Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-12
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
Gentlemen Of lhs Senate
and House Of Representatives:


and ability to SO administer it, as to salts
fy the expectations of the people who have
chosen me. Most gladly would have seen
lis hono1s and duties imposed upon some
abler citizen Of the State; and it is with no
ordinary degree Of difidence that assume
to day its labors and responsibilities. /
can only assure yon, gentlemen, and those
you represent, that bring to this position
a fixed determination to discharge its
duties, to the best of my ability, in a spirit
Of unyielding failhfullness and integrity
to the State, and impsrtislity and justice
to the people.
There is a significance in the recent ex-
preston of the popular will that relieves
US ell from many Of the embsrrsssments
that usually attend such events. 1t her
aids no mere party triumph-it is no indi
vidual success. No mere partizan effort
could have achieved such a victory; nc
msn il the State is worthy of, or could have
received, so sublime an ovation. Il is a
spontaneous declaration Of the intense 10y
atty Of our people TO their government and
bearing it with the stern cOmmandsnt that
every energy Of their State, and every ex-
ertion Of It's rulers, shall be given TO the
restoration Of that government to its orig
inal unity and power. 1t net only relieves
Us of all mere psrtizsn trammels and sf-
fuities, but il commands US that for the
lime being, these shall be laid aside, until
the great purpose is accomplished of re-
storing our country TO a position in which
psrlizan contests may be INDUCED without
involving our nationality; and party VIC
tories 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 &C
cept the late declaration Of cur common
constituency; and humbly thank them
that, in this particular, 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 inter
ests, snd promoting the prosperity Of our
own State. This duty, TO large extent,
devolves upon the legislative body. l
fully share in the confidence of the people
who have called you from your respective
avocations 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 do, it will give me
great pleasure to cooperate vita you In
the accomplishment of this great purpose.
The annual message Of my worthy pre-
decessor with the accompanying doeu-
ments, presents you, in a concise and in.
telligible manner, the condition Of our State
affsirs. Vis recommendations are worthy
Of and will undoubtedly receive, your care
full consideration. His srduous labors have
contributed, in no small degree, to the
gratifying res1lls presented to you; and
it is pleasing reflection that the people
of the Slate will be able to follow him into
his present retirement from executive
duties. with the grateful plsudit Of " well
done good and faithful servant" It will
be an abiding pleasure to me, if at the end
Of my own brief service, / shall be able TO
attain alike his usefulness and his reward
1t is not less gratifying than honorable
to the State that we have been able te
pass through the third year Of an ezpen-
sive and sanguinary war, in the full per
formance Of all our duties to the national
government without impairing, in aUy
manner the prosperity Of the State, or
oppre'sing our people by burthensome or
excessive taxation.
The financial condition of the State is
highly satisfactory. The currency is in q
sound condition. The agricultural, in
dustrisl and commercial interests Of the
State were never more prosperous. The
State has heen protected, with a siugle ex-
oeption, from invasion; and the desolating
ravages Of war have not spread themselves
within our limits. At the ssme time the
great institutions Of education and benev-
olence, which constitute O material ele-
ment Of our pride and strength, have not
been eneF0sched upon or impaired. Our
schools and colleges s-our seminsries Of
learning-OUr arts and scisnces-Our no.
bic institutions for the relief aud instTuc-
tion Of the stricken portion Of our people
our public Works-sll these have been
fSstered, encouraged, and protected, ss
though war had not existed in the land.
While we have abundant cause In this,
not alone for self graduation, but of de-
yout thsnkfuiness to that Divine Provi-
denc that rules in the affairs Of nations ss
Of individuals, we may learn of it the OBJ
legations Of duty, that by wise admins
trstiOn, we secure to the future, as far as
human effort can do go, the blessings we
have enjoyed in the past.
1t is true that amid all this prosperity
our people have been called upon to meet
privstions and endure sacrifices. The
blood of Ohio has been poured out upon
almost every battlefield Of the nation,
and her sons have found graves in nearly
every Southern State. The shouts of vic
tory from ensanguined battle-ields, have
been two-fold messengers, bringing alike
joy and sorrow to our people; and with the
exultation of the one has been mingled the
the lsmentststioas OF the other. Our men
have given freely of their substance, and
our noble women Of their enduring pa
tience snd labor, to alleviate the privations
and suferiDgs of our sons in the field.
The parental hand of the State Govern
ment has been constantly and literally
extended, to sid and protect her gallant
men living, and honor her dead heroes.
Yet Rll these burthens have been freely
and even eheerfully borne; for the reason
that the cause was that of a nation strug-
Cling for its ezistenee-of freedom gasp
ing for its yitality-of good and benef-
cent government lsboriDg to assert its su-
premaoy over a rebellious and misguided
portion of its people. The lesson Of the
past is ever the guide Of the future.
While this struggle continues, pTivsiions
aud sacrifices will continue with il; and
while we adhere to the purpose of accom-
plishing the restoration Of our govern
ment and our Union, we must alleviate, as
fer as practicable, the suferings, aud
bear with fortitude the burthens imposed
upon us.
In one particular only do desire, upon
this occasion, to add to the recommeDds-
tions Of my predecessor; and that is in
regard to the act Of March 21st 1868, i'm
posing tax for the aid of families of sol
diers and marines in the service. I have
carefully watched the operations of this
law. Il is not sufficient for its purposes.