Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-13
Gov. MOrtOn's Inaugural Address.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and Heuse OF
Representatives.

Gentlemen Of the Senate and Hsase OF
Representatives:
In entering upon the duties of another
term, it is not improper TO express the
gratitude ] feel for the generous conf
denee manifested toward me By the peo-
pie at the late State election. They
have dealt kindly with such official errors
as | may have committed, and have
given me full credit for an earnest desire
% faithfully perform all my duties to the
State and nation. The circumstances
5y which We are surrounded have con
verted the executive position from one OF
comparative ease and leisure to one Of
great labor and responsibility, and the
return of peace will not bring to il
the rest and freedom from care enioyed
By It's incumbenls in former times.
The history of the last four years IS
.raught with immense interest t. US and
to the world. A civil war burst upon
the country, ielHging il with blood,
costing many thousands Of precious
lives, squaRdering almost incaleulable
treasurs, AID bringing in its train such
suherings and horrose as the human
mind can scarce comprehend. The.
crime of this dreadiGl conflict does not
rest with US, nor witt, the Government Of
the United States, aus attaches itself
wholly to the mac ambition and Grim
inal hopes Of Southern politicians and
leaders, who were animated By the evil
spirit Of slavery, and the insane pride
aud self confidence Of an insolent aris-
tocracy.
Our State, an integral part Of one mighty
people, has stood fast By her allegiance,
and has sealed with her best blood her
devotion TO the national unity But
while we are called 20 she'd bitter tears
over the graves of many OF our fellow
citizens, who have died, that their coun-
try might live, we have still many causes
for thAakfulness and rejoicing. Good
health has generally prevailed within
our limits, labor has met q liberal re-
ward, bounisous harvests have repaid the
the farmers toll, manufacturers have
| increased aud proapered, aud commerce
| has brought 10 Us its richest returns
| Being thus blessed with an abundance
Of ail the neeessAries aud even luxsries
Of life, We are enabled to discharge in
part tAs sacred obligations We owe the
defenders Of og< country, By providing
foE their families ard dependent ones
placing them beyond the reach of want
and surrounding them with the comforts
Of life, thus teslifying the gratitude of al
earnest and intelligent people. And
while We have mourning at many hearth
stones, aud the dark cloud OF war rests
upon our southern horizon, Indiana hai
signs OF prosperity and power she neyel
knew before.
The patronage and courage Of be
peopls have placed her IN ths very from
rank, and command the admiration o
the world; their fidelity TO obligation
Of whatever kind is recognized At hom,
and abroad; their military, political ant
commercial Importance is more conspie
uous than ever before, aud, in couse
quence, the current Of emigration Sn,
wealth is setting towards US with a rap
idly increasing volume. There is ampl
evidence for the statement that IndIani
is increasing In population more rapid
than ct any previous period in her his
tory. From every part of the Stat
comes the intelligence that our town
are rapidly filing up, new lands bein
brought into cultivation, and new enter
. prises of manufactures and commerc
set on foot 1t is indeed a strange ar
: omAly, and one which NO human fore
sight could have perceived, that in th
midst Of a desolating civil war our Stat
; should have unusual prospects sprea
out before her of prosperity and powe
Let as endeayor by wise and fosterin
legislation to realize them all, and col
|, solidate them into healthy and PERM
q nsnt growth
Trusting that your deliberations wi
= be conducted with harmony, and yoJ
conclusions dictated by wisdom, | b
D leave 70 assure you that ! shall glad
: cooperate with you in all measures
- legislation calculated TO promote the i
terests Of the State, or to aid the Ge
= eral Government in suppressing the T
bellion, and preserving the unity Of Il
nation; and that / shall briHg to the pc
formance Of my duties an earnest pu
pose 70 execute the laws, protect {
= rights of all, and maintain inviolate Z
,. honor Of the State