Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-08-25
Inaugural Address OF 1t. Gov
ernOr q. w. Jones,

loW Citisens; With but little eXpe'
rience in public affairs, it would be
with exceeding diffidence that
should in prosperous times under
take to perform the duties Of Lieu
tenant Governor. But in view OF
the extraordinary circumstances
surrounding us, conscious that the
responsibilities belonging to the po'
sition are greatly enhanced, it il
with the profoundcst sense of the
obligations dcvolving upon mo that
l am about to accept the trust so
generously bestowed by my fellow
citizens.
In 1861 our people, believing that
the government of their fathers had
not only ceased to answer the pur-
poses Of it's institution, but was
about to become obstructive of
these ends" resolved, with an una
nimity rarely equalled in revolu-
tionary movements, to change their
form Of government and to provide
new safeguards for the future. In
this they thought they were acting
in the interest of liberty. They
were honest and patriotic. They
could have had no other motive.
Doubtless there were some amongst
them who thought of the "pomp
and circumstances of glorious war, ="
and had dreams of stars and gar
ters. .....
The opinion that the State had
the constitutional right to withdraw,
at pleasure, from the Union, had so
generally obtained, and the delusion
that secession would be peaceable
80 far prevailed, that butfew thought
of the consequences that might en-
sue. But few suspected that the
alarm to freedom was the syren's
voice Turing to destruction; but few
supposed that the only danger to
our peculiar institution was to be
encountered in the measures then
being devised for it's preservation.
True, there were. amongst us fow
with hearts and heads no better
than their fellow citizens generally,
but who, guided by different party
prejudices and sympathies, and con-
templating the subject from differ
ent point Of view, beheld the real
danger, and sought to avert the i'm
pending evil. They attempted to
forewarn their countrymen. Their
motives were suspected-their pa
triotism doubted. Recognizing tho
absolute right of the people to
change their form of government
when that change was actually eff
fected as to themselves, justly dis
trusting their own, in Difference to
the opinions of their brethren, they
yielded opposition and gave the
Southern Confederacy their earnest
support. They conquered party
pride-a victory rarely obtained
Their conduct in cabinet and field
attests the purity of their motives,
and vindicates their devotion to the
South. Unfortunately there were
some among them whose conduct,
especially since the close of hostili
ties, has been deplorable in the ex-
treme. The man who adhered to
the Union during the war, may just
ly claim to have been equally hon
est and patriotic with those who
supported the Southern Confedera-
cy. 1t may be that he loved none
the less, but more wisely. But it is
difficult, nay impossible, to conceive
an apology for him, who, with heart
unmoved by the affections of the
people, now demands rerolution, in
order that they may be subjected to
further humiliation and sorrow. n
But remembering the past onl =
for the lessons Of wisdom which it
affords for our future guidance, let
us, in spirit of fraternal accord,
discard whatever remains of party
pride and prejudice. Tempering
present zeal with the wisdom of ex-
perience, let us apply ourselves to
living issues, forgetting, as far as
may be, ones self and party, in do
votion to our common country
Invoking the spirits of our revolu-
tionary sires, let us, on this solemn
occasion, renew, with the Goddess
of Liberty" the covenant consecra-
ted by their blood at Bunkers Hill
and Yorktown.