Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-01-25
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentlemen qftls General A.semtig,

and Bsliow- CniseHs.
I assume the office Of Chief Magistrate
Of the State of Louisiana with unaffected
distrust of my ability to meet its respon-
sibilties 80 rs to give full satisfaction 30
You. II WIS with real Reluctance that 7
consented TO be candidate, aud the peo-
pie thdsght ft TO elect me without effort
n solicitation on my part. Owing no oh
| legation TO particular persons, or particular
interests. my thanks tor the honor confer
red upon me are due TO my fellow citizens
belonging to the same political commnn-
ion with myself and To- the people of the
State at large, aud II shall be the earnest
effort of my administration to deserve the
support ofnll.
In accepting the nomination OF the Dem
ocratie party, necessarily stood pledged
90 spare no exertiun 80 vindieate its prin
ciples and establish its measures. II is
my conscientious conviction that bt them
alone can the Federal and State Govern
ments be SAFELY administered. Its policy
in Federal affairs has supported the inter
eats of all sections, elevated the national
character. aud enlatged the boundaries of
the Union. In State affairs IL has respect
cd the rights of oil persons and of all
classes. and with unshfipking fidelity pro-
tected them ftcm aggression and proscrip-
ton These are the true objects Of ali Just
government and 10 these its policy will
be directed. can best advance the public
good by steadfa4tly adhefinp to the prin-
riples by which these results have been
produced.
The Constitution makes IL the duty Of
the Governor 10 take care that the laws be
faithfully executed. and the power Of APP
pointment has been conhded TO him TO -
limited extent to assist him IN the perform
auce Of this duty. His responsibility for
the conduct of public officers must he
measured by his power over their appoint
ment. lls cannot be held accountable for
what may be done or omitted by those to
whom he has given no trust and whom he
cannot remove. Hut he should be held to
strict account for the character of those
whom he may select for public employ
ment. shall invite q rigid scrunit) into
the manner in which this. rs indeed all
other official duties are performed. will
not. knowingly, appoint to office any man
who il not qualified TO discharge every
duty belonging TO It, with knowledge, skill
and hdelity. Integrity and competency
mus he essential pre- REQUESTS 10 the ap-
pointnsnt ofpublic officers. These being
iully shown, reasonable weight may he
permitted to political considerations. mere
appointing power. The support OF par
~ for reward Is n degradation not merit
81 for the principles Of party can only be
! considered valuable where they contribute
| TO the general good As Governor Of Lgui-
Aisna. 1t will be my frat duty to see that
| the public service under my control ~ con
Quoted with honesty and capacity.
Economy in the administration Of n
| Government ought always TO be insisted
upon. aud retrenchment. in all eases. when
IL can wisely be made. Unfortunately d
| disposition to- fetfench the Treasury OK
penditures IL usually dire1ted TO branches
of service in which II Is least demanded
| There is really no just cause of complaint
against the salaries Of the oilic8s Of the
State. yet these are usually attacked when
there Is a desire 60 curtail the public ex-
penHes, and they are attacked because all
are familiar with them. aud few know
where to look for the leaks that empty the
| Treasury hut prodigality rarely exhib-
its itself on the surface Of the Government
expenses. II is in the details Of adminis
tratieH that extravaganza IL to be detected
and whenever the subject il properly in
vestigated, It may be found that large sums
| of money are wasted W hich could be saved
] 10 the Treasury by the observance Of cor
| rect system and the exaction of u stern &C
countability. ! shall take pains TO eel the
attention OF the General Assembly TO suct
reforms in all the departments ofGovern
1 ment M the people may demand. The
subject belongs. particularly. to the logis.
lative branch of the Government, and my
hearty co operation will be given 20 every
measure that will tend 10 lessen tho pub.
lie burtherns. But nothing of any value
can bc accomplished without a careful
scrunity and rigid inquiry, conducted
with n staady determination TO expose OK
traSaganco whenever and wherever dis
covered, and then with an unfinching
band TO apply the appropriate remedy.
But while urging frngality in tho admin
istration Of the Government, lot IL not bC
supposed that am unwilling to aid in
such Judicious expenditures as will devol
op the resources Of the state. Louisiana
has been something ofa laggafd In The
bareor of internal Improvement. lti with.
In brief period that railroads have bocr
commenced under the auspices of tho State
and even TO this day, not dollar has beer
spent for geological survey Of tho Stuto
nm object of primary Importance TO every
parish within her borders. Under tn,
guarded provisions Of our Constitution. II
IL almost impossible for the State to fail
into any very serious error in aiding the
construction OF useful works. The danger
lies less In extending constitutional assist
anee TO corporations for building railroads
than IN the careless execution of tho laws
by which the State becomes corporator
Unless studiously watched, tho restrictioni
imposed by the organic law will be evad.
| cd by the corporations, and the State MOI
only exposed 20 loss, but tho spirit, If moi
the letter of the Consultation, be violated
A careful review Of our State affairs and
a vigilant examination into our resources
Is moro incumbent on us now than here.
tofor, in view OF the disturbed state of oui
relations with largo portion of the poo.
pie of other parts of tho Union.
conservative in her sentiments. She ha,
/ never at any period of our national his.