New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-15
ONO.
SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV.


FfILowCITITENs or IHE SENATE ASD HOUSE OF
REPREsTNrATIyTs: The viii of the people, Expressed
in the mode prescribed in the Constitution, has sum
moned me for the second time TO the duties and re-
sponsibilities Of the Chief Magisracy OF ONO; ana
have now in your presence and in the pre- Te OF the
people here assembled taken upon myself the s"lemn
Obliga of an oath To perform them faithfully.
During the two years since | was first honorad with
this trust il has been my constant endeavor to acqut
myself of became citizen devoted TO the instl
tutio Of the State, and bound by every obligation OF
honor and gratitude TO the faithful service Of the
people. I may not say that / have committed no
errors. Doubtless some things have been omitted
which might have been done, and some things done
which might have been better done. But may cay,
and il seems not unfit that should shy here in this
presence, fearing contradiction OF any truthful man
who knows the TRUTH that all my acts have been de-
signed TO promote the highest interests of the State
and that my best faculties and my most earnest
endeayors have been actively and unrcmttngly de-
voted TO her service.
Assuming now, once more, in obedience 10 the
popular voice this responsible trust, my past must
stand sole sponsor for my future. Larger experience
and better information will trust enable to ac-
conplish something for the public good than
been hitherto effected; but my aims, my purposes,
and my principles OF action must remain unchanged.
You Will not expect ofme, gentlemen on this occa-
sion, any discussion OF civil or political Questions
have already, within few days, made fully known to
you my views in relation to public affairs. That those
views will meet your concurrence, in al! respects
would be presumption in me to anticipate; but there
is point at least, where all our judgments, all our
purposes and all our exertions may well join. The
common good should be, and trust will be, our com
mon aim. Under our fortunate poity, no king, no
aristocracy, arbitrary pO Ter, privileged class,
claim TO be the State. The welfare, the honor,
the advancement in all things good and noble of the
State nothing else than the welfare the honor the
advancement of the people and the whole people. To
these great objects, gentlemen, however We may
differ TO the best means of promoting them, We may
well join in addressing the most strenuous eXertions
of our highest powers.
I, j. mo-. our nort hnn,iJv IN Inv the foundations
of institutions. That work is done, and well DONE to
our hands. II is singular felicity TO be citizens OF
the FIRST State Of the Onion, organized, through the
wise providence of the founders of the Republic, upon
those fundamental principles of civil and religious
liberty" which they declared to be the basis Of all
American law and all American Constitutions ln the
had permitted only the partial application OF these
principles In the organization of this, no such cir
cumstances nterposcd their evil influence The in.ti-
t,0ns of Ohio were framed in precise harmony with
the ideal of State, it existed in the minds of the
great master-buders of the Conicderacy and OF the
Union. This ideal demanded, first of all the absolute
freedom of every individual guaranteed and secured
by impartial law next, inviolabhy OF conscience anu
lust protection to all forms of worship and all religious
organizations; then, the sacred observance OF COM
pacts then, the promotion of religion, morality and
knowledge by universal education There was moth
ing narrow, nothing ilhberal, nothing unjust IN TINS
ideal. 1t welcomed the immigrant to the freest par
ticpation with the home-born, in the lnestllnabie
blessings of popular institutions. II pledged the
States, to be formed underit to perpetual union with
their sister States Ii established the sovereignty OF
the people upon the indestructible-and the only IN
destructible- foundation of the rights of man.
Organized under these auspices, and in accordance
with this ideal, Ohio may justly be styled the model
State of the American Union. 1t is an honorable
gratifying distinction Let it be our care, gentlemen,
that lis lNster be sucd by no act or omission OF ours
Upon the soil thus consecratcd to Liberty and Union,
upon the foundations thus wisely laid of Equality and
Justice, let liz 90 ON, in humble dependence upon
Divine favor, to build, yet broader and higher the
noble edifce of truly Democratic and truly Re
publican State, never forgetting that man is more
than institutions, and right the sole vital principle Of
law.
We shall repair now, gentlemen to our respective
duties In the great work TO which have referred
you will ever find me, trust, prompt and dligent
co-worker; and it is my earnest wish that you may
perform so faithfully your part in it that Ohio may
long remember with pride and gratitude the General
Assembly YOU have the honor to constitute.