Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-11-20
Inaugural Address Of Gov. Brown of
Caor1ia

by the people Of our noble State, arpearbe'
fore you for the parpose Of taking the oath
prescribed by the Constitution, and entering
upoa the discharge of my duties rs the Exec
uiivc Of Georgia Gur third term.
Mindful Of the fact that This is q compli
ment which has not hecn paid, by the people.
to any other citizen Of the State within the
last half century, cun assure you in the ut
most candor that feel mest sincerely and
profoundly impressed with the weight Of the
responsibility, and the obligation which ii
imposes.
How changed are ali things around MS since
! lirat stnod upon This platform, and addressed
your pe'!' cessorS, prior TO assuming the OBJ
!gstiop which invested me with the power,
and imposed upon me tho onerons duties Of
the Executive Office.
Then the bright sun of peace from q COM
mon centre, scattered its divergent rays luto
the remotest parts Of the vast territory which
was embraced within the limits the United
States. Now, the dark clouds Of war hang
around Us, martial mu1ic is heard in our midst,
and the din of battle, and cIangor OF arms,
resouud III the distance. Then the flag Of the
Cuion which waved over us, was not only
considered emblamatic Of Power, but Of JUS
,ice, Truth, and Equality slnons the States.
Now, that flag, no longer the ensign of Re-
publican liberty, is only the emblerno Of despot.
;sa,, and waves over dungeons, and chains,
and death, when those born TO freedom, Ian.
guish, with no redress against the wrongs
inflicted at the tyrant's will. Such are the
mutations Of time, and such he instability Of
human Affairs.
From small beginning the Government
Of The United States, resting upon the broad
and deep foundations laid for it, by the i'm.
mortal heroes and patriots Of l'7G, lad grown
to be power of the first magnitude, chsl-
lenging the admiration, and commanding the
respect, Of all tue nations Of tic earth. The
The South, ever loyal to the Constitution, and
ever mindful Of the obligations which it i'm
posed, was ready 10 sacrifice all, except her
equality and her honor, to maintain the in-
tcgrity of the splendid Government structure,
of which she formed most magnificent part.
But unfortunately for the peace cfthc world,
the restless fanat;cisln, cantirg hypocrisy, and
Unsuitable avarice Of majority of the people
Of the Northern Statea, had caused them to
determine on tie subjngation of the South,
and that her equality should case to exist,
though the accomplishment Of the design
might involve the destruction Of the fondest
hopes Of all true patriots and friends of re-
pablcan liberty.
Prompted onward in their mad career By
lust for power, and love Of plunder, the pco'
Pile of that part Of the Union, found in the
triumph Of great sectional party, the means
Of carrying into execution thei: long cherished
design, of taking The Government into their
own bands, selecting our rulers for us, oyer
nur united opposition, and debating to US the
laws by which in future we should be gov
erned. Thus the alternative was distinctly
rendered 10 us, and we were left to choose,
between the position of subjugated provinces,
yielding obedience to unrest:ained power or
ofsovcreign States, disdainins submission to
the eucroachments Of tyranny, or the man.
dates Of any superior. Satisfied Of the JUS
tice Of our own cause, we choose the latter
alternative, and appealing to the God Of bat
ties for the rectitudc Of our intentions, and ]
trust humbly and fervently invoking His aid
an! protection in Tie mighty contest, We have
risked our lives, cur fortunes, and our sacred
honor, upon the stout hearts, strong arms,
and indolnitable courage Of our gallant and
glorious troops iu the field.
Sine. the commencement Of the revolution
we have labored under great disadvantages,
against superior numbers, and vastly superior
military resources aud preparations. Our
enemy has had at his command not only the
regular army Of the United States, but her
navy. and much the lurger portion Of her mil
itary stores Our ports have been bockaded
by ships built With our own money. The
rights Of private property bave bceu disrc-
parded, and the most wantou cruelty indlct-
ed upon helpless and uuoGOnding women and
children. Under. all these hardships and dis.
advantages Heaven has continued to smile
prcpitiously upon US, and has crowned our
efforts on the most important fields OF conflict
with the most triunphat and victorious re-
suits; for which We have abundant reason to
exclaim, in the language Of the inspired man,
g Thanks be to God who giveth us the vic
tory
How long this unnatural war may last, or
what may be our privations Or sufferings be.
fore its termination, il only known to Hin
who rules the hosts of Heaven as well as
the armies of earth. fear TINT the people
of the United States, North and South, had
become too f0rgetfnl Of the Great Source
whence VIC derived all our prosperity as n ma
ton, and all our blessings Us individuals.
The Ruler Of the Universe may have deter