Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-20
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
WILLIAM CANNON,
,g,. DELIVERED AT DOVER,
'.''o' UPON TAKING THE oAru OF OFFICE AS
Governor Of the State of Delaware,
JANUARY 90 1863
Senator'S and Representatives.,
Eelloo Citizens ;


being limited to the performance of the usual duties
specifically imposed by the Constitution, the occasion
of Inauguration commonly affords a narrow compass
for remarks, and is chiefly interesting presenting
illustration Of the sovereignty of the people,
eecting change of rulers by the peaceful decision
of the ballobox instead of the focible arbitament
of the sword
Invested with part Of the Legislative power, the
Executive has no direct agency in the enactment of
the laws, and, even when giving information to the
General Assembly and recommending measures expe
dent for the State as enoned by the Constitution
is generally confined to the recommendation of sta
tutory changes in unimportant particulars and very
much of the actual legislation has been of merely
local and individual interest,
Such being the situation Of our municipal affairs,
it not for the disturbed condition of the nation,
| might here conclude this inaugural with the mere
announcement that i'll the execution of my Office l
would faithfully and to the best Of my ability dis
charge the simple duties devoved upon me by the
Constitution and Laws of this State.
But it is manifest that the obligation to support
the Constitution of the United States creates other
responsibilities and may impose ON me the perform
of other duties, than such as are ordinarily
incident to the relation which about to assume.
In this crisis, it behooves every private citizen,
much more every public functionary, to maintain an
undertaking loyalty to the National Government, and
am unwilling to permit this first occasion to pass,
without declaring my determination to the extent of
thepowers with which l am invested, to support the
Government of the United States.
The events of the past two years are unnecessary
to be specially recounted A gigantic rebellion
threatens to destroy the nation ncepted by fraud
and consummated by oppression it stands unparael-
ed in wickedness.
Revolutions have occurred on the part of those ex-
cuded from the conduct of public affairs or aggreved
by their administration, but this is the first instance
of an attempt to overthrow Government by those
who were, at the same time, its lawful administrators
and the chief recipients of its bounty.
1t is true that their action is claimed to be based
on the right of State to secede from compact be-
tween sovereignties ] know that the doctrine of
secession is apparently dseamed in this State either
as right or as remedy for existing evils but am
also aware that the dogma Of State Rights so called,
is sedulously mcucated and pressed to an extent
which, if true, though it may not wholly justify the
revolving States renders it difficult to find the ground
OF condemnation.
The public mind is, to a considerable degree, i'm
bued with this theory, and though it finds its devel-
opement mainly in partizan structures has, more than
anything else, tended to keep a large body of our
citizens aoof from active cooperation with the Gov
emment in the suppression of rebellion
Many persons, well informed and well affected
towards the Union cannot understand why State
has not the right to determine her own political
status, and though many startled at the legitimate
consequence of this DOGMA have, upon reviewS
surrendered their former opinions; others equally
honest, retain them, to their own embarrassment and
the encouragement of those really in sympathy with
the enemies of the United States
This induces briefly to consider the true rela-
ton between the State and National Governments,
and this with the more freedom that the last message
OF my predecessor, assuming the Constitution of the
United States to be mere compact between States,
in my Judgment, is calculated to confirm the politi-
cal heresy thai constitutes the very stone of
the rebellion.
The Union is older than the Constitution. The
thirteen colonies were governed bV their own assem-
blies before the Revolution They entered into the
struggle, dependent colonies of Great Brtain-they
emerged, separate and independent States, related
to the mothercountry, but tied together by bond of
Union as between themselves and their people,
This Union cemented closely by the
Articles of Confederation, and finally, to remedy
the defects OF that system and g to form per-
feet Union the Constitution was adopted.
The capital weakness of the Conederacy consisted
in the fact that Congress was, mainly, merely re-
commendatory body, possessing no power of enforce
ment except against the States in their sovereign
character
If, for example, Congress determined that a tax
should be levied it indicated to the States respective
y the amount to be paid by each but the raising of
the left to the State itself-f engaged in
and troops were to be levied the quota Of each
State was determined by Congress- but whether they
raised depended upon the action of the State so
that in either case if it neglected refused, there
was no remedy except resort to force against the
delinquent State.
BY the adoption of the Constitution this defect
was remedied. In the place of Confederacy, a
Government created limited in the sphere of its
action and to the subjects of its powers, but within
that sphere and over those subjects, supreme.
1t no longer operated through Independent,
political organizations, but directly individuals
1t possessed separate and often exclusive sovereign
ty with Legislative, Judicial and Executive power