Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-12-06

Constitutional rights. =
In conclusion, gentlemen, let me return
you my most grateful thanks for the very
flattsring manner in which you have confer
red on me the high and distinguished trust
of representing the STATE of South Carolina
in the Senate Of the United States. And let
me assure you that all my energies and hum.
BILE talents will be devoted to the promotion
Of the best interests Of the State, her welfare
and honor. 49,. %.
bid you aa afectionate adieu.
inaugural Address of Gov. J. l.: Orr.
His Excellency, the Hop. JAMES L. Oar,
the Governor elect, then addressed tie mem.
bers Of the General Assembly as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Rep
+ resentatiues:
+. The Constitution of South Carolina re-
quires that the oath of Office of the Governor
shall be taken in your presence; and imme-
mortal usage requires him to make, on such
an occasion, brief exposition of the princi-
pies which will control his administration.
The high honor conferred on me By q ma
iorily of my fellow citizens, in choosing me
their first Governor under the neg Csnstitu-
ton, and the eventful period in the States
history when the selection is made, fills me
with q sense of the profoundest gratitude. |
approach its grave duties and responsibilities
with the deepest humility, and with a sincere
distrust Of my capacity discharge them in
|,such o manner as to safety the reasonable
expectation Of the State. .--..
Under these circumstances, L can venture
with safety to make at least one pledge to
the people of this anciest Commonwealth !:
that all the zeal and energy Of my nature,
during my official term, shall lie earnestly
and constantly devoted to their service.
With the uniform practice of that partiality
which caused them to elevate me to this great
Office, trust they will exercise q generous
confidence in all the acts of my administra-
ton, always giving me full credit for just and
patriotic motives.
The State is now just entering upon new
and untried career, where there is much to
hope for and not a little to fear. Ali of eur
old landmarks in politics have been swept
off by the fires Of war. Our social and in
dustrial systems have perished from the Same
unrelenting and Implying cause. Some of
our most distinguished citizens, and many of
our most promising young men, have fallen
martyrs to the ancient principles of South
Carolina. Grief over the biers Of the loved
ones has filled every household, and the tears
Of the widow and the orphan have bedewed
every hearthstone. And yet, amid this gen.
eral wreck in oil the relations of life, it
would be unmanlyt to despond. The highest
courage and the sternest fortitude is demand
ed wherever the heaviest calamities overtake
and threaten to engulph u.s..
The people of South Carolina seeded
from the Federal Union under an earnest
and honest conviction that they had the Con-
stitutional night so to do; and they were
equally earnest and honest in tn,
lar ee property in slaves required them to re-
sort to this extreme measure. Other States
united with her to set up new Government.
The Executive, the Legislative, and the Ju-
dicial Departments of the United States
Government all denied the right which we
had asserted, and war ensued. All parties
knew that slavery was the real foundation Of
the collision between the sections. The South
engaged in it to preserve and perpetuate it !;
the North to destroyit. Four years of bloody,
desulatipg war was spent in settling the issue,
which had been committed to the arbitrament
of the sword, and that High Tribunal from
which there is no earthly appeal, decided the
cause against u.s.. 1t was final, irreversible
decree. We were exhausted, our armies sur
rended, our last available recruit had been
sent to the front, and our resources were all
consumed. We succumbed TO the power of
tie United States, aud under the wise and
magnanimous policy Of President johnson
we will, | Eope and believe, very soon be re-
stored to all our personal and political rights
in the Federal Union, on terms of perfect
equality with all the States of that powerful
ssterhood.
The war has decided, first: That one or
more of the States Of the Federal Union have
not the right, at will, to secede therefrom.
The doctrine of secession, which was held to
be orthodox in the State Rights school of
politics, is now exploded for any practical
purpose. The theory Of absolute sovereignty
Of State of the Federal Union (from whence
was derived the right to secede) which was
believed almost universally to be a sound
constitutional construction, must also-be ma
terially modified to conform to this imposing
decision. In all the powers granted in the
Constitution to the Federal Government, it
is supreme aud sovereign, and must be ohcyed
and respected accordingly. Where the
rights Of State are disregarded, or un.
constitutional acts done by any depart
ment of the Federal Government redress can
no longer be sought by intcrposing the SOW
ercignty Of the State, either for qualification
OF, secession; but the remedy is by petition
or remonstrance by reason, which sooner or
later will overtake justice by an appeal to
the supreme Judicial power of the Union
or by revolution, which, if unsuccessful, is
treason.
The decision was far more imposing and
obligatory than if it had been pronounced by
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Had it been tried there, an effort to reverse
it might have been made, because its mem
bers and opiaions often change. But the
God of Battles has pronounced an irreyersi.
blejudgment, after long, desperate and san
culinary struggle, and it would be neither po-
iitic or patriotic ever again to.invoke new
trial.o the fearful issue.
The clernency which President johnson