The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-01-21
Jiffiu Mrrklp Tribnue
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
10 M N R IL d U g III /,
GOVERNOR OF OHIO.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE

Gentlemen of he Senate and House Of
representatives.
Obcdicnt to the mandate OF the people
| appear before you to day TO assume the
dutit Of Chief Magistrate Of the Stste Of
Ohio. | am not ignorant of the magni-
ltufe and importance OF the position, nor
unmindfu OF my own want ofcxpcricnce
and ability to 50 administer IL as to satisfy
the expectations Of the people who have
chosen me. Most gladly would have
seen its honors and duties imposed upon
some Ablcr citizen Of the State, and II is
with 10 ordinary degree of difhdence that
| assume TO day its labors aud response
biitics. | can only assure you, gentle
men, and those you represent, that bring
to this position fixed determination 10
discharge its duties, to the best Of my
ability, in spirit Of unyieldng faithful
ncss and integrity TO the State, and im-
partiulity and justice TO the people.
There is a significance in the recent
expression Of the popular will that re-
licvcs us all from muny Of the cmbarass-
ments that usually attend such events.
Ii heralds no mere party triumph--it is
no individual success. No mere partisan
effort could have achieved such victory
no man IN the State is worthy Of or could
have received, so sublime an ovation. IL
is a sponiancous declaration ot the in-
tense loyalty Of our people TO their Gov
crnmcni, and bearing with it the stern
commandment that every energy Of their
State, and every excrtion Of its rulers,
shall be given to the restoration OF that
I1a sta tfrln n nd
power. It not only relieves us OF all
mere partisan trammcls and 0ffinitios, but
it commands US that, for the time being,
these shall be laid aside, until the great
purpose l. accomplished OF restoring cur
country to q position in which partisan
cont sis may be indulged without involv-
ing our nationality, and party victories be
won without their possible results giving
encC engagement to rebels in arms against
the supremacy OF the Constitution and
laws of the land. In that spirit accept
HE late declaration Of our common con-
sti,ucncy; and humbly thank them that,
in this particular, they have made my
path easy aud straight before me.
While the national obligation is laid
upon us, it docs not relieve us from the
further duty Of guarding the local inter-
ests and promoting the prosperity of our
own State. This duty, to large extent
devolyes upon the legislative body.
fully share in the confidence ofthe peo-
pie who have called you from your re-
spr,ti,o avocations in life, and commit
ted to you, for the time being, the honor,
the credit, and the prosperity of the State.
In all that | can and properly may do,
it will give me great pleasure to coop
crate with YOU in the accomplishment Of
this great purpose.
The annual message of my worthy
predecessor, with the accompanying doc
umcnts, present you, in a concise and
ineligible manner, the condition Of our
State affairs. His recommendation are
worthy Of, ard will undoubtedly receive,
your careful consideration. His nrduous
labors have contributed in no small de-
gree, to the gratifying result presented to
you and il is a pleasing reflection that
the people of the State will be able to
follow him into his present retirement
from Executive duties with the grateful
pluudt Of " well done, good and faithful
servant" 1t will be all abiding pleasure
to meif, at the end OF my own brief SER
vice, shall be able 10 attain ulike his
usefulness and his reward.
II is not less gratifying than honora-
bic to the State that we hive be abl1 10
pass through the third year ofan expen-
eive aud sanguinary war, in the full per-
formunce of all cur duties to the National
Government, without impuirng, in any
manner, the prosperity OF the State or
expressing our people by burthensome
or excessive taxation.
The financial condition Of the Safe is
highly satisfactory. The currency is in
a sound condition. The agricultural in
dustrial and commercial interests Of the
State were never more prosperous. The
state has been protected, with a single
exception from invasion ahd the desc.
ating ravages Of war have not spread
| themselves within our limits. At the
same time, the great institutions Of cd
ucation and benCvolence, which constitute
Il material element OF onr pride aud
strength, have not been encroached up
on or impaired. Our schools and colleges
cur scminaries Of laarning-our arts
aud scienccs-our noble institutions for
the relief and instruction of the stricken
portion Of our people-our public works
all these buve been fostcted, encour-
aged and plotC ctcd, as though wor had
not existed in the land. While we have
abundant cause in this, not alone for self
graduation, but OF dtvout thankiulness
! to that Divine Providence that rules in
( the affairs Of nations as Of individuals,
we may learn of it the obligations of du-
ty, that, by wise administration, we se-
cure to the future, as far as bumBn ef-
fort can do so, the blessings we have en-
joyed in the past.
1t is true that amid all this prosperity
our people have been called upon to meet
privatiuns aud endure sacrifices. The
blood Of Ohio has been poured out upon
almost every battle field Of the nation,
md her sons have found graves in near
ly every Southern State. The shouts Of
victory from ensanguined battle-felds
have been two-fold messengers, bring
ing alike joy and sorrow 10 our people ;;
and with the oxultation Of the one have
been mingled the lamentations of the
other. Our men have given freely of
their substance, and our noble women
OF their enduring patience and labor, to
alleviate the privations and sufferings Of
our sons in the field. This parental
hand Of the State Government has been
constantly and literally extended, to aid
and protect her gallant men living, and
her dead heroes. Yet all these bunhens
have been freely and even eheerfully
horne, for The reason that the cause was
that Of a nation struggling for its exist.
en- ce-of freedom gasping for its vitality
-of good and benefioent Government
laboring to assert its supremacy over
re belious and misguided portion of It's I
people. The lesson of The past is ever /
The guide ol the future. While this strug- I
gle continues, priyations and sacrifices
will continue with il; and while we q
adhere 10 the purpose Of accomplishing !