Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-14
THE DAILY PRESS.
LIeutonant-G Governor stantOn's Address to
the Senate.
PuRLIsHBD DAILY, ExoKPT SUNDAYS, BY
THE CINCINNATI PRESS COMPANY.


his place as presiding officer of the Ohio
Senate, yesterday, delivered the following
address to that body:
Gentlemen of the Senate.
You are called into the public service at
period of unexsmpled difficulty and danger,
not only to our own State, but to the whole
country.
1t would be an imputation upon the intel
ligence and patriotism of the people, to sup
pose, that at time like the present, they
have not selected the best intellects, and the
purest patriots in the State, to guide her
through the storms and perils by which she
is surrounded
But, gentlemen, however exalted your at
tainmeDts and statemanship may be, yeu
will have occasion for the exercise of them,
to their utmost capacity, in the discharge Of
the onerous and responsible duties that will
deyolve upon you.
Nearly one fourth of our adult male popu-
lation is under arms to aid in the suppress
sion of the most gigantic and most wicked
rebellion with which any nation was ever
afflicted. And it is perhaps the first time in
the history of our race, when any people
have rebelled against their rulers without
complaining of one single, solitary act of
,misrule or oppression.
| But here is rebellion led by men who
| have controlled the legislation of the couu-
try for a quarter of a century, organized and
| carried into execution, while they were
themselves administering the Government.
There can be no termination of the war in
which we are engaged but by the complete
! and thorough subjugation of the rebellion,
and the condign punishment of the traitors
who originated it and have carried it on, or
by the overthrow OF the Government All
| idea of peaceable adjustment until the rebel
| lion is overthrown and The power and the
spirits of the rebels are thoroughly humbled
and subdued, is cowardly and reasonable.
The war must be prosecuted with all the
energy, and power, and resources of twenty
millions of fIeemen.
The energies and resources of the people
must be taxed to the utmost to meet the ex-
ptpses incident 70 the prosecution of the
war.
Questions of currency, of finance, of taxa
ton, of military organization and military
resources must occupy your attention.
But it is not the material interests of the
country only that are involved in this strug.
gle. revolution of ideas habits, mora
and social influences, business occupation:
and commercial relations, is now going on
with unparalleled rapidity.
One year ago our entire population wa!
engaged in the peaceful pursuits of civil life
Military affairs military organization an(
military men were utterly neglected, il no
treated with indignity and contempt.
Now the public mind is wholly engrosseC
with military affairs, the movements of ar
mics and navies, the reports of battles
marches and sieges.
The people think of nothing, talk of moth
ing, read nothing but telegraphic dispatched
of the latest military and naval expeditions
the latest victories and defeats, and the par
aphernalia of red handed war.
The pursuits of civil life are pursued list
lessly, and without occupying any consid
cradle share OF the thoughts and attention O
those who are engaged in them.
| The withdrawal of so large q portion o
the laboring population of the State from
the pursuits of civil life must operate yer,
seriously upon the industrial interests of ou
people.
The diversion of the public mind from
business pursuits the arrangement and oh
struction of the channels of trade and bust
ness must be still more disastrous.
twill be your business to provide, to th
utmost possible extent, by wise and benef
cent legislation, against the evil conse
quences OF this disastrous condition G
events.
= The deep and abiding interest which
feel in the present and future welfare of ou
g common country would induce me to g
p into a more extended discussion of publ
affairs, but am admonished by the proprit
a ties of my position and of the occasion
S forbesr.
:; l am, fortunately, almost entirely fire.
!; from the labors and responsibilities whiC
!. rest upon you.
o Having no share in your deliberation
either in debate or by my vote except upo
: the unusual occurrence of an equal divisio
among yourselves, am in no way respons
= BILE for the results of your deliberations.
My duties as your presiding officer, in pr
l. serving order and decorum in your deliber
\ tions, are comparatively unimportant in
body 80 small as this, composed mainly
gentlemen of mature age and of large e.
le perence in public affairs, and having
= proper appreciation of the proprieties
their position, anxious-for the honor of Il
= State, ss'well as for their own comfort al
} convenience--to maintain order and dec
2 rum in their deliberations, the duties of Il
h presiding officer can very rarely be dificu
or burdensome.
1t is my fixed and settled purpose in 4
discharge of my duties to be strictly and I
ligiously impartial; to know no parties
factions, and to cultivate kind and friend
relations with every member of this bod
and l entertain no doubt, but, in pursuil
this course, shall secure the indulgence a.
forbearsnce of every Senator for my errC
r and imperfections, however numerous tn
! may be. Entering upon my duties with the
! views and purposes, apprehend no diificul
in discharging them to the satisfaction
the Senate.