The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-28
inaugural Addess of ss
VgIIlLIAAL f.. PACK ER
GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.

lUsS you 10 enter upon H uutiS7 oe WV
cruor OF the Cowmonwe aith, consut u, J
own incsinatIoDs III con ormiDg to the u
sage which demands popular address
and, In the drst place, L gladly embrace
this opportunity to return ny proiounc
ana grateful thanks to the People or Penn
s1iyania, Tor houorIug NE With the Chic
Executive office IN t0eir goyernuient.-
Their kindness will not De forgotten, moi
viii tue confluence they have rerosed IL
lhe ever be intentionally betrayed. Duty
to theu, aud to my sell will require tba
tie obligation which have just taken tc
discharge my pubic duties with hHeiltJ
shall be faithfully observed; anu thus jus
thy as far Us possible, the faithful CHS
a position involving so much OF RESPONSE
bIlIty; but | viii hope that none oil them
viii DC OF grave character, or produc'
tive OF vital INJURY to the pubic Interests
L crave, IN adgance, charitable judg.
ment upon NY otnolai ouot-that it
shall be construed with Kindness au tol-
Grafton 50 long a, 1t shall appear to be
prompted by sincere aud honest III olives
-auu l here eugage, III this public and
ioru.ai manner, TO regard the will of the
maud> OF the Constitution, as the guiding
lights by whlch my course /, to be dlrec-
ted. With these aims cODstauly in view,
| shall ulge the pleasing hope OF do
iug some goou III tue bIgh station 10 hich
L have been called by the pubIo voice.
ana OF represslng some evils which may
threaten the puUllc welfare, or the inai-
yiduaI rIghts OF the people.
EelJoa0 CitoeuS Of Tie Senate and House
Of RepreSet,tatlveS. 1t will be NY aroent
desire to cultivate With you, as Pepresen-
tatives OF the people, the most amicable
relations, and to unite with you IN the a.
doptIoD OF all such measures as the pub
Tic good may require. The different
charged with distinct duties, are to be
regarded as parts of one harmonious
" hole, and it is well when all these part,
move onward without jar, Interf, renee,
or collision. Nevertheless, the distinct
duties OF ia Executive, when duly and
honestly performed, may occasion differ
ences with the Legislature; but, in such
case, 1t viii be expedleut to cultivate
spirit OF compromise aud Cancellation for
the disposal of such differences, or, at
least, for mitigating the feelings of alien
alton to which they tend.
1t Is one oi the duties of the Executive
from time to time TO give the General
Assembly information OF the State OF the
Comm Oh We alth, and recon aend to their
consideration such me asures a. be shall
jud &c expedtent; and under u age this Is
Gone by messages iu writing, which are
entered among thu public records aud
remain part OF Official history of the
State. DO not understand this as
power of debating to the General Assem-
bly, the measures they shall adopt, nor
even as power initiating laws, but as
III Informing and suggesting power, in
no respect trencblng upon the just and
proper jurisdiction of the legislative de-
pertinent of free State. In short, it
was never intended to give legal con-
trol over the procee diDgs of the Repre-
sentative Of the people in the enactment
of laws. 1t Is, therefore, right Of COM
munication 1ith them, which, while pru-
IDENTIFY and reasonably expressed, can
give no just occasion for jealousy, objec-
ton or complaint. The Executive. when
exercising this right, is but performing
a plain duty, and can apFrehend no diff
fcuIty in speaking with respectful free
dom even upon questions where an entire
agreement of sentiment cannot be expec-
ted. But there is another aud more DEL
icate power which pertains to the rela-
tious between the Legislative and Execu
tive Departments. BY The twenty third
and teweuty fourth sections of the first
article of the Constitution, ali bills passed
by the General ssembl y, and most OF the
orders, resolutions and votes iE which
they may concur, are subaitted to the
Executive, and ii di-approged by bm can
only be made valid BY vote of two-t thirds
OF each House Tbi, power of di,appro
val is among the most Important duties
of the Executive, and is constantly be-
coming more so, from the operation of
obvious and natural causes. In my o.
ppion it i the clear and binding duty of
the Executive to return for reconsidera-
tion every bill, order, resolution, or vote
presented to him g hich he cannot approve
in other words, that tho assent OF his
Judgment and conscience shall lie actual
ly given to any measures before ht per-
mits it to take effect; unless, indeed, it be
passed against bis OBJECTION by two-lhirds
vote. The words OF the Constitution are,
''if he approve, he shall sign it, but if be
shall not approve, be shall return it,with
his objections, TO the House in which it
shall have originated" Words could
not convey power, aud prescribe auty
in more clear and definite form. 1t is
ma nlfestly the Intention of the Consttu-
tion that tbe Deliberate and conscientious
of the Governor shall be given
70 a bill before it becomes a law, in addI-
ton 70 the approval of the two Houses
that have Pr yiou-ly passed It; unless the