The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-01-14


Address of GOV. Lewis.
We should have given the brief inaugural
Address Of Gov. LEWIS in our last week s pa
per, but it was crowded out Wegiveit this Fesk
and we opne that our readers will agree with
us, that it is too good and too patriotic doc
ument to be overlooked, even thoughit is
late. 1t will be recollected that Gov. LEWIS
took the oath of office on Monday of last
week.
The following is the Inaugural Address:
FELLOW CITIZENS: Profoundly grateful for
the honor you have conferred upon me, i'll
calling me by your suirages to the response
ble 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
unmindful Of my inexpcrience and want of
ability, yet hoping for the same kind fOrbear-
snce that have ever experienced at your
hands, with the constitutions and laws of the
General and STATED vernments as my guide,
and with firm reliance upon Hilnwhose wis
dom it behooves us not to question, | trust |
may be able to discharge its duties in man
ner acceptable to the people.
You will doubtless expect Of ME at this
time a brief exposition Of the general policy
that will govern my administration.
1t has often been rena. ked, 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 a
candidate for this Or amy other public position,
! | trust this motive will not influence my &C
ton.
In whatever | may do shall, with mind
! free from party prejudice, endeavor to consult
the best interests of the people, regardless
of friends Or foes, or my own private inter
ests.
It shall be my aim to incuicate principles
| OF morality, foster benevolent institutions,
observe tile closest economy in public expen
ditures compatible with the public good, pro-
mote the interests Of education, agriculture
manufactures, mining and commerce, and to
aid in developing all the natural resources
with which our noble State is 80 richly en-
dowed.
Among the important dnties devolving up
on the Executive at this time are those con-
nected with our soldiers i'll the field, They
went forth to fight the battles Of the nation
under pledges of support. Good faith, honor,
Justice and humanity require that these prom
iscs should be redeemed, by filling up their
thinned ranks caring for their sick in hos
pitfalls and their families at home. No effort
on my part shall be wanting to redeem these
pledges.
Perhaps no more important and trying du-
ties will engage our attention than those cori-
Injected with the General Government a
wicked rebellion is now raging i'll our midst
, Threatening the life Of the nation. Civil war,
the great bane Of a free government, has
been inaugurated with the avoWed object o.
dsnembering our glorious Union. This must
never be. Tins great crime against lnau anC
sin against God must not be permitted. No,
let us rather strike till the last armed foe ex
Z pres"
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 ana roll back the darh
cloud of rebellion that now threatens our once
/, peaceful homes. We must punish treason
: and snlIte the Oppressor We must pay the
debt Of allegiance We owe to the General Gov
ernment. We must support and sustain the
. Government in this hour of its peril. To this
end shall cooperate with the officers of the
General Government III those measures deem
ed necessary for its safety. In this shall oc
T cupy no middle ground.
Wisconsin in her late election has spoken
in thunder tones III favor Of the Union, i'll favor
r Of sustaining the governmental for the sup
preston of the rebellion. Let not her voice
Oe heard in vain. Let us bear in mind that
, to he true to our country is to be true to our
Istlves. That our honor as a nation cannot be
maintained by withdrawing our armies and
cowardly yielding to the dictation Of traitors
No! If we would maintain our honor and
preserve our liberties we must assert and main
tain our rights at home and abroad.
Lot us then, acknowledge God as our SOW
ersign, remembering that Ills choicest bless
ings are showered upon those nations that are
governed by the principles of truth and jus
; tice, continue to strike for the right press OF
the column, and brighter day will soon dawr
upon our once happy land, and our noble in
stjtutions, purified 10y the fiery ordeal through
which they are now passing, will yet shine
brighterS and brighter spread from land tc
land, and carry joy and gladness to the hearts
of all mankind.