Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-30
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV. BROWN, OF
GEORGIA.

j
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF Gov BROWN, OF
M So GEORGIA.
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES: Two years
since, in obedience to the popular will, met your
predecessors here and took upon myself the laborl-
Gus and responsible duties which are incumbent
upon the executive of our beloved State.
AT that time the future looked dark and porten-
tous, and anxious gloom seemed to rest upon the
minds of our people.
From high state of prosperity the country had,
in few days, been preciptated into fearful com.
mercial crisis. Most of our banks had suspended
specie payment and had refused to redeem thier
bills in specie, when presented as they had solemn
lly contracted to do. The creditor was pressing the
debtor. who had not the means with which to pay.
Our commercial interests were almost Frustrated,
and dstrust and depression prevailed in every part
of the State.
In this state of things. as the executive I was
called upon to encounter grave responsibilities and
to act upon questions of much magnitude, when
great diversity of opinion existed. did not hest
tate to meet those responsibilities and to discharge
nv duty according to my own conscientious con-
victions of right The correctness of my official
conclusions was repeatedly called into question, and
nv official acts were closely scanned and severely
criticised. At this l did not complain as was
willing for the people to pronounce their verdict
upon my administration, at the proper time and in
the proper way.
The constitutional term for which l was elected
being near its expiration, it recently became the
duty of the people, at the ballot-box to sit in judy
ment upon my official conduct The decision has
been pronounced and, in accordance with it, l now
appear before the general assembly, for the purpose
Of taking the oath prescribed by the constitution
and laws of the State preparatory to entering upon
the discharge of the duties of another term in the
executive office.
Before doing So I feel that may justly congrat
ulate you, and the people whose representatives
you are upon the present condition and frightening
future prospects of our noble State. Between the
loftiest peak of the mountains which range along
her northeastern boundary-where, until June the
bud has scarcely swollen upon the cliff where the
eagle builds her nest-and the Orange grove, which
blooms almost perpetllaly upon her ocean-bound
limits Georgia contains great variety of soil and
climate with an almost endless diversity of valuable
productions.
Her hills, valleys and plains are inhabited by an
intelligent, industrious, and prosperous people, no.
ted alike for their honesty of purpose and their in
tegrity of character. Her surface is almost check
cred with railroads, which are in prosperous con-
dition afording the means of rapid transportation
and travel from extreme portion of the State to
the other All her great agricultural interests, in
Guiding her cotton CROP which is worth millions of
dollars annually, exhibit fatterng evidences of
prosperity. Her manufacturing interests are in
creasng in importance, and her vast resources are
being rapidly developed. Her currency is now as
sound as that of any of her sister States where
banking is tolerated. The aggregate wealth of her
people probably exceeds seven hundred millions Of
dollars. Her public or State property, including
the Western and Atlantic railroad. is worth over
seven millions of dollars while her public debt is
but little over two and half millions. Each in
stament of her debt has been promptly paid as it
fell DUE and one hundred thousand dollars of her
bonds, which were not due, have been purchased
at par, by her proper authorities during the past
year.
With large amount of property exempt from
TAXATION the State tax paid by her citizens this year
is only six and half cents upon the one hundred
dollars worth Of taxable property owned by EACH
Her railroad is paying into the treasury, clear Of
all expenses and repairs four hundred thousand
dollars per ann;lm The amount for distribution
among the counties for educational purposes, which
has heretofore been about thirty thousand dollars
per annum has been increased this year to about
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Her re-
sources will justify still further annual increase
until the amount in few years. with prudent legis-
lation, will be amply sufficient for the education of
all the children Of the State, both rich and poor
The accomplishment Of this grand object NAV we'll
excite the highest ambition Of Georgia's most hon.
ored and gifted statesmen. Her colleges, both male
and female, are in fourishng condition. and are
annually afording to hundreds of young gentlemen
and ladies' the advantages of collegiate education
while her school-houses and academies are being
thrown open to her free white children Of every
Glass; And is it not devoutly to be hoped that few
more years will have passed until she shall have
amply endowed her University, and shall have built
upan institution whose halls will be crowded with her
own generous YOUTH and those of her sisters States
in pursuit of the higher and more ennoblinp
branches Of learning where the devotee of science
may range its illimitable field with as much pride
and pleasure as he could in any University on earth
Georgia now has within her limits population Of
ABOUT one million and twenty-five thousand persons
including about four hundred and forty-6ye thous
and slaves, who are protected in life and limb. and
against cruel treatment, by her own humane, wise
ana wholesome laws, who enjoy more happiness
ana are more civilized more Christan;zed and NOR,
elevated IN the scale of being, than the like pumbe
OF tneir own race on any portion Of the globe. ex
cept in our southern sister States, whose institu
aoh are identical with our own. Her lunatic asylum
her academy for the blind, and her institution fo
the education of the deaf and dumb, are monument
to her greatness and to the noble Christian CHART,
Of her people Nowhere beyond her limits is ther,
to be found purer Gospel ministry than il tn h
seen IN her midst and nowhere is the power an,
influence Of Divine truth more felt or more respect
ed In view Of these and all other evidences Of he
greatness, who that is citizen Of our noble Stat
Is not proud to say, at home or abroad, am
GeorgianY :.
Amidst this high career Of prosperity. If we ca.
our eyes around upon the fl manent, all is serenel
bright, except upon our northern horizon, where
cloud hangs, which, I fear, portends evil in futur
Our fathers consented to enter the confederacy
these States only upon terms of perfect equality
ano We, as their sons, would be unworthy Of Q.
s.res We consented to remain in the confederacy
DAY longer than this principle of equality is reco
nssd. Prompted by ambitious leaders, who a
S3'ng TO sacrifice their country for place and powe