The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-24
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


ton, took the oath of office as Governor
of the State of Kansas, and to-day, in ODE
dience to the same high authority, l ad
dress you.
L am conscious of my inexperience, while
l know how large will be the responsible
ties of the station l hold But l am con.
scious, also, of an honest purpose, while
know, too, that shall meet these reponsi-
bilities faithfully and fearlessly 1t is thus
in human affairs that duty is best done. Il
is thus, too, that the highest and humblest
in place, can best prove their gratitude to
the people or manifest faith in Him whose
guidance and pssstection all ask.
The Union is the Nation-the Federal
Government is the Government of the
Nation. Those who administer it may,
and must, represent a party; and its
acts and measures, its principles and
policy, should be considered and dis
cussed, with boldest and freest spirit
! the freer the better. But, the foe without
or within, abroad or at home, who shall as
sail the Union, who shall seek to seize and
overthrow the pillars of the Republic, must
be mastered. Such foe, whoever he may
be, strikes at our common life, and must be
conquered by common effort.
! We stand by the Administration, then,
! because the Administration is the organized
authority of the Nation. 1t has labored to
avoid our present troubles. It has sought
union in the spirit of union. It has done
nothing, proposed nothing, asserted nothing
in opinion or principle, which invaded, or
which threatened to invade, the rights of
! the States, or violate the letter or spirit of
! the Federal Constitution. No entreaty, no
appeal, no forbearance has availed. By
! fraud and usurpation, the leaders of the re-
bellion have compelled an unwilling people
in the South to defend them, and by ruth
! less violence and reckless action have forced
upon the country its fearful struggle for life.
The Administration would save that We
sustain it, therefore, because in that life
rests our hope of liberty and happiness.
We stand by the Administration, too,
because it avows the only principle upon
which the life of the Nation depends. The
Chief Magistrate of the Republic thus de-
clares it:
"In giving freedom to the slave, we as
sure freedom to the free, honorable alike in
what we give and what we preserve.
x The way is plain, peaceful, gener-
Gus, just-a way which, if followed, the
world will forever applaud and God forever
bless"
The fiery trial through which the Gov
erment is passing is plain to all. AS the
purposes of the leaders of this causeless re-
bellion are unthreaded, their design to breed
anarchy in the free and establish despotism
in the slave States, is made palpable as the
day. The white man, outside of the favored
class, will become vassal iii the South, if
| fbo aba1 h 1Ion
Nor can the freemen of the free States es-
cape the i'll effects of their brothers. thrall.
The hope of the white race in these United
States, then, rests, rot merely upon master
ing the leaders of the rebellion, but in root
ing out the cause of the rebellion itself
1.-The surest way" says Bacon, "to prevent
sedition is, to take away the matter of them;
for if there be fuel prepared, it is hard to
tell whence the spark shall come, that shall
set it on fire." Thus, only, can We assure
freedom to the free. Time was, when the
word disunion would startle the American
ear, wherever heard. That time has
passed. 1t comes to US now in armed and
bloody intent But our obligation to meet
it, in any and every form, is as deep now
as when the Government was first organ
lied. United-greatness and growth are
ours. Disunited-dis, traction and desola
ton will be the result The Union has in
sured to US every blessing. It has made
the people happy. 1t has developed the
resources of the country, secured peace and
safety to every citizen, and made the Re
public home for the virtuous, brave and
free, whether born on our own or a foreign
soil. Disunion will thwart these good in
fluences, and smite every hope of freedom.
For the West-under the happiest results
which may be anticipated-it means the
abandonment of the Mississippi river, and
its virtual secluson from the sea coast. For
the Republic-separate confederacies, with
perpetual war raging among them, inviting
foreign interference, aud involving the CIV
ilized world in the fearful conflict.
We do not doubt the result. The people
have the power in them to conquer, and
they will conquer. We have faith in them.
We do not care about the triumph of this
or that political party. here or elsewhere, if
here and elsew here the right arm of the free
men of the Republic shall be barred in its de-
tense. We believe 1t will be so barred. We
believe the courage of the people will mount
with the occasion, and manacle tie spirit of
sedition as we'll as its leaders. Let no doubt
rest upon the loyal mind. Let no fear touch
loyal heart The Union must and shall
be preserved.
There is no mistake about the feeling of
the people of Kansas on this subject. 1t Is
unit. No chieftain ever called together
his clan by leblsst quicker than Kan
sans al swered the first call OF the President.
Transportation was deficient, clothing was
wanting, tents and equipments; everything
which could shelter the soldier from the
burning sun, or protect him against the
merciess storm; yet two regiments promptly