Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-01-26
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
A N DIR EW G.. TIN,
GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Delivered January.I5, 1861.

FELLow-CITIzENs Having been en-
trusted by the people Of Pennsylvania with
the administration Of the Executive dc
partment of the Government, for the next
three years, and having taken solemn
oath of fidelity to the Constitution of the
United States, and to the Constitution cf
Pc nnsylvania, avail myself of your pres
ence to express to you, and through you
to the people of the State, my gratitude
for the distinguished honor they have, in
their Partially, conferred upon me.
Deeply impressed with its responsibilities
and duties l enter upon the Office of Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania, with determina-
ton to fulfil them all faithfully to the
utmost of my ability. Questions of great
moment intimately connected with the
feelings and interests of the people of all
parts of the Na;ion, now agitate the public
mind; and some of them, from their nov
city and Importance, are LETT for settlement
in the uncertainty of the future. A selfish
caution might indicate silence as the safest
course to be pursued as to these questions,
by one just entering upon the responsible
ties of high official position, but fidelity
to the high tru,t reposed in me demand
especially at this juncture, that yield to
an honored custom which requires a frank
declaration of the principles to be adopt.
ed, and the policy to be pursued during
my official term.
We have assumed, as the great funda-
mental truth of our political theory, that
man is capable of self.government, and
that all power emanates from the people.
An experience of seventy-one years, under
the Constitution of the United States, ha.
demonstrated to all mankind that the peo-
pie can be entrusted with their own polt.
ical destinies and the deliberate express
ion of their will should furnish the rule
of conduct to their representatives in
official station, Thus approaching their
liberal capacity for selt-government, and
alive to the Importance of preserving. pure
and unsullied as it came from the hands OF
the Apostles of Liberty, this vital principle
l pledge myself to stand between it and
encro roachments, whether instigated by
hatred or ambition, by fanaticism or folly
The policy that should regulate the ad-
ministration of the government Of our
State, was declared by its founders, and
is fully established by experience. 1t is
just and fraternal in its aims, liberal in its
spirit, and patriotic in its progress. The
freedom of speech and of the press, the
right of conscience and of private judg'
mcnt in civil and religious faith, are the
high prerogatives to which the American
citizen is born. In our social organization
the rich and poor, the high and the low
enjoy these equally, and the Constitution
and the laws in harmony Herewith, pro
tect the rights of all The intelligence o
the people is one of the main pillars of thu
fabric of our government, and the highes
hopes of the patriot for its safety rest oil
enlightened public morality and virtue
Our system of common schools will evel
enlist my earnest solicitude. For its grow
ing wants the most ample provision shoul'
be made by the Legislature. L feel that