Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-01-23
GOV. TOD'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS,


and House u Representatives.:
In appearing before you to assume the
duties Of the office to which a generous
and confding people have assigned me,
it will be expected, and it is proper, that
I Iaunounce my views upon the leading
subjects now occupying public attention
The high duties and responsibilities
pertaining to the office Of Chief Executive
Of our State at this time, are duly appro-
ciated; and, were it not for the fact that
| propose calling to my assistance men Of
known high moral worth, and large eX-
perience, would shrink from the task; !;
but, with such aid, and with the full be-
lief that those, whose servant ! am, will
demand only an honest and vigilant effort,
/ will undertake the performance Of these
duties.
Upon the great and all absorbing ques-
tion of the day-the war for the maintc-
nance of our rational eXistence-my po-
sition is, perhaps, sufficiently well under
stood. | am indebted the friends of our
Union, for their generous selection. main
ly, from the well known fact, that | was
] w llllhS W SuI iCIitI ! u JIlIllE bNl lOHOI,
to quell the unholy rebellion
The more | reflect upon this i'm portant
matter, the more thoroughly | am CON
WINGED that the future welfare of ourselves,
our children, and our childlen's children,
depends upon preserving, at all hazards,
the integrity of our national Union
! maintaining it under the Constitution, as
aur fathers gave it.
10 be free, prosperous and happy peo-
pie, we must have domestic quiet, and
our commerce must be protected through
out the world. TO secure these blessings,
the Union of the States was formed; and
to maintain them, the Union of the States
must be preserved. In no other way can
we hope to demonstrate to the world that
man is fit for self-government.
If this Union cannot be preserved, we
will be compelled to resort to some other
form Of government, and thereby confess
/ that our fathers were mistaken in claim.
ing for their children, ability to govern
themselves. | am proud to know that
our constituents thus view the issue now
made for us; and so highly do they prize
the rich blessings OF sell-govemmcnt, that
they are most cheerIully willing to bear
every exaction that may he required fol
/ that purpose.
AS their agents, then, for the time be.
ing, we should exert our best energies to
the gallant and liberal support of the Of
iicers OF the National Government in THEN
efforts to restore that government to its
former grandeur, and to protect and main,
tain most beniicent Union and Consti
tuition against all foes, whether domesti,
or foreign.
| am most happy to be able to express
the opinion, that the helm of State of ON
National Government is in honest, pure
and patriotic hands; that President Lin.
coin seeks, and is determined to conduct
the war with an eye single to the speedy
restoration Of the Government to its for.
mer harmony aud vigor, irrespective OF
the influence this may have upon the do.
nestle institutions of any OF the States
In this glorious work, the people OF
Ohio have most nobly done their duty
thus far; laying aside all party prejudiccs
and partialities, they have more than met
the calls made upon them for men and
/ money; and, not content with this, they
are still willing and oagert o meet any fur.
ther demand upon their means and patri
otism. Let us look to it, then, that in
our action we do not disappoint the cX.
pectation they entertained when, laying
aside all considerations, save Il determined
vigorous and liberal support Of the Ma.
f tional Government, they committed to
5 our hands the vast responsibilities now
resting upon us.
Ohio must, in all time to come, be able
to claim for herself her just share Of the
= burden and glory Of putting down this re
belIion, In my opinion this object can
be accomplished only by bringing to con
dign punishment the leaders Of the re
bellion, and satisfying their misguided
followers, by firm and generous policy
that we seek, not the destruction Of any
, Of their domestic institutions, but onl,
the maintenance and enforcement of TN
Constitution and the laws of the Nation,
e, Constitution which their fathers, with our
handed down to us, with the solemn in
, junction, that we, together, should toreva
maintain and defend the same.
These mercenary and wicked leaders
governed by unhaIowed ambitions lol
place and power, being securely disposed
of, their de,uded followers may be expec
ted to return again to their loyalty. Sure
ly with such a purpose in view, with un
stinted means in men and money, mana.
aged by brave, gallant and accomplished
) officers, like those at the head of our ar
mics, the struggle can neither be long no
doubtful.
Toinsure an early triumph of our arms
we should not, either in word or manner
withhold our confidence from those il
whose hands the command of our force
is placed. 1t is cruel to impugn the mo
tivos and acts of those who are la5orn2
with zeal and integrity to preserve anC
, protect our best interests; the man win
e. will do this, without cause, should b.
avoided by all good men.
'e Fortunately, we have nothing to dis
tract or divide our attention and encrgie
from vigorous prosecution of the wal
at peace with all foreign powers, withor
question OF moment to settle with any
, we may hope to maintain kind and am
cable relations with all.
n The magnanimity, GOODNESS and diplC
matte skill Of the President and his adv
d sers, evinced in the settlement of the de
i, icate questions growing out of the seizul
o of Mason and Slidell, afford a suflicier
If guaranty that Our hOuor on1 intarnSt c