The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-01-18
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
WILLIAM DENNISON
Governor of Ohio.
Delivered before the Seunte md
House of Representatives, Jam
uary o, Is6O.
Fslloto- Citizens of hs Senate

House of Representatives, jan
uary o, Is6O.
Fsil0,0- Citizens Of tia Senate
and House Of Representatives.
appear before you to take the oath, which
the Constitution prescrbes as q necessary quail.
ificatiOn to perform the duties of the Chic # Ex-
ecutve office Of our State, to which have been
called; and avail myself oil the occasion now
presented, to express my grateful thanks to my
fellow citizens, for the favor with which they
have been pleased TO look towards me, and in
compliance with usage sanctioned by the ex-
ample of my predecessors, to declare, briefly,
tho principles which will guide me in the dis
charge of my Official trust.
My immediate predecessor has communicated
to you the condition Of the State, with the en-
inent ability and fidelity that have characteri-
zed all of his official acts.
| may we'll congratulate you upon the graft
flying evidences he has furnished Of the growth
and greatness of our State. The history of no
other political community has been marked by
more wonderful progress in all the elements
OF benifcent civilization. Our condition is at
once prosperous, commanding and happy
Little more than half a century has elapsed
since we passed from territorial to State
|
did not at that time exceed fifty thousand -
The State was at that time almost an unbroken
wilderness. What have we not accomplished
since?
We have created and reared up civil institu-
tions, and monuments of public spirit and So
cial enterprise, which in other countries have
been the work of centuries. Our population
has increased fifty fold, and we rank among
the first States 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 do.
minion Of nature, and subjected it to such a
course Of profitable husbsndry as to supply on
annual surplus Of agricultural products of not
less than fifty millions ofdollars in value. We
have erected numerous and wealthy towns and
cities, and opened excellent thoroughares in
every part of the State When almost in our
infancy, comparatively poor and with an un-
tried credit we projected and speedily compile
ted the construction OF our extensive system OF
canals, and s(ackwater navigation in our inte-
rior rivers, at cost Of over fifteen millions OF
dollars. We have built almost entirely by pri.
vate capital, more than three thousand miles in
| length of railroads, at cost OF over one hun
dred millions OF dollars, which have greatly
augmented the public wealth, largely contribu-
ted TO eQualizng the value of lands in different
parts of the State and vigorously encouraged
the development of nearly every branch of use
full employment. We have invested largely
and protitably in mines, and mining, and in
manufactures al Of which branches of industry
give promise of such q steadily increasing pros
perity, as will permanently preserve Ohio her
place in the front rank of,the mining and man.
uacturng States of the Union. Our CONNER
cial and navigation interests have kept equal
pace with our agricultural mining and manu-
featuring. 4 =
| We have done more We have adopted q
vigiant and humane confinement and discipline
for the vicious; have erected asylums for the un.
fortunate which challenge the admiration OF
the world; have endowed colleges and univer.
sites numerously and literally, and organized
a system Of schools for educating the youth OF
the State, which is justly our greatest pride.
Such are some Of our moral trumphs. To
what causes are we, under the favor Of provi-
dence, chiefly indebted for them?
Our geographical position, giving to US mild
and healthy climate, equally removed from the
severe cold of the North, and the intense heat
OF the South. and peculiarly adapted to vigor-
Gus labor in every form; the diversified charac-
ter Of the surface of the State, divided into up
!
valleys, heavily timbered tracts and naked prai-
ries, which alternate in a manner the most fa-
vorable for the productive interests of life; the
extent and unsurpassed fertility OF our soil,
yielding in perfection, nearly all the agricultu
raj staples the most valued by civilized commu-
mites; our exhaustless mineral treasures, and
natural facilities for commerce and navigation,
which by the genius and enterprise of the peo-
pie have been so bountilully tributary to our
wealth and power-havc been so potent and in
dispensible agencies in the production of our
marvellous growth os not to be overlooked in
however summary review of its causes.
But as inviting as they have been to labor
and capital and their multiplied auXllaries
they would have been comparatively Ineffcctu-
al in popuating and enriching our State, and in
securing to Us the social advantages for which
we are so eminently distinguished, but for the
moral assistants afforded in the wise provisions
of the organic act, under whose benign auspi-
ces the foundations OF our territorial organlza-
ton were laid, and which incorporated into our
State Constitution as fundamental principles of
government, have been most effective in mould
ing our institutions, and by furnishing the chart
| in directing the progress of our legislation.
| 1t was appropriate that the ordinance Of 1857
should have been the last as it was the crown
ing gift, of the Congress of the old confedera-
ton to the country. Nobly did It's fvamers il
lustrate, in its matchless provisions for guard
| ing the rights and promoting the happiness of
the people, their sagacious forecast and exalted
patriotism.
1t established the fundamental principles Of
civil and religious liberty as the basis of all our
laws, constitutions and governments; provided
tor the freedom Of person under the protection
of the habeas corpus and trial by .uries to be
impartialv selected; made the encouragement
of schools and advancing the means of educa-
ton high and binding duty ofgovernment, on
the plain reason, that religion, morality and
knowledge, are necessary to good government
and to the happiness Of mankind establishing
the inviolability of contracts, and the security
of private property; preventing the lingering
remnants OF Geudality from taking root in our
soil, and proclaimed and defended the rights OF
labor, and OF humanity, by forever excluding
slavery from the territory.
To these noble principles the peopls of Ohio
have ever been true. Our legislation has new
er been marred by prescription for religious
opinions, nor any political privilege denied be-
cause Of the birth place OF the citizen. The
inviolability Of the person Of the inhabitent has
been always defended, and the habeas corpus
and trial by jury, maintained as the bulwarks
of personal liberty. In the aithful observance
of her contracts, he State has furnished an ex-
ample Of the sacred regard in which all obliga-
tions should be held by the citizen, while by
refusing, under the most solemn sanctions, TO
appropriate private property to her use without
making Just compensation in money to the
owner, she Illustrates her wise purpose Of pro-
tart,np the nTnnprt -rlphts o tho ctizen N net