Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentlemen of the Senate, --r r.,.,.-
and House OF Representatives.

duties Of Chief Magistrate of the State Of
Ohio. am not ignorant of the magnitude
and Importance Of the position, nor un.
mindful OF my own want OF experience and
ability to 20 administer it, as to satisfy the
expectations Of the people who have chosen
me Most gladly would | have seen its
honors and duties imposed upon some abler
citizen of the State; and it is with no !ordl-
nary degree of dihdonce that assume TO
day its labors aud responsibilities. can
only assure you, gentlemen, and those you
represent, that bring to this position
fixed determination to discharge its duties
to the best of my ability. 10 spirit OF un-
yielding faithfulness and integrity to the
State, and impar,iality aud justice to the
people.
preston of the popular will that relieves us
nil from many of the embarrass,nents that
usually attend such events. 1t beralds no
mere party triumph-it is no individual sue
cess. No mere partzan effort could have
achieved such a victory; no man in the
State is worthy Of, or could have received,
40 sublime an ovation. 1t is q spontaneous
declaration of tho intense loyalty Of our
people to their government, and bearing with
Il the stern commandment that every
energy of their State, and every exertion Of
its rulers, shall be given to the restoration
OF that government to its original unity and
power. 1t not only relieves us of all mere
psrtznn trammels and afiinities, but it COM
mands us that, for the time being, these
shall be laid aside, until the great purpose
ia accomplished Of restoring our country to
a position in which partizan contests may
be INDUCED without involving our national ..
ity; and party victories be won without their
possible results giving encouragement to the
rebels in arms against the supremacy OF the
constitution and laws OF the land. In that
spirit accept the late declaration of our
common constituency; and humby thank
them that, in this particua they have
made my path easy and straight before me.
While this national obligation is laid upon
us, it does not relieve US from the further
duty of guarding the local interests, and
promoting the prosperity OF our own State.
This duty, to o large extent, deyolves upon
the legislative body. | fully share in the
confidence OF the people who have called
Won from your respective avocations in life
and committed to you, for the time being,
the honor, the credit and the prosperity oil
tho State. In all that can, and properly
may do, it will give me great pleasure to CO.
operate with you in the accomplishment OF
this great purpose.
The annual message of my worthy pre-
decessor, with the accompanying documents,
presents you, in concise and Ineligible
manner the condition Of our State affairs.
His recommendations are worthy OF, and
will undoubtedly receive, your cireful con
ssideration. His arduous labors have con
tributed, in no small degree, to the crafty
ing results presented to you; and it is 9
pleasing reflection that the people of the
State will be able to follow him into hi
present retirement from executive duties
with the grateful plaudit of 'well done goOC
and faithful servant" 1t will be an abiding
pleasure to me, if at the end Of my owl
brief service, l shall be able to attain alik
his usefulness and his reward.
It is not less gratifying than honorable
10 tho State that we have been able to pas
through tho third year Of an expensive anC
sanguinary war, in the full performance o
all our duties to tho national government
without inpairing, in any manner, the pros
perity Of the State, or expressing our peo
pie by burthensome or excessive taxation
The financial condition Of the State il
highly satisfactory. The currency is in {
sound condition. The agricultural, indus
trial and commercial interests Of the Stat,
were never more prosperous. The State ha
been protected, with a single exception
from invasion; and the desolating rayage
of war have not spread themselves within
our limits. At the same time the great in
stitutions OF education and benovolence
which constitute material element of ou
pride and strength, have not been encroach
cd upon or impaired. Our schools and col
leges-our seminaries OF learning--our art
and sciences--our noble institutions for tn
relief and instruction Of the striken porto
of our people-our public works--all thes
have been fostered, encouraged, and pr'
teoted, as though war had not existed in th
land. While we have abundant cause in thi
not alone for self graduation, but Of devor
thankfulnsss to that Divine Providence ths
rules in the affairs Of nations as of ind
viduals, We may learn Of ii the obligation
of duty, that, by wise administration, "
secure to the future, as far Us human etfol
can do so, the blessings we have enjoyed
the past.
Il is true that amid all this prosperit
our people have been called upon to NEE
privations and endure sacrifices. The bloc
= OF Ohio has been poured out upon almo.
every battlefield of the nation, aud her sor
have found graves in nearly every Souther
State. The shouts Of victory from ensar
ruined battle-felds, have been two-fol
messengers, bringing alike Joy and sorro
20 our people; and with tho exultation
the ono has been mingled tho lamentatior
Of the other. Our men have given free
of their substance. aud our noble women
their enduring patience and labor. to allev
ate the privations and sufferings of our sol
in tho field. The parental hand Of the Sta
Government has been constantly and libe
ally extended. TO aid and protect her gala
men living, and honor her dead heroo
Yet all these burthens have been freely a,
even cheerfully borne; for the reason tn
the cause was that OF q nation strugglil
for iIs existence-of freedom gasping 4
it, vitality--of a good and benifcent go
ernment laboring to assert its suprema,
over a rebellious and misguided portion
its people. Tho lesson Of the past is ey
the guide OF the future. While this strugg
continues, privations and sacrifices will co
tinue with il; and while we adhere 10 Il
purpose of accomplishing the restoration
our government and our Union, we mu
alleviate. as far as practicable, the suff,
ings, and boar with iortitude the burthe
imposed upon US.
In one particular only do desire, up
this occasion, to add to the recommend