Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-01-14
The New State Administration.
Inaugural Address of Gov. Lewis.
from tbs Dailr stata IonrnsI of LIN All

From the Daily State journal of Jan. 4sh.
The term Of the newly elected State offc-
ers commenced st y o'clock, u. to-day At
| that hour the oath Of Office was administered
IN the Assembly Hall to such as were in the
| city by Hon. LUTHER Dixon, Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court A considerable number
OF ladies and gentlemen were present to wiz
ness the ceremony.
Immediately after taking the oath Of office,
Gov. LEWIS delivered the following brief and
patriotic
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIZENS: Profoundly grateful for
the honor you have conferred upon me, in
calling me by your suffrages to the response
BILE position Of Chief Executive of this great
and prosperous State, appear before you to-
day to take the oath required BY law, before
entering upon the discharge Of the important
duties of the position you have assigned me.
In assuming this important trust, | am not
u1mindtul of my inexperience andwant ofabil-
lty, yet hoping for the same kind forbea1ance
that L have evere experienced at your hands,
with the constitutions and laws of the Cen
eral and State Governments as my guide, and
with firm reliance upon Him whose wisdom
1t behooves US not to question, trust may
be able to discharge its duties in manner
acceptable to the people.
You Will doubtless expect of me at this
time brief exposition of the general policy
that will govern my administration.
1t has often been remarked, and fear with
too much truth, that public officers are prone
to use their patronage during their first term
OF office to secure a election
Not expecting or desiring again to be a
candidate for this or any other public position,
[ trust this motive will not influence my ac-
ton.
In whatever | may do, l shall, with mind
free from party prejudice, endeayor to con-
suit the best interests of the people, regard
less Of friends or foes, or my own private in
terests.
1t shall be my aim to inculcate principles
Of morality, foster benevolent institutions,
observe the closest economy in public expen-
ditures compatible with the public good,
promote the interests of education, agricul-
ture, manufactures, mining and commerce,
and to aid in developing all those natural re-
sources with which our noble state is so rich
ly endowed.
Among the important duties devolving up
on the Executive at this time are those con
went forth to fight the battles Of the nation
under pledges of support. Good faith, hon
or, justice and humanity require that these
promises should be redeemed, by filling up
their thinned ranks, caring for their sick in
hospitals and their families at home. No eff
fort on my part shall be wanting to redeem
these pledges.
Perhaps no more important and trying du-
ties will engage our attention than those con-
nected with the General Government.
wicked rebellion is now raging in our midst,
threatening the life Of the nation. Civil war,
the great bane of a free Government, has
been inaugurated with the avowed object of
dismembering our glorious Union. This must
never be. This great crime against man and
sin against God must not be permitted. No,
let us rather "strike till the last armed foe
expires"
Would we keep alive the principles which
underEe our government until thrones shall
have crumbled and those who sit upon them
are remembered no more, we must draw the
sword of the righteous and roll back the dark
cloud of rebellion that now threatens our
once peaceful homes. We must punish trea-
son, and smite the oppressor. We must pay
the debt of allegiance we owe to the General
Government. We must support and sustain
70 this end [ shall cooperate with the officers
of the General Government in those measures
deemed necessary for its safety. In this |
shall occupy no middle ground.
Wisconsin in her late election has spoken
in thunder tones in favor of the Union, in IA
vor Of sustaining the government, and for the
suppression of the rebellion. Let not her
voice be heard in vain. Let US bear in mind
that to be true to our country is to be true to
ourselves. That our honor as nation can
not be maintained by Withdrawing our armies
and cowardly yielding to the dctation of trail
tors. No If we would maintain our honor
and preserve our liberties we must assert and
maintain our rights at home and abroad
Let US then, acknowledging God as our
sovereign, remembering that His choicest
blessings are showered upon those nations
that are governed by the principles of truth
and justice, continue to strike for the right,
press on the column and brighter day will
soon dawn upon our once happy land, and our
noble institutions, purified by the fiery ordeal
through which they now passing, will yet
shine brighter and brighter, spread from land
to land, and carry JOY and gladness to the
hearts of all mankind.