The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-16
THURSDAY, JAN. 8.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8.
In convention of both branches Of the
Legislature this day. Hon. HANNIBAL HAN.
LIN, Governor elect, took and subscribed the
oaths of Office, and then delivered to the
Convention the following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and House Of Representatives.
You have assembled to discharge the Leg.
islatiye duties, devolved upon you by the
people of the State. 1t becomes my duty,
under the provisions Of the Constitution, ~
communicate to you such inf f'rmation as
NAV possess, upon the condition OF the
Snte. and 70 recommend such measures for
your consideration as may deem expedient.
With q Just reliance upon Divine Provi-
dence to sustain and direct us au in our de-
liberstions- sincere d.aire to main.
tain and advance the best interests Of our
State. and 70 act in unison with the pros.
perity and harmony OF our whole country
with thankful hearts that the husband
man has been rewarded for his toll. by an
abundant haryest-that peace and health
have prevailed within our borders, and that
the industrial pursuits Of the State are In a
PROSPEROUS condition let US enter upon the
duties severally committed to our charge.
Whatever relates to the whole country,
interests and affects the people Of Maine, as
they constitute part thereof. The country
has lust emerged from On important and ex-
citing Presidential election moro impor.
tant, perhaps, than any which has preceded
Il. In the issues involved in that contest,
Maine. as one Of tho States Of the Union,
had, in common with oil the others, deep
and direct interest. The general result was
different from what was desired and hoped
by a largo majority Of the people Of the
State, and from what they believed TO be for
the welfare Of tho whole country, and what
they earnestly sought to accomplish. Still,
il furnishes the highest hope for the future.
and foretclls, with unerring certainty, the
ultimate triumph Of that great principle for
which We have struggled. Ten other States
have concurred with Maine In the effort to
restore the government of the United States
10 what its wise and patriotic founders de-
ngned and intended 1t should be. New
England stood In tho contest substantially
Where she was in the struggle Of the Revo.
luton. That was an effort t. establish ,
FREQ government, and she was pro-eminent
in her sacrifices and devotion to accomplish
that object, a. she IL now to preserve and
psrpetuate what was then accomplished.-
The true question involved in the late cleo
ton was, Substantially, whether the ad-
vsncement Of human freedom should con-
tinue to be . fundamental principle and q
pre eminent object Of our National Govern
inent, within the limo marked out by the
Consultation, or whether it, powers should
be perverted TO the extension Of slavery.-
This Il was that underlaid all other issues.
however Others may have mingled with It,
or whatever may be the results that shall
come out OF II. II w.ls an effort on one side
70 make thegovernmsnt Of the United Suites
either by its direct acts. or its acquiescencs,
or its ooinplIcity, MD in spreading the evils
Of slavery over territories where 1t did not
exist, but from which II had been excluded
by positive law.
The history of the government shows con-
clusively, that the wise and good men who
instituted and laid is foundation, and those
Who framed our Constitution, designed and
expected chat Il should be ono Of freedom,
and not Of slavery. Il was upon this idea
that the revolutionary war wss successfully