Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-01-15
Second Inaugural Address Of Cover
NOR Ghasa

Second Inaugural Address of Cover
nor Chase.
EeltoaC-cStzcns of the Senate and House
of Representatives,:
The viii of the people expressed in
the mode prescribed in the constitution,
has summoned me for the second time
to the duties an responsibilities of the
Chief Magistracy of Ohio; and / have
now, in your presence, and in the pres
encc of the people here assembled, ia
ken upon myself the solemn obligation
of an oath to perform them faithfully.
During the two years since [ was
first honored with this trust, it has
been my constant ondeavo- to acquit
myself of it as a citizen devoted to the
Institutions of the State, and bound by
every obligation of honor and g~ratitple
to the faithful service of the people
| may not say that | have comanitted
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 say, and it seems not unfit that [
should say here in this presence, fear
ing no contradiction of any truthful
man who knows the truth, that all my
acts have been designed to promote the
highest interests of the State, and that
best faculties and my most earnest n
deavors have been actively and unre-
mittingly devoted to her service.
Assuming now, once more, in obedi-
hence to the popular voice, this respon-
sible trust, my past must stand sole
spencer for my future. Larger expert
ence and better information will, 1
trust, enable me to accomplish some
thing more for the public good than
has been hitherto effected; but my aims,
my purposes, and my principles of ac-
-tion must rsmain unchanged.
You will not expect of me, gentle
men, on this occasion, any discussion
of civil or political questions. 1 have
already. within a few days, made fully
known to you my views in relation to
public aGairs. That those views will
meet your concurrence, in all respects,
it would be presumption IL me to anti
cipate; but. there is one point at least,
where all our judgments, all our pur-
poses and all our .exertions may well
join. The common good should be,
and I trust will be, our common aim.
Under our fortunate policy, no king,
no ~aristocracy, no arbitrary power, no
privileged class, can claim to be the
State. The welfare, the honor, the adj
vancement~in all things good and no.
Bile of the State, is nothing else than
the welfare, the honor, the advance
ment of the people and the whole peo-
-lo ~ hoo 800. =, I:-1I-
however we may differ as to the best
means of promoting them. we may
well join in addressing the most siren
ions exertions of our highest powers.
1t is notzour part, happily to lay the
foundations of Institutions. That
work is done, and well done to our
hands. 1t is our singular felicity to
be citizens of the first State in the I'm
ion, organized, through the wise PROV
idence ofthe Founders of the Republic,
upon those fundamental principles 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 an
friendly circumstances had permitted
only the partial application of these
principles. In the organization of
this, no such circumstances interposed
their evil influence. The institutions
of Ohio were framed in precise harmo-
ny with the ideal of a State, as it exis-
ted in the minds of the great master
builders of the Confederacy and of the
Union. This ideal demanded, first of
all, the absolute freedom of every in
- L. I,-1l Eo-1
partial law; next, inviolability of con-
science, and just protection to all forms
of worship and all religious organiza-
tions; then, the promotion of religion,
morality and knowledge by universal
education. There was nothing narrow
nothing illiberal, nothing unjust in this
ideal. 1t welcomed the immigrant to
the freest participation with the home
born, in the inestimable blessings of
popular institutions. It pledged the
States. to be formed under it, to per-
petual union with their sister States
1t established the sovereignty of the
people upon the understandable and
the only Observation-Disclosures 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 honor
able, a gratifying distinction. Let it
be our care gentleman, that it's lustre
be sullied by no act or omission of ours.
Upon the soil thus consecrated to Lib
erty and Union-upon the foundations
thus wisely laid, of Equality and JUS
tioa Iat nc rO-nn ~ ~ .bla Io-z.
dence upon Divine favor. to build, yet
broader and higher, the noble ediico of
a truly Democratic and truly Republi-
can State. never forgetting that mar is
more than institutions, and Right the
sole vital principal OF Law.
We shall repair now, gentlemen. to
our respective duties. In the great
work to which / have referred, will ever
find me, l trust, a prompt and dilligcnt