Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-01-14
INAUGURAL ADDRESS


of Ohio. | am not ignorant of the mag
nitudc and importance of the position, nor
unmindful of my own want of experience
and ability to so administer it, as to satisfy
the expectations of the people who have
chosen me. | can only assure you, gentle
men, and those you represent, that | bring
to this position fixed determination to dis
charge its duties, to the best of my ability,
in spirit of unyieldng fhithfulness and in
tegrity to the State and impartiality and
justice to the people,
| There is significance in the recent OK
preston of the popular will that relieves us
all from many of the enbarrassmcnts that
usually attend such events 1t heralds no
mere party triumph-it is no individual sue
cess. No mere partisan effort could have
achieved such a 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 our peo-
| pie to their government, and bearing with
1t the stern commandment that every ener-
gy 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
partisan trammels and aflinitics, but it com
mands us that, for the time being, these
! Silitll Dc ltiu dSlue, uulll INC gItdb DuTpUSe
! is accomplished of restoring our country to
position in which partisan contests may be
INDUCED without involving our nationality
and party victories be won without their
possible results giving encouragement 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
thep that, in this particular, they have
made my path easy and straight before me.
| While this national obligation is laid upon
us, it does uot relieve us from the further
duty of guarding the local interests, and
promoting the prosperity Of our own State.
This duty to large extent. deyolves upon
the legislative body. | fully share in the
confidence Of the people who have called
you from your respective ayocations in life
and committed 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 tC
cooperate with you in the accomplishment
of this great purpose.
The annual message of my worthy prede-
cessor with the accompanying documents
presents you, in concise and Ineligible
manner, the condition of our State affairs
His recommendations are worthy of ant
, will undoubtedly receive your careful con
sideration. His ardous labols have contrib
uted in no small degree to the gratifying re
suits presented to you; and it is a pleasing
reflection that the people of the State vii
be able to follow him into his present retire
ment from executive duties, with the CRATE
full plaudit of ''well done good and faithful
servant. - 1t will be an abiding pleasure. t.
me, if at the end of my own brief servic,
/ shall be able to attain alike his usefilnes
and his reward.
1t is not less gratifying than honorable t.
the State that we have been able to pas
through the third year of an expensive anC
sanguinary war; in the full performance o
all our duties to the National Government
without impairing in any manner the pros
perty OF the State, or depressing our peo
pie by burthcnsome 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 Stat
has been protected, with single exception
from invasion, and the desoating ravage
of war have not spread themselves With
t our limits. AT the same time the great in
stitutions of education and benevolence
which constitute II material element of on
pride and strength, have not been encroach
ed upon or impaired. Our schools and col
leges-our scminaries of learning-our art
and scicnces-our noble institutions for tn
relief and instruction of the stricken porto
of our people-our public works-all thcs
have been tostcrcd. encouraged and protet
l ted as though war had not existed in tn
land
, While we have abundant cause in thi,
= not alone for self graduation, but to dGvot
thankfulness to that Divine Providence tha
y rules in the affairs of nations as of indiviC
ualS, we may learn of it the obligations
duty, that, by wise administration, we S,
. cure to the future, as far rs human effort
can do so the blessings we have enjoyed
=, the past.
u 1t is true that amid all this proSperit
u u our people have been called upon to me(
{ privations and endure sacrifices. The bloc
y of Ohio has been poured out upon almos
every battlefield of the nation, and he
u sons have found graves in almost ever
$ Southern State. The shouts Of victory froI
/ cnSanguined battle fields have been two-1ol
II messengers bringing alike joy and sorro
$ to our people; and with the exultations
u the one has mingled the lamentations of TIL
other. Our men have given freely of the
IS substance, and urnoblc women of their el
o during patience and labor to alleviate til
y privations and suflerings of our sons in til
;, field. The parental hand of the State Go,
crnmcnt has been constantly and LIBERAL
|, extended, to aid and protect her gallant me
n living, and honor her dead heroes. Yet II
,fI these burthcns have been freely and eve
e cheerfully borne; for the reason that ii
/ cause was that of Il nation struggling for j
existence-of freedom gasping for its vital
:, ty--of good and bcnihcent Governmcl
< laboring to assert its supremacy overa rebe
: lious and misguided portion of its peopl
/ The lesson of the past is ever the guide II
the future. While this struggle continue
Ipriyatlons ana sacrifices viii continue wit
{ it; and while we adhere to the purpose
y accomplishing the restoration of our Go'
: ermcnt and our Union we must alleyiat,
/ as far as practicable, the sufferings and bei
u with tortitude the burthens imposed upo
us.
In one particular only do desire, upo
: this occasion, to add to the recommendation
I of my predecessor; and that is in regard (
y the act of March 2lst, 1868, imposing
Is tax for the aid of soldiers families and M
l. rines in the service. have carefully watcl
; ed the operations of this law, 1t is not su
Is hcient for its purposes. | cordially approN
the recommendations Of Governor Tod Il
the increase of the. tax ; but in my .iud
q mcnt that increase should be even great
OF than he proposes in order to do justi
e. alike to our soldiers and our people. III
" advance in the cost of living has reached q
II necesssarles of life as heavily as the luxurlC