Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-01-16
inaugural Address az Cover
nor Lewis.

? nor Lewis.
Immediately after taking Ire oath OF
office, Gov. LEWIS delivered the follow
ing brief and patriotic Inaugural Adj
dress
FELLOW CITIZENS: Profoundly CRATE
ful for the honor YOU have conferred up
OF me, in calling me by your suffrages
TO the responsible position Of Chief Ex-
ecuiive of this great and prosperous State,
i appear before Won to-day 20 take the
oath required by law, before entering up
on the discharge of the important duties
of the position you have assigned m.
In assuming this important tru,t, |
am not unmindfa Of my mexpefemce
and want OF ability, yet hoping i,r tie
same kind forbearance that | have ever
experienced at your hands, with the con-
situations and laws of the General and
State Governments IS lny guide, and
with firm reliance upon Him whose
wisdom it behooveS us not 10 'stion,
trust may be able to discharge lis duties
in a manner acceptable TO tie people.
You Will doubtless expect of me at
this time brief exposition of the gener-
ri policy that viii govern my adm.nisira-
ton.
1t has often been remarked, and |
fear with too much truth, that public Of
ficers are prone TO use their patronage
during their first term of Office to scc,re
n re election.
Not expecting or desiring again {" be
a candidate for this or any other public
position, trust this motive will not iufiH-
eDce nv action.
In whatever may do shall, with
mind free from party proud &c, enleav
,r Ia consult the best iutcrts-s of the
people. regardless OF friends OF foes, or
my own private Interests.
Il shall be my aim TO inculcatc princi-
pies Of morality. foster benevolent insti
tutions, observe the closest economy il
public expenditures compatible with the
public good. promote the interests of ell
ucation, agriculture, manufactures, mi
ming and commerce. and TO aid In lie
veIoping all those natural resources with
which our noble state is so richly en-
dowed.
Among-tie important duties devolving
upon tie Executive at this time are those
connected with our soldiers in the field.
They went forth 10 fight the battles Of
the nation under pledges Of supper -
Good faith, honor, justice AMI humanity
require that these promises should lie re-
deemed. BY filling np their thnnea ranks.
caring for their sick in hospitals and their
families at home. No effort on nv part
shall be wanting to redeem these pledges.
Perhaps no more important and trvin"
duties will engage our attention Than
those connected with tho General Gov
eminent. 4 wicked rebellion is now m
ging in our mi'ls, threatening the life of
the nation. Civil war. the great bane Of
n free Government, has lean Inaugural
ted with the avowcd object Of dismem
berjng our glorious Union. This must
never be. This great crime acninst man
and sin against God must not he permit
ted. No. 1T US rather strike till the
last armed foe expires"
Would We keep alive the principles
which underlie our government until
thrones shall have crumhied and those
who sit upon them are remembered no
more, we must draw tire sword of the
righteous and roll back the dark clonI Of
rebellion that now threatens our once
peaceful homes. We must punish trea
son, aud smite the oppressor. We must
pay the debt of allegiance we owe TO the
General Government We must sun
port and sustain the Government in this
hour of its peril To this ond I shall
cooperate with the officers of the Gen,
eral Government in those measures
deemed necessary for its safety. In this
shall occupy M middle ground.
Wisconsin in her late election ias sno-
ken IN thnnd'r tones in favor Of tie Tn.
Ion, IN favor Of sustaining the govern
lneni, and or the suppression Of the re-
he!iion- Let not her voice be heard in
vain. Let us bear in mud that 10 bo
true to our country Is 10 10 true to our
selves. That our homer a. nntion can
not lie maintainel bv Withdrawing our
armies and cowar'ily vIeld:n- TO the dc
tat'on Of traitors. No If we wonl
maintain onr honor aud preserve our hb
ertles we must assert and maintain our
rights at homo and ahron I.
Let Us thea. acknowledge God ms cur
sovereign. remembering that His choi-
cest blessings aIe showerel upon those
nations that are governed hy the princi-
pies Of truth and Justice. continue to
strike for the right. press on the column,
and a brighter day will soon dawn npon
our once happy land. and our noble in
stitutions, purified by the fiery Ordeal
through which thew are now passing.
will yet shine brighter and brighter
spread from land to land, and carry JOY
and gladness to the hearts of all man
kind.