The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-01-24
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
GOVERNOR CURTIN.
FELLOW CITIZENS:

OF the Executive department of the gov
! eminent for the next three years, anC
having taken a solemn cath of fidelity t.
the Constitution of the United States, anC
to the Constitution of Pennsylvania, | a
vail myself of your presence to express tc
you, and through you to the people OF the
State, my gratitude for the distinguished
honor they have, in their partiality, con
ferred upon me.
Deeply impressed with its responsibli
ties and duties, [ enter upon the Office oi
Governor of Pennsylvania. with a deter.
nination to fulfil them all faithfully to the
utmost of Wy ability. Questions OF great
moment intimately connected with the
feelings and interests OF the people of all
parts of the Nation, now agitate the pub
lie mind; and some of them, from their
novelty and Importance, are left for set
tlemcut in the uncertainty of the future
A selfish caution might indicate silence as
the safest course to be pursued az to these
questions, hy ooe just entering upon the
responsibilities of high official position;
bat fidelity to the high trust reposed 10
me demand, especially at this juncture,
that yield to an honored custom which
requires frank declaration of the prin-
ciPics to BE- adopted, and the policy to be
purs0ed during my official term.
We have assumed, as the great funda-
weutal truth Of our political theory, that
man is capable Of self government, and
that al! poser emanates from the people.
An experience of seventy one years, un-
der the constitution OF the United States,
has demonstrated to all mankind that the
people can be entrusted with their own
political destiues; and the deliberate ex-
preston Of their will should furnish the
rule of conduct to their represe ntatives in
Official station. Thus approaching their
liberal capacity for self government, and
alive to the Importance of preserving
pure and unsullied as it came from the
hands of the Apostles Of Liberty, this vi
tai principle, pledge myself to stand be-
tween it ani encroach nents, whether in-
stigated By hatred OF ambition, by fa-
naticism or folly.
The policy that should regulate the ad-
mn!stration of the government of our
State. was declared by its founders, and
is fully established BY experience. 1t is
just and fraterna! in its aims, liberal in
ITS spirit. aud patriotic in its progress
The freedom of speech and of the press,
the right Of conscience and Of private
jud III mt in cieaI and religious faith, are
the high prerogatives to Which the Amer
lean citizen is born In our social organ
izaton the rich and the poor, the hi b
and the low, enjoy these equally, and the
Constitution and the laws in harmony
herewith, protect the rights of all. The
Intelligence of the people is one of the
"a ain pillsrs Of the fabric of our govern
meut, and the highest hopes of the patriot
fox IL safety rest on enlightened public
morality sGd siFtue. Our syste N of Com
u 90 Schools will ever enlist my earnest
eolicitute. For its growing wants the
mot ample provision should be made by
the Legislature. feel that l need not
urge this duty. The system has been
gaining 10 strength aod usefulness for a
quarter of century. until it has siIenced
opPo-itiou by its nifcent fruits. 1t has
at tiaes languizhed for want OF just ap
propria.ions, from changes and amend
mcpts Of the Law. and perhaps from inef-
fciency in its ad dwini-tratioD; but it has
surmounted every difficulty and is now
regarded by the enlightened and patriot
ic Of every political faith as the great bul-
Hsrk Of safety for our free Institutions
The maDuer iu which this subject is pre-
sented to the Legislature, By nay immedi-
ate predecessor, 10 his annual message,
fnliy harmonizes With public sentiment;
and bis recommendation for aid to the
Farmers High School of Pennsylvania
meets my ii ost cordial appreciation. In
vited to the rich prairie lands of the
West. where the labor of the husband
maD is simple and uniform, when popu-
lation has filed our valleys, it passes a.
way from our highland soils where scien.
iifis culture is required to reward labor
By bringing fruitfuluess and plenty out of
comparative sterility While individual
lberaIity has done mu:h for an institu-
ton that is designed to educate the far
mer of the State, the School languishes
for want Of public aid. An experience
Of ten years has fully demonstrated that
the institution can be made self sustain
ing; and it requires no aid from the State
except for the completion of the buildings
in sccordancc with the original design.--
4 liberal appropriation for that purpose
would be honorable to the Legislature
and Just recognition of system of pub
lie instruction that is of the highest i'm
portauoe to the State ia the development
of our wealth, the growth of our popula.
ton and the prosperity of our great agri-
cultural interests.
The State having been wisely relieved
of the ID management of the public improve
meuts by their sale, the administration OF
the government is greatly simpilfied, Its
resources are certain aud we'll understood
and the amoDpt of the public debt is de-
initely ascertained. A rigid economy in
l. fr n