Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-13
Gov. TOd's inaugural Address.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Rep.
Ttsentdtiyes.

y
subjects now occupying public attention,
The high duties and responsibilities per-
tanning to the Office of Chief Executive of
our State at this time, are duly appreciated;
and were it not for the fact that | purpose
calling to my assistance men of known high
moral worth and large experience, would
shrink from the task; but, with such aid, and
with the full belief that those whose servant
am will demand only an honest and vigi.
liant effort, will undertake the performance
of these duties
Upon the great and all absorbing question
of the day-the war for the maintenance of
our national existence-my position is, per-
haps, sufficiently well understood. | am
indebted to the friends of our MON for their
generous selection, mainly from the we'll
known fact that | was willing to surrender
every thing but honor to quell the unholy
rebellion.
The more l reflect upon this important
matter, the more thoroughly am convinced
that the future welfare of ourselves our
children and our children's children de-.
pends upon preserving, at all hazards, the
integrity of our National Union-maintain-
ing it under the Constitution, as our fathers
gave it to us.
To be free, prosperous and happy peo.
pie, we must have domestic quiet, and our
commerce must be protected throughout the
world. To secure these blessings the Union
of the States was formed; and to maintain
them the Union of the States must be pre-
served. In no other way can we hope to
demonstrate to the world that man is fit for
self government.
Ifthis Union can not be preserved, we will
be compelled TO resort to some other form
OF government and thereby confess that our
fathers were 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 so
highly do they prize the rich blessings of
self government, that they are most cheer
fully willing to bear every exacton that
may be required for that purpose.
AS their agents, then, for the time being,
we should exert our best energies to the gal
liant and liberal support of the officers of the
National Government in their efforts to re-
store that Government to its former grandeur,
and to protect and maintain a most benefi
cent Union and Constitution against all foes,
whether domestic or foreign.
| am most happy to be able to express the
opinion that the helm of State ofour National
Government is in honest, pure and patriotic
hands, that President Lincoln seeks, and is
determined, to conduct the war with &c eye
single to the speedy restoration of the Gov
ernment to its former harmony and yigor,
irrespective of the influence this may have
upon the domestic institutions Of any Of the
States.
Ia this glorious work, the people of Ohio
have most nobly done their duty thus far
laying aside all party prejudices and PARTIAL.
ties, they have more than met the calls made
upon them for men and money; and, moi
content with this, they are still willing and
eager to meet any further demands upon
their means and patriotism. Let us look to
it, then, that in our action we do not disap
point the expectations they entertained
when, laying aside all considerations, save
determined, vigorous and liberal support Of
the National Government, they committed
to our bands 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 bur-
den and glory of putting down this rebellion
In my opinion, this object can be accom-.
plished only by bringing to condign punish
ment the leaders Of the rebellion, and satis-
flying their misguided followers by firm
and generous policy, that we seek, not the
destruction of any of THAR domestic institu-
tions, but only the maintenance and enforce
ment of the Constitution and laws of the
nation-a Constitution which their fathers,
with ours, handed down to US, with the
solemn Injunction, that we, together should
These mereeuary and wicked leaders gov
erned by unhallowed ambition for place and
power, being securely disposed of, their de-
luded followers may be expected TO return
again TO their loyalty. Surely, with such a
purpose only in view, with unstinted means
in men and money, managed by brave, gall
liant and accomplished officers, like those at
the head of our armies, the struggle can
neither be long nor doubtful,
To insure an early triumph of cur arms,
we should not, either in word or manner,
withhold our confidence from those in whose
bands the command of our forces is placed.
1t is cruel to impugn the motives and acts
Of those who are laboring with zeal and in.
teRrity to preserve and protect our best in
terests; the man who will do this, without
cause, should be avoided by all good men.
Fortunately, we have nothing to distract
or divide our attention and energies from a
vigorous prosecution of the war; at peace
with all foreign powers, without questions
of moment to settle with any, we may hope
TO maintain kind and amicable relations
with all.
The magnanimity, coolness and dplo-
matte skill of the President and his adyis-
eis, eyinced in the settlement of the different
questions growing out of the seizure of Ma.
son and Slidell, affords sufficient guaran
ty that our honor and interests, so far as they
are involved in our intercourse with foreign
nations, are in safe hands. sr
In view of the importance to the welfare
and happiness of the people of both Govern
ments, that friendly feelings should existbe-
tween them, it is to be regretted that Great
Britain should have demanded che surrender
of these men but, the demand having been
made, our Government could not maintain
its proud character for consistency without
yielding TO the demand for, in the Language
of Mr. Secretary Seward, 1--WE are asked to
do to the British nation Just what we have
always insisted all nations ought to do to
US" H-
Fortunately for us, as people and nation,
the occasion gives us an opportunity of de.
monstIating to the world our fitness for self.
government. The arrest and imprisonment
of these arch traitors filled the hearts of all
loyal men with unbounded JOY and satisfac
tion, and all hoped that they would receive
the punishment they 60 richly deserved; but
no sooner was it known that their detention
was in violation Of the forms of international
lava law that our fathers aided ia estab,
lishing-than, with one accord and without
muTmur, the people acquiesce ia their re.
lease: higher evidence Of the fitness of our
popular Government for permanency could
not be given.
The young men of Ohio will have the
honor of furnishing from their number the
soldiers necessary to protect the fair fame OF
our State. From the alaeFity with which
they have already volunteered their services,
it would see IN that this branch of our duty
is in safe hands,
To the older portion Of our citizens must
we loOk mainly for the uainawa nf war ~