Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-07-12
Inaugural Address of MIR. PferpOnf,
the New Governor of Loyal Virginia.

Genttemen of the C0nUehtaon:-I return {
you my sincere thanks for this mark of you
confidence in placing me in the most critica
aud trying position in which any man could b
placed at the present time.
This day and this event mark period 10 tb,
history of Constitutional liberty. They mari
period 10 American history. Eer more thar
three quarters of century our Goyernmen
has proceeded, 10 all the States and 10 all th,
Territories, upon which our fathers erected i
namely: upon the intelligence of the people
aud that in the people resides all power, and
that from them all power must emanats.
a new doctrine has been introduced by those
who are at the head Of the revolution IN on,
Southern States-that the people are NOT the
source OF all power. Those promuIgsting this
doctrine have tried to divide the people into two
classes; Que they call the laboring class, the
other the Capital class. They have for seVers
a. years been industrously propagatng the
idea that the capital of the country ought to
represent the legislation Of tie country, and
guide It and direct it; maintaining that it is
dangerous for the labor of the country to ente,
into the legislation of she country This, gen.
tlemen, Is the principle that has characterized
ihe revolution that has been inaugurated ia the
South; they maintaining that those who are to
have the privilege of voting ought 10 be of the
educated class, and that the legislation
ought not to be represented by the laboring
classes.
Vein Western Virginia, and | suppose in
tho whole of Virginia, adopted the great doe
trIne of the fathers of the Republic, that in
the people resides all power, aud that embra-
ced all people. This revolution has been in.
augurated with view of making distinction
upon the principles that have indicated. We
of western Virginia have not been consulted
upon that subject. The large body of your
citizens IN the Eastern part of the State have
not been consulted upon that subject
American institutions lie near to the heart
of the masses of the people all over this coun6
try, from one end OF it to tho other. though
not as nearly perhaps 10 Louisiana, Georgisland
Texas as in some of the Westsr srn and North
srn States.
This idea has been CogertIy advanced only
10 portions of Virginia. She has stood 6,m
By the doctrine of the fathers of the revoln.
slon up to within very short period. It's pro.
pagators have attempted to force it upon as bv
terror and at the point of the bayonet. We
have been driven into the position we
occupy to day BY the usurpers Of the South.
who have inaugurated this war upon the soil
OF Virginia and have made it the great Crimea
of the contest. We, representing the loyal
citizens of Virginia, have been bound to as
sumo the position we have assumed to-day,
for the protection of ourselves. our wives. our
children and our property. We, / repeat,
have been dr'cen to assume this position; and
now We are but recurring to the great fuuda-
mental principles of our fathers, that 10 the
local people of State belongs the law making
power of that State. The loyaI peopleare
entitled to the Government and Governmental
authority of the State. And, fellow-citizens.
it is the assumption o. that authority upon
which we are now about to enter.
1t will be for US by frmness and BY pruo
dence, by wisdom, by discretion in all our acts
to inaugurate every step We take for the pur-
pose of restoring law and order to this ancient
Commonwealth; to mark we'll our stops, and to
Implore the divine wisdom and direction of
Him that ruleth above, who has every hair of
our heads numbered, aud who srifereth not
sparrow to fall uDnoticed to the ground, and
His guidance and discretion in enabling us to
carry out the great work we have undertaken
here, in humility, but with decision and deter
miGation
With these remarks thank you again for
the honor you have conferred upon me, and
promise you that / will do the best / can in
administering your wishes, and 10 trying to
carry out the great odjeet we have been work.
ing for here, and for which we expect to work
for some time to come. thank you, gentle
men. Great applause.]
The oath was then administered by Andrew
Wilson, Esq, Justice of the Peace, and MIR.
Plerpont became de faeto the Governor of Vir-
ginia