Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-11-12

extent, the principles and policy by
which ! expect to be governed dur
ing my official term.
Impressed with a profound sense
OF gratitude for the confidence i'm
piled in my selection for this impor-
tant trust,l enter upon the discharge
Of It's duties withan unaffected dis.
trust Of my ability to give full and
entire satisfaction.
The long line Of able and distin-
guished men who have preceded M
in this position ndmonishes me that
it viii be difficult, If not impossible,
10 equal them in the public admin.
istmtion.
Yet lam encouraged by the re-
Election that they have left a lumi-
nous record to guide aud direct the
STEPS of their more humble success
or.
The present ceremony "a constant
ly recurring one in our form of gov
ernmenO prese nts striking and
favorable contrast with the installa.
ton into Office in other and dissimi-
lar governments, where an inaugural
ceremony is but too often the Con-
GLIDING scene in the bloody drama OF
revolution, where position is attained
through the blood of innocent vic
Tins, and the seat of power reared
upon the crushed hopes and viola
ted rights of an oppressed suffering
people.
But it is characteristic and glori-
Gus feature of our government that
power is quietly transferred from
one hand to another, according to
constitutional forms, and in accor.
dance with the voluntary will of the
people as expressed by the silent
ann peaceable operation Of the bal.
lot box.
The excitement Of popular cleo.
ition subsiding so soon as the public
will is declared, and the American
citizen, whatever may have been bis
partialities or his prejudices, bows
with genuine loyalty to the will o
the majority of his country men, b,
which means our governments art
made to promote and subserve tht
ipublic interest, ard their efficacy Il
depend in great degree upon tht
public confidence.
The constitution requires me t.
take the oath which each Of yor
have taken 'to support the Constitu
ton of the State and Of the United
States = which imposes the duty 0
obedience to each, and of allegiance
TO two distict governments.
This imposes the necessity Of en-
quiring to some extent, at least, a
TO the relative position, rights, pow
. ers and duties of each.
Our whole system of government
is based upon the simple and sub
lime truth that man has capacity t
govern himself, and that suprem
sovereignty rest with the people.
For their own convenience an
security they formed State Govern
ments, each of which was indeper
: dent Of the others, possessing all th
attributes Of a free, sovereign and in
dependent nation.
But subsequently, Sin order to forr
> more perfect union, establish jus
tice, insure domestic tranquilit,
provide for the common defenc'
promote the general welfare, and ST
I cure the blessings Of liberty TO then
, selves and their posterity,' they Col
federated all of those States INF
y one General Government, deleg'
= ting to it, by the Federal Constit'
= ton certain powers therein specified
II ly enumerated. And the power
. not delegated to the United State
} by the constitution, nor prohibite
u by it to the States, are reserved
= the States respectively OF to the PEI
: ple.'
/ From which it is manifest that eac
e of those Governments posse $50
~ powers which are denied to the othe
= and beyond the limits of which ne
+ Their can 60 without encroachmeI
y upon the rights and legitimate fun
'e tons Of the other.
Yet so long as each confines =
= action within the scope Of we'll d
: fined authority it results in the mo-
. perfect harmony between the tw
. affording to the citizens all the bles
5 ings whiehgood government can col
D fer.
% But when either transcends tf
u limits of its power and usurps th
$ towers of the other. harmony is Q