Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-23
GOV cuRr1Ns INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Having been entrusted by the people of
Pennsylvania, with the administration of the
Executive department of the government for
the next three years, and having taxed a SOL
emn oath Of fidelity to the Constitution of tho
United States, and to the Constitution of Penn
sylvania, avail myself of your presence to
express to you, and through you to the people
of the State, my gratitude for the distinguish
ed honor they have, in their partiality, confer
red upon me.
Deeply impressed with its responsibilities
and duties, / enter upon the office of Cover
nor of Pennsylvania, with determination to
fulfil them all faithfully to the utmost of my
ability. Questions of great M oment intimate
ly connected with the feelings and interests of
the people of all parts of the Nation, now agi-
tate the public mind and some of them, from
their novelty and Importance, are left for set
tfement in the uncertainty of the future. A
selfish caution might indicate silence as the
safest course TO be pursued as to these ques-
tons, by one just entering upon the response
bilities of high official position; but fidelity
TO the high trust reposed in me demand, espe-
cially at this juncture, that yield to an hon.
ored custom which requires frank declaration
of the principles to be adopted ,and the policy
TO be pursued during my official term.
We have assumed, as the great fundamental
truth of our political theory, that man is capa-
ole of selfgovernment, and that all power en-
anates from the people. An experience of
seventy-one years, under the Constitution of
the United States, has demonstrates to all
mankind that the people can be entrusted with
their own political destinies and the delibe-
rate expression of their will should furnish
the rule of conduct to their representatives IN
official station. Thus appreciating their liber-
al capacity for self-government, and alive to
the Importance of preserving. pure and unsul-
lied as it came from the hands of the Apostles
of Liberty, this vital principle, pledge my
self to stand between it and encroachments,
whether instigated by hatred or ambition, by
fanaticism or folly.
The policy that should regulate the admin
1stration of the government Of our State, was
declared 10y its founders, and is fully establish
ed 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 pri-
vate judgment in civil and religious faith, are
the high prerogatives to which the American
citizen is born. In our social organization
the rich and the poor, the high 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 main pillars of the fabric of our
government, and the highest hopes of the pa
trlot for its safety rest on enlightened public
morality and virtue. Our system of Common
Schools will ever enlist my earnest solicitude.
Ion should be made by the Legislature. |
feel that need not urge this duty. The sys-
Tem has been gaining in strength and useful
nessj for quarter of s century, until it has
silenced opposition by its benefcent fruits.
1t has at times laDguished for want of just ap-
propriations, from changes and amendments
OF the law, and perhaps from ineficiency in
lis administration but it has surmounted
every difficulty and is now regarded by the
enlightened and patriotic of every political
iaith as the great bulwark of safety for our free
institutions. The manner in which this SUBJ
Ject is presented to the Legislature, by my
immediate predecessor, in his annual message,
July harmonizes with public sentiment; and
MS recommendation for aid to the Farmers
high School of Pennsylvania meets my most
cordial appreciation. Invited to the rich
Prairie lands of the West, where the labor of
'lhe has',andman is simple and uniform, when
population has filled our valleys, it passes a.
way from our highland soils where scientific
culture is required to reward labor by bring
ing iruitfulness and plenty out of compare
i've sterility. While individual liberality has
.uone much for an institution that is designed
10 educate the farmer Of the State, the School
.iahguishes for want of public aid. An expe-
.tehce OF ten years has fully demonstrated
iaI the institution can be made self-sustain-
'ing and it requires no aid from the State ex-
Se2t for the completion of the buildings in
aIcofaance with the original design. lber-
81 appropriation for that purpose would be
nonorabe to the Legislature and just recog
~ a.'ion of system of public instruction that is
~ tne highest importance to the State in the
uefelopment of our wealth, the growth Of our
population population and the prosperity of our great ag
HGaltural interests.
,odI me State having been wisely relieved of the
,be;r basement of the public Improvements by
re,. SAFE the administration of the goverh-
certain s greatly simpliaed, its resources are
Of the ana nna weii understood, and tbe amount
and Hsid economy in ali ifs ysriona departments
Sficl accountability from Ali public Off