Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-01-13
The New State Administration.
Inaugural Address of Gov. Lewis.


IHdueuidl iWlltSS VI Cu|. ItNlS.
from the Daily STAKE Journal of Jan. 4th.
The term of the newly elected State offic-
ers commenced at I O'Clock, NJ 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 4 considerable number
Of ladies and gentlemen were present to wit
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 10y your suffrages to the response
bic position Of Chief Executive of this great
and prosperous State, L 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
unmindtul Of my inexperience andwant ofabil-
ity, yet hoping for the same kind forbeaIauce
that have evere experienced ar YOUR hands
with the constitutions and laws of the Gen
eral and State Governments my guide, and
with firm reliance upon Him whose wisdom
ii behooves Us not to question, | trust | may
be able to discharge its duties in a manner
acceptable to the people.
You viii doubtless expect of me at this
time a brief exposition Of the general policy
that viii 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 reelection.
Not expecting or desiring again to be
candidate for this or any other public position,
| trust this motive will not influence my ac-
ton.
In whatever l may DO, I shall, with a mind
free from party prejudice, endeavOr 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 IL 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 devolying up
on the Executive at this sine are those con
nected with our soldiers in the field. They
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 aud their families at home. No eff
fort on ny 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. A
wicked rebellion is now raging in our midst
+I,. H.. &, % ~,
the great bane of a free Government, has
been inaugurated with the ayowed object Of
Remembering 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
underlie 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
the Government in this hour of its peril
To this end l 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 a nation can
not be maintained by Withdrawing our armies
and cowardly yielding to the dictation of trail
tors. No If we would maintain our honor
and preserve our liberties we must assert and
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 10y 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 are now passing, Will yet
shine brighter and brighter, spread from land
to land, and carry JOY and gladness to the
hearts Of all mankind.