Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-23
INAUGURAL ADDRESS Oh
W LILLIAN F.. KBR,
GoYERNoR or pENNsYLYANIA.



II ouses, the Heads Of Departments and the
COMMITTEES had been erected.
The Assembly was called to order Ivy the
Speaker Of the Sc nate, Mr.. Welsh
\ most solemn and impressive prayer was then
offered to the Throne Of Grace by the Rev. DR..
De Witt of this city.
Whorcupon, the Speaker of the Senate admin.
stcrel the following oath of office 10 VIM +,
PAcKEn, the Governor elect
You do swear that you will support the Con-
stitution of the United states.
You do also swear that You will support the
Constitution Of the State of Pennsylvania, and
thlt YOU will discharge your duties rs Governor
of this Commonwealth with fidelity"
After the oath had been duly administered the
Governor delivered the following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS:
FELLOW CrT1zEYs In appearing before
you to enter upon my duties MS Governor ol
the Commonwealth, | consult my own lncli-
nations in conforming to the usage Wnich
demands o popular address; and, IN the ufst
place, l gladly embrace this opportunity 10
return my profound and grateful thanks to
the peoplo Of PENNSYLVANIA, for honorng ne
with the Chief Executive Office in their gov
erumcnt. Their kindness will never be ior-
gotten. nor will the confidence they have re-
posed in me ever be Intentionally betrayed.
nuty to them aud myself will require that
the obligation which have just taken to dis
charge my public duties with iidelity sha!! De
faithfully observed and thus justify as lar 40
possible, the popular decision. DoTbtl'ss /
may commit errors iD position lnVolVIHB so
much of responsibility bat | will nope that
rcue Of them vii! be Of grave character, or
productive Of vital injury to the public inter
s,ts / crave in advance charitable Jndg,
mtnt upon my official conduct-that 1t shall
he construed with kindness and liberation so
'uug as it shall appear to be prompted oy
r)ncGre and honest mouves-aho nero Gu
gage, in this public and formal manner, 10
regard the vii! Of the people, the puoilc good'
aGJ the commands Of the CONSTITUTIONS as
the guiding lights by which my course IS to
he directed With these aims constantly 10
view, | shall indulge the pleasing hope OF
d.iug some good in the high station TO which
! have been called by the pub 'ic voice, and oil
rep, p,ess;ng some evils which may threaten the
pvvlic welfare or the individual rights U! the
people.
t,R9lg Cat-cns ot tEe Senate Gad House ct
PrurcScutGticeS 1T will be my ardent desire
ty cultivate with you, as ReprescnlaiIVe oi
.Ge people. the most @mlcaDie relations, ahu
10 unite with you in the adoption OF all such
measures as the public good may require.
Tho different branches Of the government,
although charged with distinct duties, are to
,e regarded as parts of one harmonious whole;
md il is well when all these parts move on
ward without jar, interference, or coli!sloh.
Navurthcless, the distinct duties ot the Ike
.utive, when duly and honestly performed,
nav occasion differences with the LegisIa.
tare but, in such case, it Will be eNpedlent
to cultivate q spirit Of compromise and con-
e., h., III of
lr, at least, for mitigating the feelings oil
l!iengtiun to which they tend
1t is one of the duties Of the Executive
rom time to time, to give TO the General
Assembly Information Of the state OF the
commonwealth and recommend TO their con
liberation such measures as ho shall Judge
Xpudent; and under usage this Is done by
messages in writing, which are entered among
he puUlic records and remain 4 part OF the
nciui history Of the State. | do not under
.tand this as a power Of debating to the
icrvral Assembly the measures they shall
ADOPT, nor oven rs power ot initiating laws,
aut a. al informing and suggesting power, IN
10 respect trGnchiug upon the just aud proper
Jurisdiction Of the Legislative department oL
. free State. In short, it was never intended
20 give a legal control over the proceedings
If the Representatives Of the people in the
enactment Of laws. 1t is, therefore, right
Of communication with them, which, while
prudenllv and reasonably exercised, can give
40 lust OCCASION for jealousy, objection, or
complaint. The Executive, when exercising
this right, is hut performing plain duty,
aud can upprchend 10 difficulty IN speaking
with a re.urvlfai freedom even upon questions
vn,re an entire agreement Of sentlmeu! can
net be expected. Bat, there is another and
more delicate power which pertains to the
l,l,tipns between the Legislative and Exec
ulirn depagtmeuts BY the twun,y-th.rd and
t.yrutv-luurih sections Of the first article OF
iae Constitution, I'll bills passed by the
General Assembly, and most OF the orders,
resolutions and votes IL which they may
concur, are submitted to the Executive, and
if disapproyod by him can only be made valid
by vote Of twothirds OF each House. IAls
mower of disapproval is among the most i'm
portant duties of the Executive, ard is con-
slaully becoming more so, from the operation
of Obvious and uatural causes. In my opin-
ion il is the clear aud binding duty of the
Executive TO return for reconsideration every
bill, orler resolution or vote, presented 10
him which he cannot approve-ln other words,
that the assent Of his Judgment and conscience
shah be actually given to any measure before
lie permits it TO take effect unless, indeed,
1t be passed against his objection by two
rhirds vote. The words OF the Constitution
are ".f be approve he shall stgn il, but, if he
snail not approve, he shalt return II with his
objections to the House in which 1t shall
have originated" Words could not convey
a power, and prescribe a duty in a more cleal
aud definite form 1t is manIfestly the iLteu
ZION Of the Constitution that the deliberate
and conscientious approval Of the Governor
shall be given TO bill before it becomes {
law, IN addition to the approval OF the tive
Houses that have previously passed 1t; un
less the majorilies afterwards glvea TO i
mon re consideration in each House, shal
be so decisive as to clearly indicate the wis
dom Of the measure. 1t is true that upol
tLiops trivial or indifferent, where no grea
Interests are involved, nor constitution
principles in question, nor private right
nssailed.. considerations Of eXped!eucy may b,
taken into account by the EXecutiyei bu
certainly no substantial objection, whether 0
policy or principle, can be waived by him il
t,ey If his oath TO support the Constitution
Ten days Sundays cXcudeal are ulOwe,
the Executive TO consider a bill, and to 0p
move or veto Il, after which il will become
law without his signature, if not preyiousl.
roturned. The practice Of my predecessor
has been occasionally to permit bills to be
come laws by this limitation OF time. The
L,ra taken effect in the entire absence Q
t,acotiye action. But | believe this ha
a. ..,,,,--od vrhpre the Executive has lOuut