Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-28
inaugural Address of Gov. Patton

In his inaugural address Robert NJ. Patton Cover
nor OF Alabama. says that at the beginning of the
year 1861 Alabama contained nearly 1000 900 inhabi
tants, and all branches of industry and trade were
prosperous. Villages, towns and cities were flourish
ing, and internal improvements were rapidly and
were produced in 1860 and Alabama had become the
largest cotton State in the Union producing
about one-ffth of the entire American crop" The
results OF the war proved most disastrous, for the
"Of the wide waste and ruin which the war has
wrought upon our once happy country, Alabama has
suffered full share. Of her brave sons who entered
the army it may be safely stated that from thirty five
In natural wealth her loss in one species of property
alone that of slaves. is not less than and
the agsregate amount of losses of the various other
Hence we find that in this State alone we have sus-
taned loss in actual and substantial wealth of at
II think we may all profit much by con-
trastlng the prosperity and happiness which our
with its present crippled and almost ruined condi-
ton. In doing this we shall forget the contentious
biekerlngs passions, excitements and dissensions
through which we have passed; if cannot for
get at least let US rise above them. Let us be as one
man. and if unable to recover that which has
neen lost IL 9eG0mes US 10 pend our united energies
The war closed with Andrew johnson as Presi-
dent of the United States. The South lay PROSTATE
and helpless at the feet Of Federal power. During
the the legislation of Congress was necessarily
tnged with the passions of the times and upon the
return of peace there were found upon the national
statute books some of the most stringent and pro-
scriptve laws for the punishment of persons and con-
hscation of property. There was but one way by
power of the President" p''''''-Ds
The Governor discusses other points as follows:
RECONSTRUCTION.
"The reconstruction or restoration policy of the
President was duly submitted to the people of Alaba-
ma. and has been unhestatingly accepted by them
reconstruction has progressed in this State it has
been in strict conformity with what was understood
out undue murmuring and in perfect good faith our
people have periodically CONFIRMED to all the ext
he the aaf M fairly aeesp
quences.
TEE STATE DEBT.
I'm the year 1915 the bonded liabilities of Alabama
ness was created. in part at least, by system of
banking the general operations of which were detri
ous po @ debt has yss sd far apd
duded that our liabilities on account of State bonds
Sdh6s present nsvdP1s ns amosn o1l s. These
the city of New York and bearing only per cent
interest $64S 600 payable in London and bearing also
able likewise in London, bearing an interest of per
cent per annum. Ihs is comparatively small debt,
which comes completely within the financial control
FREE LABOR.
"A sudden radical change has been wrought in our
labor system The extinction of slavery is one of the
inevitable results OF the war The relation hereto
been totally changed. The negroes are now free and
this stubborn fact is fully and unequiyocay recog-
nzed. How far governmental action may be able to
promote the common interest of thetwo races in their
suddenly changed condition is a great problem which
time alone can solve.
THE normal vocation of the negro is that of cul-
tivator of the soil. The soil and climate of Alabama
are peculiarly adapted to the growth Of coton-that
the commercial yorld. Landowners are dependent
upon the negroes for tho labor which is necessary to
produce cotton. Hence, the negroes have but to
avail themselves of the advantages which they pos
sess as cultyators ofcotton lands to make themselves
an Independent living In their new condition. their
themselves. They will find no disposition on the
part of tbs whites to oppress them or withhold from
them any of those rights to which they entitled