The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-01-15
7-'F THE GOVERNORS .4
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

address s
In convention Of both branches OF tn
Legislature the 8th inst, Hon. Lot M. Morril
{ took and subscribed the oaths Of ONCE q
Governor for the current political year, al
ter which he delivered the following Ad
dress. r.. .I ..a--
gf ."I--.''..
Gentlemen Of fh Senate, . r'.1t
and Of the House Of Representatives:
We have assembled, In obed,snce to ths
will of the people. intrusted with high 10
sponsibilities and duties. Acknowledging
our moral accountability TO the Supreme
Ruler Of tho unwerse. and conscious that In
His hands are the des,inies ot nations, may
we iervently hope to guided BY His wisdom,
that We may perform our duties Alright, and
thereby promote the general welfare.
ThsS State is necessarily involved in the gen.
eral financial embarrassment under which
the nation Is suffering. Although happily
free from any great national calamity and
blessed with oil the elements OF prosperity,
general and widespread deransement pre-
walls, producing revolution In all the de-
partments Of business and enterprise through.
out the ooun.ry-a revolution which not
only prostrates the most accredited houses
and moneyed institutions, but in its com.
prehensive sweep, has touched the springs
Of labor, psralysed the activities Of ordinary
pursuits, and leaving thousands Of our fsl
low men, dependent upon their labor, with.
out employment and the means Of support.
and presenting the anomalous spectacle OF
want and distress In nation blessed with
uneIamplcd general prosperity and wholly
free from any great public calamity.
With no desire to oxaggerate the public
distress, and with no purpose Of On extend
ed discussion Of the causes which have been
productive Of the present condition Of af
fairs, it Is important that these causes should
bo rightly apprehcnded and noted, TO enable
us to draw from them the practical duties
Of the pr, sent and the future.
The crisis in which the government Is in
volved is not altogether unlocked for, or un.
natural. Panics and revulsions have occurred
IN tho commercial world, with nearly each
successive generation, during the last two
hundred years. There have been repeated
days of adversely, and men have not consid.
cred Thu law Of compensation seems not
to apply here, as elsewhere. The oft recur.
ring disasters in commerce, embarrassment
in trade, distress in business, have not served
to incuicate that measure Of wisdom, essen.
tial to renovation Of the pernicious bust
ness systems which prevail; and necessary
to prevent recurrence Of similar periods o
panic and reyulsion.
A variety Of causes have undoubtedly con
tributed to the present embarrassed condi
ton in The MONETARY and business affairs o.
the country. A general statement, embrac
ing many Of them, Is that which attributes
il, in great measure, to over.action in oil
the departments Of business and enterprise
and extravagance Of expenditure in both
public ind private Affairs The incentives
to this public and private excess are numer
Gus and strong, general und special.
The American mind acts perpetually un'
der an intense sentiment Of nationality -
II our example may be SAID to inspire ,h,
democracy Of other nations with the lofties
IDEAS in respect to tho mission Of 1.-The mod
el republic" 1t Is equally true that our owr
people share in the inspiration. Its physl
cal nature and position, and ITS advance
ment In oil the elements Of natural powe
and greatness, are equally inspiring ii
territory already embracing one tenth Of tn
habitable globe; from thirteen feeble colon
les having increased to thirty.one independ
ent State sovercignties, and still forming Il
rapid succession its agriculture, rewardinl
the husb.ndman with marvellous abund
, ance Its commerce having already places
1t IN the first rank Of commercial nations
its railroads intersecting the country ut al
points, and involving the outlay Of hundred
Of millions Of dollars its manufactures an,
mechanic arts having reached the point 0
successful competition with the Oldest na
tions; these, servo perpctually to stimulat
, the people, and to bcgot in them spirit oI
restless enterprise, and Of extreme activity.
, This overpowering national impulse find
its qualification, also in corresponding pri
rate and social displays in elegant man
sions, costly furniture, splendid equiFage
and diyested Of high aims, takes on tn
more questionable character Of indulgcnc
in mere trappings; and thus the habits o
+. domestic and social life become changed
. frsm those Of simplicity TO those of extrava
; gance. Considering the general tendency Z
excess, the Sbsonoe Of oil positive restraints
| or checks, the wonder Is not that derange
ment and embarrassment happen to tho In
dividual and the community, but that the,
do not como with greater frequency. Tn
nation needs the restraints Of tho check, NO
the incentives Of the spur. to its aspiration
and endeavos. fa1H
, To what extent the currency Of the coun