Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-14
InaueuraI Addresses Governor Tod
Gentlemen Of &s Senate and House Of Repressn
atiUes:

Gentlemen Of The Ssnateand House Of Represent
atiUes:
| In appearing before you, to assume the dutie
Of the Office to which geneTous and connoinl
people have assigned me; it will be expected
and 1t is but proper, that announce 10 you m.
views upon the leading subjects now occupyini
public attention. 49,.
The high duties and responsibilities pertain
ling to the Office of Chief Executive Of ou
State at this time, are duly appreciated; and
were it not for the fact that purpose calling
to my assistance men of known high mora
worth, and large experience, would shrinl
| from the task; but, with such aid, and with che
| full belief that those, whose servant am, vii
demand only an honest and vigilanf etort,
will undertake the performance Of these duties
Upon the great and all-Abeorbing topic OF thu
day-the war for the maintenance OF our ma
tional existenoe-my position ls, perhaps, autt
GENTLY understood. ] am indebted to the friendI
of our Union, for their generous selection, main
| ly, from the we'll known fact, that was willing
70 surrender everything but honor, to quen the
unholy rebellion. o..
The more | reflect upon this important mat
ter, the more thoroughly am | convinced that
the future welfare of ourselves, our children,
and our childIen's children, depends upon pre-
serving, at ell hazards, the integrity Of our Ma
tional Union-maintaining 1t under the Consh'
tuition, as our fathers gave 1t to US.
To be free, prosperous and happy People,
we must have domestic quiet, and our COM
merce must be protected throughout the world
To secure these blessings, the Union OF the
States was formed; and 10 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 6t for self-government.
II this Union cannot be preserved, we will be
compelled to resort To some other form OF gov
ernment, and thereby confess that our fathers
we're mistaken, in claiming for their children,
ability to govern themselves. am proud to
know that our constituents thus view the issue
now made for US; and 50 highly DO they prize
the rich blessings of self-government, that they
are most cheerfully willing to bear every ex
action that may be required for that purpose.
AS their agents, then, for the time being, We
should exert Cur best energies to the gallant and
liberal support of the officers of the National
Government in their efforts to restore that goy-
ernment to its former grandeur, aud 10 protect
and maintain most benehcent Union and Con-
stitution against all foes, whether domestic or
foreign.
am most happy to be able to express the
opinion, that the helm Of State Of our National
Government is In honest, pure and patriotic
hands; that President Lincoln seeks, and is de-
terrnined, to conduct the war with an eye single
to the speedy restoration Of the government to
its former harmony and vigoF, Irrespective of
the influence this may have upon the domestic
institutions Of any Of the States.
In this glorious work, the people Of Ohio
have most nobly done their duty thus far; lay
ing aside all party preiudices 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 eager to
meet any further demands upon their means and
patriotism Let US look to IL, then, that In our
action we do not disappoint the expectations
they entertained, when, laying aside all consid.
erRtions, save determined, vigorous and lib
eral support Of the National Government, they
committed TO our hands the vast responsibili-
ties 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 rebellion. In
my opinion, this object can be accomplished on.
| " by bringing to condign punishment the lead,
ers Of the rebellion, and HRtIafying their mia.
guided followers, by firm and generous policy,
that we seek, not the destruction Of any Of
their domestic institutions, but only the main
tenance and enforcement Of the Constitution
and Lave Of the Netion-=a Constitution which
their fathers, With ours, handed down TO US
with the solemn Injunction, ttiet We, together
should forever maintain and defend the same.
These mercenAry and wicked leaders, gov
erned by unhallowed ambition for place ant