Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-01-15

npooNn NNAUaURAns OF COW CEHAAE,
Ian. II. 1858.
Fsilow CifisSas Of tho Senate aud House
Of Representatives.:
Tho will Of the people, expressed in the
mode prescribed by the Constitution, has
summoned me for tho second time, 10 tho
duties and responsibilities ofthe Chief Mag
istracy Of tho people Of Ohio, and l have
now, in your presence and in the presence Of
the people hero assembled, taken upon my
self the solemn obligation Of an oath to
perform them faithfully.
During tho two years since | was first
honored with this trust, il has been my CON
slant endeayor to acquit myself OF It as be-
came citizen devoted to the institutions Of
the State, and bound by every obligation of
honor and gratitude to the faithful service
of tho people. 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 Imay
say, and it seems not unfit that | should
say, hore, in this presence, fearing no con
sradiction Of any truthful man who knows
the truth, that all my acts have designed to
promote the highest interests of tho State,
and that my best faculties and my 'nosl
earnest endeavors have been actively and
unremittingly devoted TO her service.
Assuming now, once more in obedience
TO the popular voice, this responsible trust,
my past must stand sole sponsor for my fu-
ture. Larger experience and better infor.
nation viii, i trust, enable mc to accomplish
something more for the public good thar
has been hitherto effected; but my aims my
purposes, and my principles Of action must
remain unchanged.
You will not expect of me, gentlemen, on
this OCCASION any discussion of civil or po-
litical questions. | have already within 6
few days, made fully known to you my
views in relation to public affairs That
those views will meet your concurrence, in al
respects, it would be presumption in me tC
anticipate; but there is one point, at least
where all our judgments, all our purposes
and all onr exertions may well join. The
common good should be, and trust will be
our common aim. Under our fortunate
polity, no King--no Aristocraey--no Ar.
bftrary Power--no Privileged Class-can
claim to be the State. The welfare, the
honor, tho advancement in all things good
and noble, Of the State, is nothing else than
the welfare, the honor, the advancement of
the people and the whole people. To these
great objects gentlemen, however we may
diffor as to the best means Of promoting
them, we may we'll join in addressing the
most strenuous cxertions of our highest
powers.
1t is not our part, happily, to lay the
foundations of Institutions. That work is
done, and we'll done to our hands. 1t is
our singular felicity to be citizens of the first
State Of the Union, organized, through the
the wise providence of the founders of the
Republic, upon those Fundamental princi-
pies of civil and religious liberty" which
they declared to be the basis of all Ameri-
can Law and all American Constitutions
In the organization of other States un-
friendly circumstances had permitted only
the partial application of these principles.
In the organization Of this no such circum-
stances interposed their evil influence. The
institutions of Ohio were framed in precise
harmony with the ideal of State as it ex
listed in the minds Of the great master bull
ders Of the Confederacy and Of the Union
Tho ideal demanded, first Of all, the abso
lutte freedom Of every individual guaranteed
and secured by impartial law; next, iuyiola
bility of conscience, and just protection o
all forms of worship and all religious or
ganizations; then, the sacred observance o
compacts- the promotion of religion
morality and knowledge by universal edu
cation. There was nothing narrow, nothing
illiberal nothing unjust in this ideal. l
welcomed the emigrant to the freest partic
ipation with tho home born in the inestim
able blessings Of popular institutions. i
established the sovereignty Of the indestruc
tible-and only the Observation-Disclosures
tion of the rights of man.
Organized under these auspices, and il
accordance with this ideal, Ohio may justl,
be styled the model State of the American
Union. 1t is an honorable, gratifying
distinction Let it be our care, gentlemen
that its luster be sullied by no act or omis
sion of ours. Upon the soil coDsecrated t.
Liberty and Union-upon the foundation
thus wisely laid, of equality and justice, le
us 60 on, in humble dependence upon Di
vine favor, to build yet broader and higher
the noble edifce of truly Democratic anc
truly Republican State, never forgetting tha
Man is more than Institutions, and Right th
sole vital principle of Law.
We shall repair now, gentlemen, to our re
spective duties. In the great work to whic
I have referred, you will ever find me,
trust, q prompt and diligsnt co-worker; an
it is my earnest wish that you may perforr
so faithfully your part in it, that Ohio ma.
long remember with pride and gratitude tn
General Assembly you have the honor t
constitute.
EN- Our latest dates from Kansas are S
Louis, the 18th. Only about half the vot