The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-01-22
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
or
HON. JOHN BROUGH
AS GOVERNOR or eMHS
Gentlemen ofMe Senate and House oJ

epreSeHtatiUeS:
Obedient to the mandate of the peo
pie; / appear before you to-day 70 as
sumo the duties Of Chief Maristrnt,
of the State of Ohio. am not igno
rant Of the magnitude and importanc,
of the position, nor unmindfnl of m,
own want of expericnceand ability tt
so administer it as TO satisfy the ex
pectations OF the people who have
chosen me, Most gladly would
have seen its honors and duties i'm
posed upon some ADLER citizen of tn,
State; and it is with no ordinary de.
gree of diflldence that | assume to
day its labors and possibilities. -
L 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, in Il spirit of unyicldinp
faithfnlness and integrity to the State.
and impartirlity and Justice TO the
people.
There is significance in the recent
expression of the popular will that
relleVes us all from many Of the en-
Darrassments that usually attend such
events. 1t 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. 1t
IS spontaneous declaration of the
intense loyalty of eur people to their
government, and bearing it with the
stern commandment that every ener-
gy OF their State, and every exertion
Of it's rnlars shaii L., 49,. - VIA
restoration Of that government to its
original unity and power. 1t not on
ly relieves us Of all mere partizan
trammels and alflnities, but it COM
mands us that, for the time being.
these shall be laid aside, until the
great purpose is accomplished of re-
storing our country to position in
which partizan contests may be in
dulged without involving our nation
ality; and party victories be won with
out their possible results giving en-
enlargement to 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 humbly
thank them that, in this particular,
they have made my path straight be-
fore 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 II large extent. devolves up
ON the legislative body. | fully
share in the confidence of the people
who have called You from your re-
spective avocations in life, and con-
mitted to you, for the time being. the
honor, the credit, and the prosperity
of the State. In all that | can, and
may do, it will give me
great pleasure to cooperate with Won
III the accomplishment of this great
The annual message OF my worthy
predecessor, with the accompanying
documents, presents You, in a concise
and Ineligible manner, the condition
orour State affairs. His recommend
ations are worthy of, and will un-
deubedly receive. your careful con-
sideration. His arduous labors have
contributed, in no small degree. to
the gratifying results presented to
yon; and it is Il pleasing reflection
that the people Of the State will be
able to follow him into his present
retirement from executive duties, with
the grateful plaudit of "well done.
good and faithful servant" 1t will
be an abiding pleasure to me, if at
the end of my brief service, l shall
be able to attain alike his usefulness
and his reward.
1t is not less gratifying than hon.
orable to the State that we have been
able to pass through the third year
Of an expensive and sanguinary war,
in the full performance Of all our du-
ties to the national government, with
out impairing, in any manner, the
prosperity Of the State, or oppress-
ing our people by burthensome or
excessive taxation.
The financial condition of the State
is highly satisfactory. The currency
is in sound condition. The agri-
cultural, industrial and commercial
interests of the State were never more
prosperous. The State has been pro-
tected, with a single exception, from
invasion; and the desolating rayapes
of war have not spread themselves
within our limits. At the same time
the great institutions of education
and benevolencc, which constitute a
element Of our pride and
strength, haze not been encroached
upon or impaired. Our schools and
colleges, our seminaries of learning,
our arts and sciences, our noble in
stitutions for the relief and instruct
ion Of the stricken portion of our peo-
pie. our public werks-all these have
been fostered, encouraged, and pro
tected, rs though war had not existed
in our land. While we have alb und.
ant cause in this, not alone for self
graduation, but Of deyout thankful
ness to that Divine Providence that
rules in the affairs Of nations rs Of
individuals, we may learn Of it the