, 1861-06-25
inauguration OF the New Governor Of
Vfrwfnf8.


The Wheeling IntsAigeneer of Friday last
gives the following account Of the inaugura-
ton Of Gov. PferpoInt, which took place In
the Convention On Tbursday:
The Committee retired, AND after time, ra-
appearance VAS greeted With round Of ap-
plause, which Was Joined In By the outsiders.
He ascended the Speakers stand, and after
being introduced By the President, spoke a.
follows:
SPEECH OF THE GOVERNOR ELECT.
Gentlemen cf Tho Convention:
Iretu1n you my sincere thanks for this mark
Of your confidence In placing me- IN the most
critical and trying position In which any man
could be placed at the present time.
This day and this event mark period In
the history OF constitutional liberty. They
mark period IN American history. For moro
than three quarters Of century our govern
ment has proceeded, In all the states and in
all the territories, upon which our fathers
erected lt-namely: upon the intelligence Of
the people; and that In the people resides al
power, and that from them all power must
emanate
A new doctrine has been introduced By
those who are at tie head Of the revolution IN
our Southern Ssates-that the people are not
the source OF all power. Thoee pronul,ating
this doctrine have tried to divide the people
into two classics; one they call the laboring
elase, the other the capital class. They have,
for several years, been industriously propaga-
ting the idea TINT the cspital Of the county
ought to represent the legislation Of the coan-
try, and guide It aud direct it; maintaining
that 1t Is dangerous for the labor Of the coun.
III to enter into the legislation Of The country.
This, gentlemen, is the principle that has char
aeterized the revolution that has been inaug-
urated In the South J.; they maintaining that
those who arc to have the privilege Of voting
ought to be Of the educated class, and that the
legislation ought not to be represented BY the
laboring classes.
We, IN Western Virgins, and as suppose
IN the whole Of Virginia. adopted the great
in the people resides all power; and that en-
braced all people This revolution has been
inangurnted with view Of making dlstinc.
tion upon the principles that have indicated.
Ne ct Western Virginia have not been con-
suited upon that subject. The large body Of
hare rot been consulted upon TINT subject.
American Institutions lie near to the heart
OF the masses Of the people, oil over this
country, from one end of 1t to the other,
though not ns nearly perhaps in Louisiana,
Georgia and Texas, as In some Of the Western
and Northern States.
This tdea has been coTertly advanced only
IN pertions of.Virginia. She has stood firm
by the doctrines Of the fathers Of the Reyolu-
ton up to within very short period. Its
p1opagators have attempted to force it upon
Us by terror and at the poiat of the bayonet
Ne have been driven into the position We oc.
eupy to-day by the usurpers at the South, who
have 1raugurated this war upon the soil Of
Vi1ginia, and have made It the great Crimes
Of this contest. We, representing the logal
citizens OF Virginia, have been bound to as.
sumo the position ne lave assumed to-day
Tor the protection Of ourselves, our wives, our
children, and our property. We, repeat,
have been dTiaen to assume this position; and
EoW We are but recurring to the great funda.
mental principle Of cur fathers, that to the
loyal people Of aState belongs the law making
RoEsr Of that State. The loyal people are en-
titled to the goyernment and governmental
authority Of the State. And, feIow.citizens. It
is the assumption Of that authority moon
which wo are now about to enter.
1t Wll1 be FOR Us by drmness, and bv pru-
dence, By wisdom, By discretion, In al our
nets, to tnausurate every step we take for the
purpose Of restoring laT and order to this an-
cent CommonWea1th; to mark well our steps,
and to imp1ore the divine wisdom and dlrec..
tion Of him that ruleth above, who has eyery
hair Of our heads numbered, and who suffer.
eth rota sparrow to fall unnoticed to the
ground, and His guidance and direction in en-
aol1ng Us to carry out the great work we have
undertaken here, in humility, but with decis.
| len and determination.
With these remarks thank you again for
the honor you hare conferred upon me, and
administering your wishes, and in trying to
car1y out the great object We have been work
ing for here, and for which VIC expect to work
for some time to come. thank you gentle
men. [Great Applausel
The cath Was then administered by Andrew
Wilson, Esq, Justice Of the Peace, and Mr..
Plerpoint became de Jaeso the Governor Of Viz