The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18
Governor Dennison's Inaugural. l.
FellotO Citizens Of the Senate and

F.s, House Of Representatives ?
appear before you to take the oath, which
the Constitution prescribes, as a necessary e
qualification to perform the duties Of the chief Z
Executive Office of our State, to which have Q
been called and avail myself OF the occa
sion now presented, to express my grateful 6
thanks to my fellow. citizens, for the favor 1
with which they have been pleased to look
toward me, and in compliance with usage
sanctioned by the example Of my Predeces.
sors, to declare, briefly, the principles that
will guide me in the discharge Of my official
V-ust.
nv immediate predecessor has communi.
Gated to you the condition Of the State, with
the eminent ability and fidelity that has
characterized all of his official acts.
I may we'll congratulate you upon the
gratifying evidences he has furnished Of the
growth and greatness of our State. The
history Of no other political community has
been marked by q more wonderful progress
in all the elements Of benifcent civiiza.
.tion. Our conditioE is OF once prosperous,
commanding, and happy.
Little more than hslf century has elaps'
ed since we passed from territorial to a
State government. The number Of our in
hsbtants did not at that time exceed fifty
thousand. The Stote wos an almost unbro
ken wilderness. What have we not accom-
plished since!
We have created and reared up civil in.
stitutions, and monuments OF public spirit
End social enterprise, which in other coun.
tries have been the work Of centuries. Our
population has increased fifty fold, and we
rank among the first Suites OF the Union in
wealth, and dignity, and power.
We have cleared the forest from many mil
lions OF acres, reclaimed the soil from the
dominion Of nature, and subjected it to such
q course Of profitable husbandry as to supply
an annual surplus OF agricultural products OF
not less ,bon fifty mil lions Of dollars in val
ue. We have erected numerous and wealthy
towns nnd cities, and opened excellent thor.
ouehfsres in nearly every part OF the State.
When almo.t in Our infancy, comparatively
poor, and with an un,red credit, We project
ed and speedily completed the construction
Of our extensive system o canals, and slack
water navigation in our interior rivers, ut a
cost of over fifteen millions OF dollars. We
have built, almost entirely by private capital,
more thun three thousand miles in length OF
railroads, at cost OF over one hundred mil.
lions of dollars which have greatly augment.
ed the public wealth, largely contributed to
tqualzing the value of lands in the different
parts OF the State, and vigorously encouraged
the development Of neurly every branch OF
useful employment We have invested
largely and prCftably in mines and mining,
and in manufactures, oil of which branches
Of industry give promise Of such steadily
increasing prosperity, as will permanently
preserve to Ohio her place in the front rank
Of the mining and manufacturing States oil
the Union. Our commercial and navigation
interests have kept equal pace with our ng.
ricultural. mining and manufacturing.
We have done more. We have adopted a
vieilant and humane confinement and disci'
plne for the vicious have erected asylums
for the unfortunate which challenge the ad
miration OF the world have endowed collie.
Res and universities Eumerously and literally
and organized q system of schools for educa'
ting the youth OF the State, which is justly
our greatest pride.
Such are some Of cur trumphs. To wha
cauees are we, under the favcr Of Providence
chiefly indebted for them?
Our geographical position, giving TO us I
mild and heal,hful climate, equally removed
from the severe cold OF the North, and tht
adopted to vigorous labor in every form In
diversified character of the surface OF th
State, divided into uplands and lowlands
hill.raDges and intervening valleys, heavi
timbered tracts and naked praries, which al
teEnate in a manner most favorable for tn
productive interests Of life the extent an
unsurpassed fertility Of our soil, yielding. i
perfection, nearly oil the agricultural staple
the most valued by civilized communities
our exhaustess mineral treasures, and natu
raj facilities for commerce and navigation
which by the genius ard enterprise Of tn
people have been so bountilully tributary t
our wealth ard power-have been SO poten
and indispensable agencies in the productio
of our marvellous growth, as not to be ovel
looked 10 however summary review of II
auses.
But as inviting as they have been to labG
and capital and their multiplied auxiarie
they would have been comparatively inottec
ual in populatng and enriching our Stat
and in securing tc rs the social advantage
for which we are 80 eminently distinguishe
but for the moral assistance afforded in ,h
wise provisions of the organic act undt
whose benign auspices the foundations OF ol
territorial organization we're laid. and Whic
incorporated into our State Constitution ,
fundamental principles Of government, haV
been most effective in moulding our instit'
tions, and by furnishing the chart, 10 direc
ing the progress of our legislation.
II vae Annrnnviata that tho ordinanca