the limits of which neither can
go without encroachment upon the rights and iegI-
innate functions of the other.
Yet so long each confines its action within the
scope of well defined authority it results in the most
perfect harmony between the two, affording to the
| citizens all the blessings which good government
i can confer.
But when either transcends the limits of its power
and usurps the powers of the other, harmony is at
once destroyed aud dangerous and alarming coils
ions arise which inevitably weaken and may event
ually destroy the bonds OF Union.
| IL is therefore, the highest duty of every public
functonary, State Federal, TO confne its action
within the boundary of well defined constitutional
authority abstaiung from the exercise of all doubt
! full powers.
| In addition, however, to these powers delegated
in express terms, there is class of implied powers
properly claimed and exercised by the Federal Gov
| ernment which involves by far most serious and
difficult questions of constitutional construction the
only safe solution of which is to be found in sub
iecting the implication to the following test
Is itsfarly aud properly an incident to express
| ly delegated power2 and its exercise necessary to
the execution of the same aud without the exercise
Of which the expressed power would be nugatoryi
II il is, Congress may properly exercise it. But
il it is not it is Of those powers reserved to
the States to the people" which Congress cannot
exercise without usurping the legitimate powers OF
the State Government
To carry this doctrine OF implied powers further
than this upon any idea of expediency or "general
welfare" is to make the powers OF Congress depend
upon the very varying opinions Of its members, as
TO what is expedient what will promote the gen.
eral welare-in effect making the Federal Govern
mems one Of unlimited powers.
Under the doctrine OF liberal or latitudinous con.
strucIions of the Constitution, arising from the un
certainty oil implied powers, the most extraordinary
and alarming assumptions OF Federal authority have
originated. Aud it is to be regretted by all who
earnestly desire the peace and perpetuty of our
Government that there is class OF politicians in
some OF the States who claim for Congress the pow.
er to mould the domestic institutions OF the Terri
tories, end seek to degrade from the rank Of equal
! ty one half OF the the States of the Confederacy
by prohibiting the introduction OF species of pro-
perty common to those States.
The Federal Constitution recognizes domestic
slavery as existing institution, and leaves tue
question the exclusive jurisdiction and control OF
the several States and Territories each having the
unlimited power to determine for itselfb by lis Con.
stitution, whether slavery shall shall not exist
within its corporate limits; and where il exists
regulated and controlled by them, free frcm inter
ference by the Federal or any other Government
Indeed il Is placed by the Constitution beyond the
pale OF Federal legislation pit in the single 10.
owner.
Aud while hold il to be our imperative duty "a
preserve and maintain the General Government ia
all olits constitutional vigor, as the sheet anebo
OF peace at home aud security abroad" it 1.
equally our duty 10 watch with jealous vigilance,
aud guard With a strong hand against the eneTOseh
menls Of the Federal, upon the reserved rights o.
the State Government
The formation Of our domestic institutions aud th 6
administration OF our domestic affairs are amona 81
tie highest and most important powers reserved
90 the State aud the people, the exclusive exsr
esn OF which by the Stats Is the suEgss bulNaFk
against anl-r publican tendencies, aud certainly a.
loFds TO the citizens greater amount Of security
for life, liberty, aud properly, AID 10 the pursuit
happiness, this can be secured under any Olhel
Government that has ever existed.
Aud any attempt on the part OF the Federal Gov
ernment or a sister State to interfere with the do
nlrstic Institutions policy Of State Governments
or the formation Of the domestic Institutions Of
/ usw state, would be paipsole Esurpation Of pOwe
aud an ogacious iatrrmeddlng. iEaughl with ths
most serious dangers and resulting probably 10 th,
most disastrous consequences
1--we would pFeseFSe our Institutions uhimpairel
aud maiataia Ous Fishts undiminished, e oee0me
shs dusy Of al TIE States. aud especially OF Taos
HhOse Consultation aud lass Feeoguiss the exiate0es