Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-01-18
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
GOVERNOR s. ]. klRkWOOD.

GOV EkNOk Es j. klkkWVUDs
Gen,lemen Of the Senate and Hosss Of Rep
resentatsrss.
As this 10 the FIRST time in the history Of
our State that the same person has been
twice elected to the Office, the duties Of
which have for the second time just as
sumed, and as the Transmission to you Of
message in writing, communicating the con-
ditioa Of the State and recommending such
matters as seemed to me expedent, was
among the last Of the official acts Of my first
term Of service, it WAS for some time
question With me whether it was proper
for me in commencing my second term to
conform to the custom heretofore acted on
by incoming Governors of delivering An in
augu,al address. Upon reflection, did not
feel at liberty to disregard what is . well
established, and what is considered useful
custom.
When two years ago first assumed the
duties Of my present office, l saw, and in
nv inaugural address alluded to, the bitter
and exasperated feelings existing in certain
portions Of our country, which have since
resulted in the present rebellion, and point
ed out " bat seemed to be some Of the ex.
isting causes Of that feeling. The people
Of our country were then about entering
upon one OF those political contests by
which the policy Of our General Govern
nent is for a time det ermined-and ex-
pressed the belief that this angry and excl
ted feeling would not result in an appeal 0
arms. but that apeople taught as ours have
been to yield almost instinctiscly to the
fairly expressed will Of the majority, would,
when the feeling cngcndered by its contest
had passed away, again permit the calm
| dictates Of reason to resume their sway, and
that we would again become a contcnted
and happy nation. Time has shown that
my belief was erroneous, and yet il seems
! to me it was o reasonable aud just belief.
All men k:.ow well that the Govern
ment against which rebellion would
be made, If raised at ALL was the
Government which made the least cx
actions and conferred the most benefits up
on its people Of any Government in the
world. All men knew well, and none bet
ter than those now in rebellion, that the
Administrator whose accession to power
their opponents declared they would con-
! slider cause tor revolt, could no; during their
term Of Office, even il SO disposed, ihf.ct
upon tho defeated party any wrong And
it seemed then, and seems yet to me, to DC
a reasonable aud just belief that no PARTON
Of people, So intelligent as ours has
claimed to be, could :cvoit against a Gov
e.nment which had conferred upon them
only benefits aud against an Adminis,ra
tion powcress 10 injurc them. All men
know, too that rebellion must bring upon
| those engaged in it terrible calamliles, it
4
onable and just to believe that sane uen
would not bring upon themselves such re-
suits without cause.
Yet there were other things bearing up
on TIL. question which We did not know.
We did not know-even although we were
50 told by some far.sigLted mcn--it seemed
too moilstrous for our honest and loyal
hearted people to believc-tLat men " hom
they had delighted TO honor, men upon
whom they had conferred tue high places
even the highest place Of honor, and profit,
and trust under our Government could,
whilst yet holding these places and
pledged in the sight Of God aud
J, beIore men faithfully to discharge
their trust, and with professions Of love and
attachment to our GovernIncr yet warm
upon their lips, deliberately consplrc t.
! overthrow and d, >troy the Governrnc mt
which they were So strongly bound to pro
tect and defend. repeat it, our honest
| and 10y al hearted people could lot believe
these things to be true: they we're 70 then.
too monsirousiy infamous for their belief
They had not yet learned the bitter lesson
that honesty, truth, good faith and loyalty,
w ere but lnerc words used BY these men ss
a cover under y Lich to deal as they hopci,
! a fatal stab to that Government from which
| they had derived all they ever had Of homo:
| or Importance. Had this not been So (and
although its truth has produced such teri
blc results | thank God our people c,ud
not then believe t possible | am vel.
convinced We would to-day have no Rebel
lion. Had the occupant Of the Presld.n
tai char for the year proceeding the 4th
day Of March, 1851 and his advisers, been
true men, and had tAey doi.e their duty a,
such. and stricken Rebellion an honest
do snrisLt blow when first it reared II,
hateful head, we would have to day, peace
| fu and united Nation. Bat this untortun-
ately WAS not So Treason and nbecii'ty
sat in our high places, and surrendered one
/ after another the ontposis Of the citadel OF
our strength into the hands Of Rebels, until
# " SASS>o uN pShSvSn NhS ~
tacel itself to BE- within their grasp. In
this way tue Rebellion was encouraged and
strengthene and thousands Of men were
induced u array themselves upon its side
from the the convection that the govern
ment was poweress to protect its friends Or
punish its enemies.
At lat, but TOO late, came . change oi
Administration. Our Government asserted
its rights, and gave evidence of its will and
power to maintain item, aud then came tho
civil war that is now upon us.
need not undertake to point out to you
the primary cause which has led to thi.
disastrous issue. Although there may hav.
been many minor Causes, all tending to tht
same end, such as the disappointed ambi
ton Vi Dad ncn, and the lust Tor power
the clear common sense Of our people ha.
seen and accepted the fact that the on.
great controlling cause Of this wicked re-.
bellon, and Of ail tue fearful conseq uence,
which have followed and must follow frou
it, is the system Of human slavery. SOpL
istry cannot disguise this fact, nor arsu
ment illustrate II. 1t is patent, tangible
and sooner or later it must bs accepted By
our rulers as we'll as by our people, and
acted on by ALL This baneiuI systen
which has wrought such terrible results
was accepted with great reluctance by oul
fathers as an existing but most uni0rtunat,
fact, and its existence recognized and pro
tectcd by them IS such but surrounded 4
the same time by influences such, as the
confidently hoped, would soon eventuate il
its total and peaceful extinction. Tha
hope has been sadly disappointed. hi
system, SO reluctantly Admitted into ou
form Of Government, and SO autagon.stic I
its vital principles, has, like ioieign sub
stapNo in tho hu,nap h,Sv t,ao,, 20 ek