Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-17

our places - its guardians. Suchis the
of the National Democracy.
Gov. KirkwOod's Inaugural.
The Gazette of yesterday published
tho Inaugural Address Of Governor
Kirkwood. We received copy by Sat-
urday evenings mail, but perusal OF it
did not satisfy us that its contents we're
of such q character, or its suggestions OF
90 much importance to our readers, as to
Justify violation Of the fourth COM
Two-thirds of this address
are devoted to slavery and old John
Brown. On the former of these SUBJ
jects, the Address is mere rehash OF
the Governors ultra opinions, IS enun-
ciated from the stump, during the last
campaign. On the latter theme, the
Governor is a grandiloquent. Distin-
gushing between the act and actor, he
asks us to condemn the one and veneer
ate the other. His Excellency should
have suggested the draping Of the Legis-
lative Halls in mourning, - testimony
Of appreciation, on the part of the people
of lows, for the memory of thief, trai-
tor and murderer.
For the present, We publish only that
portion of the address which refers to
State affairs. On the balance, we shall
comment, from time to time, Is it may
suit our convenience.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE EIGHTH GENER-
AL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA,
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY nth, 1860.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives:
The people Of Iowa have placed in
your hands, for the time being, the law
making power Of the State, and there
fore they look to you, that, during the
time you hold this trust, such course Of
policy shall be pursued and such laws
enacted, as will tend to promote the
honor and tho welfare of the State.
The office to which I have been elect
cd, and the responsibilities which l have
just assumed, associate me with you to
q certain extent in this work, by impo-
sing upon me, among other duties, that
of communicating to you such informa-
ton, ~ will aid you in the performance
Of your duties, and recommending to you
such measures as in my opinion will, if
adopted by you, advance the public vel
fare.
Under a government like ours, where
the people are the source of all political
power, the laws are necessarily fair re-
flex Of the intelligence and morals Of the
people; and therefore it becomes of the
frat importance that the standard of in
telligence and morality should be raised
as high as possible. In this view it has
been the settled policy Of the State to
foster and encourage in oil suitable ways,
the education of the youths of the State,
SO that when at more advanced period
Of life, they take part in the direction
aud control OF public affairs, they do 90
uuderstandingly, and with an intelligent
regard to the public welfare. Under our
constitution the subject of education has
been almost wholly Withdrawn from you,
and placed in the hands Of board spe-
cially constituted for that purpose, leav-
ing with You, however, the power Of re-
v's'ng and amending their action. This
board has just closed session at which
they have made such changes in aud
amendments to the school law "a thew
deemed expedieut and proper, and in NV
OPINION 1t would be prudent for you to
interfere with their action only in csse
that you shall find, upon examination.
an empowering necessity for so do;nc
Not only is it highly important tia,
the voice of.our people, % expressed
through the ballot-box, shall be enlicht.
ened aud intelligent, but it is imperative
~ necessary that the utterings of that
voice be correctly and honestly reported
In : government like ours, without priv.
LEGGED classes, and where tho laws affect
all alike, We need not fear that major.
ity Of our people will deliberately pursue
policy intended to operate ipjuriously
upon the public welfare, because by &C
doing they would be acting contrary 4
their own best interests. We therefor,
feel At I'll tunes safe in submitting quiet
y and cheerfally to the will Of the ma
jority fairly and cenatitutionally express
ed, confident that il ct any time, from
any cause, the people are led into error
they have the sagacity speedily to de-
tect' and the honesty promptly to cor
rect the error. But II through fraud OF
violence, tho ballot-box shall cease q
report to ~ correctly and honestly tht
Will Of the majority, if corrupt and in.