The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-20
GOV. BRoUGEI's
NAU II Esss
Gemaemen ofMe Senate

-
Gemtleuen Of The Senate
and House of Representatives.:
ODE licnt to tie mandate of the people, i
appear before you to-day to assume the duties
of Chief Magistrate of the State of Ohio. I
am not Ignorant of the magnitude and impor-
lance of the position, nor unmindfulef my own
want of experience and ability to so administer
it, as to satisfy the expectations of the people
who have chosen me. Most gladly would I
have seen its honors and duties Imposed upon
some ADLER citizen of the State and it is with
no ordinary degree of difidence that 1 assume
to-day its labor and responsibilities. I can
only assure you, gentlemen, and those you rep
resent, that I bring to this position a fixed de-
tirmination to discharge its duties, to the best
of my ability, in a spirit of unyielding faith
fulness and integrity to the State, and impair
tiality and justice to the people.
There is a signi6can,y in the recent express
sion of the popular will that relieves us all
from many Of tie embarrassments hat usually
attend such events. It heralds no mere party
triumph-itis no individual success. No mere
~partizan effort could have achieved such a VIC
tory, no man in the State is worthy of, or
could have received, so sublime an ovation
It is a spontaneous declaration of the intense
loyalty of our people to the governmentland
bearing with it the stern commandment that
every energy of the State, and every e~xretion
of its rulers, shall be given to the restoration
of that government to its original unity and
power. l. not only relieves us of all mere
partisan trammels and afinities, but it com
mands us that, for the time being, these shall
be laid aside, until the great purpose is ac-
oomplished of restoring our country to a posi-
ton in which partisan contests may be indul-
ged without involving our nationality and par
lty Victories be won without their possible re-
suits giving their encouragement to rebels in
arms against the supremacy of the constitution
and laws of the land. / accept the late dec
~laration of our common constituency: and
humbly thank them that, in this particular,
they have made my path easy and strait 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 Jrosperity of our own State. This duty,
to a large extent, devolves upon the Legislative
body. I fully share in the confidence of the
people who have called you from your respec-
tive 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 may do, it will give me great
pleasure to cooperate with you in the accom-
plishmeht ofthis great purpose.
The annual message fmy worthy predeces-
sor, with the accompanying documents, pre-
sents you, in a concise and Ineligible manner,
the condition of our State affairs. His recon-
mendations are worthy of, and will undoubted-
ly receive, your careful consideration. His
arduous labors have contributed, in no small
degree, to the gratifying results presented to
you, and it is a pleasing reflection that the
people of the State will be able to follow him
in his present retirement from executive duties,
with the grateful plaudit of "well dcne good
and faithful servant" It will be an abiding
pleasure to me, if at the end of my brief ser
vice, I shall te able to attain alike his useful
ness and his
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 duties to the national government, without
imrairing, in any manner, the prosperity Of
the State, progressing our people by burthen-
some or excessive taxation.
The financial condition ofthe State is high
ly satisfactory. The currency is in a sound
condition. The agricultural, industrial and
more prosperous. The State has been protec-
ted, with a single exception, from invasion
and the desolating ravages of war have not
spread themselves within our limits. At the
same time the great Institutions of education
and bcnevolence5 which constitute a material
element of our pride and strength, have not
been encroached upon or impaired. Our
schools and colleges, our seminaries o flearning,
our arts and sciences our noble institution
for the relief and instruction of the stricken
portion of our people, our public works-all
these have been fostered, Encouraged, and pro-
tected, as though war had not existed in the
land. While VIC have abundant cause in this,
not alone for self graduation, but of devout
! tkankfuiness to that Divine Providence hat
! rules in the affairs of nations as ofindiyiduals,
we may learn of it the obligations of duty,
that, by wise administration, we secure to- the
future, as far as human effort can do so, the
blessings we have enjoyed In the past.
1t is true that amid all this. prosperity our peo-
pie have been called upon tomeet priyations and
endure sacrifices. The blood of Ohio has been
poured out upon almost every battle field of
the nation, and her sons have foundegraves in
nearly every Southern State. The shouts Of
victory from ensanguined battle fields, have
been two fold messengers, bringing alike Joy
and sorrow to our people and with the exul-
~tation of the one has been mingled the lamen-
tations of the other. Our men have given
freely of their substance, and our noble women
of their enduring patience and labor, to alleyi
ate the, privations and sufferings of our sons in
the field. The parental hand Of the State
4 Government has been constantly and literally
extended, to aid aud protect her gallant men
living, and honor her dead heroes. Yet all
these burthens have been freely and even
cheerfully borne, for the reason that the cause
was that of a nation strue Cling for its existence
of freedom gasping, forits vitality-ofa good
and benefcient government laboring to assert
! its. supremacy over a rebellious and misguided
portion of its people. The lesson of the past
is ever. the guide to the future. While this
struggle continues, privations and sacrifices
will continue with it and while we adhere to
the purpose of accomplishing the restoration
Of our government and our Union, we must
alleviate, as far as practicable, the suferings.
and bear with forritude the burthens imposed
upon u.s.