The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-06
Gov. pRAcos INAUcuRAL.

GOV. BRAGGs INAUGURAL.
On the LIST instant, Hon. Thomas Bragg
was re-inaugurated Governor of North Car
| DINA, and delivered the following address
in the Senate Chamber:
| Gentlemen Of The Senate
and House Of Commons:
Two years ago it was my fortune to appear be-
fore you and give The pledges OF fidelity required by
law before entering upon the discharge OF the du-
ties of Chief Executive officer OF the State. The
time for which had then been elected has expired.
| 1t may hardly be becoming in me now 10 speak
| of my past official course. My fellow-ctZens Of
all political parties will judge of that, and. from my
knowledge of them, 1 confidently believe they will
! do il, not only conslderately, but kindly.
| Errors, no doubt, have been committed ny me-
| / claim no exemption from the weakness incident
in greater less degree all, and trust that
am sensible, 10 some extent al least oil my own I'M
perfecrions in particular. All ask of th. m is, to
believe that have be en- aciuated by honest purpo-
ses, and have, on all OCCASIONS, endeavored TO
maintain the horor and dignity OF the State, and TO
advance her welfare ard prosperity, so TAR as had
power do it, within the scope Of my official au-
! thorlIy.
/ A majority of my fellow-citizens have reelected
| me Governor of The State. Indebted to them |
was before, for the generous confidence reposed in
me, when compa atively stranger t. most of them,
] can find no language now adequate to express my
deep sense OF the obligation under which they have
! placed me, and my gratitude for their decided sup
port, after they had had an opportunity, 10 some
| extent, of passing upon my official conduct.
| Ii is under these circumstances that appear be-
fore you to-day to the pledges OF official hdei-
ity heretofore given; and if enter upon the dis
charge OF my official duties Tor second term, not
with entire conf ence, shall do so with alacrity,
feeling assure that my official acts, whatever they
may be, will! be fairly and imparialy passed upon
by ALL and that my errors, if any, will at least meet
with the kind indulgence of those whose good opin-
ion and support have heretofore been so fortunate
| a. to secure.
We enter to-day upon another year-whether it
| is 10 be one of veal or woe Tor our county and our
State, is known only to HIM who TILES and directs
| the destinies of nations.
| Though the prospect before us is of calm
unbroken brightness, and fragments of The Storm
clouds which but lately overhung The land still float
IN our political horizon, yet they have CEASE for
the time to threaten with danger to excite our
| immediate apprehensons. These ind cations may
be deusIve, but have persuaded myself that there
is calmer, better and more tolerant spirit abroad
! i'll the country. Our people have prof ed by the
breathing time they have had since the ia'e srng-
| gle through which hey have passed. Educated in
selfgovernment, they have, on several occasions,
| been ate to Withstand exctements h.ch would
have proved fatal other institutions than theirs
! and have triumphed over dangers which seemed
| almost lIlsurmountable.
To those unacquan1ed with the character of our
people, these eXcements apps altd Ike W be avlrgs
from the great deep OF society. Time has proved
that they were but the tempest tost waves,
agi,ating the surface, while below all was tranquil
| aid nnmovtd.
| While taking this hopeful view Of affairs, 1 am
unaware of the fact that many regard The pres
ent apparent calm as d. ceitul-a mere hull in the
storm, which destined at distant day to burst
| upon with renewed violence.
| However this nay be, it is now the duty ofevery
| good citizen to endeaver to allay the excitement,
abaring at the time none of our rights, but
| firmly and unfaerngly sustaining them, the
surest means OF their preservation and of perpetual
ing that Union and those institutions, under VIII. CHI
we have, in short time, grown to be one of the
| great powers of the earth.
| Simple and unosentatous are the ceremonies
to day, have hele represented the three depart
| ments of our State government-the Executive the
Legislative, ard those who compose our Supreme
Judicial tribunal. We have all of US, distinct but
! important duties 10 discharge.
The most important, however, are those devolred
| upon you the exclusive law-makIng lower OF the
State.
In the progress of events, these duties have be.
come more varied and important :han fomery,
AID therefore requiring time for their d.sl ac.
AS the resources of the State brought notice
and become better known, these duties are kelly to
increase rather than diminish. ard the scope OF our
legislation to be widened and extended.
am aware, gentlemen, that several of the most
important subjects u on which you have been call
ed to act during the present session yet uEds-
| posed o., bnt it is not my purpose to speak of
these Others having so lately had all opportunity
of commanicat ng with you in another way. trust
| may be pardoned, however. for expressing the
hope that al hough your session may becor2e some
what protracted, you will not suffer yourselves, on
that account. to be hurried into h,sty and imperfect
| legislation, always producing serious evils ard to
undo which is itentitnes impossible.
For myself, when my official term shall have
ended aud l return to the walks of private life,
can hope for no higher qualification than 10 see
North Carolina dstinguish,d by all the qualities
! which constitute great State, ard taking the po-
| s!tion at home and abroad which every one OF her
SONS should wish her TO occupy. Whether this
shall be the case, depends more upon your ,bors
| than mine.
| hat this hope may be realized, am sure that
you, and all who hear to-day, will heartily
| desire.
THE PRE-EMINENCE OF WoMAN.-Even
after death nature respects her inherent
modesty, for drowned woman floats on her
face, and a drowned man upon his back
The noblest part of a human being is the
head but the mans head is liable to bald