Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-01-19
INAUGURAL ADDMEss OF GOV.
JOHN w. GEARY.
Delivered January rs, lse..

OaaNSHCR nuHKy lOs H8O6s
- A
Fetlo,o Caiasns:-Hoaored by the selee-
ton Of the sovereign people of my native
State as their choice for Chief Magistrate of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it Is
with mingled feelings of humility and graft |
tude that have appeared in the presence
OF nay fellow countrymen, and before the
Searcher of all Hearts, to take the solemn
obligation prescribed as qualification for
that exalted station, "to support the Con-
stitution of Pennsylvania, and to perform
my official duties with fidelity"
Profoundly sensible of everything that is
implied by this manifestation of the peoples
confidence, and more deeply impressed with
the vast importance and responsibilities OF
the Office, then elevated by its attendant
honors, let it be our first grateful duty to
return fervent thanksgiving to Almighty
God for his constant providence and un-
numbered blessings to us as people, and es.
pecialy mine to implore His aid and counsel
In the discharge of civil trusts, who has
been my shield and buckler amidst scenes
of peril and death.
| In addressing you on this occasion, in ac-
cordance with o custom originating with
the Republican fathers, propose briefly to
express my opinions on such questions rs
concern our common constituency, and re-
late TO our common responsibilities.
| Like countries OF the Old World, our ma
tion has had its internal connections. From
the last of these we have scarcely yet
emerged, and during which "War's desola-
ton" passed over our land, leaving its
blighting influences principally upon those
unfortunate States whose people rebelled
against the government, and notwithstantl-
ing thesagonizlng sacrifices of great civil
war, the States that maintained the govern
ment and determined that the Union should
| be preserved, have constantly advanced in
honor, wealth, population and general pros
perity. ....
This is the first time that change has oc-
red in the Executive Department of this
State since the commencement Of the war
of the rebellion o brief reference, therefore,
to that conflict, and to its results, may not
be inappropriate.
We have the consolation of knowing that
the contest between the North and the
South was not, on our part, one for ambi.
tion, for military renown, for territorial
acquisition, nor was it for violation of any
of the rights of the South, but it was for
the preservation of our own rights and
privileges as men, and for the maintenance
of justice, liberty and the Union. The Oh
ject of the South was avowedly the dissolu-
|
, confederacy based upon "the corner stone
of human slavery" To have submitted to
this on our part, and to have shrunk from 6
manly resistance under such circumstances
would have been deeply and lastngly de
D grading, and would have destroyed the
, value of the priceless legacy bequeathed tc
/. US by our fathers, and which we are oblga
ted to transmit unimpaired to future genera
;. tions. The patriotic and Union-loving peo
: pie felt that the alternative was that of lift
n or death to the Union and under the aus
, picious guidance of Abraham Lincoln, tina
. virtuous and patriotic Chief Magistrate, will
t the blessing of Him who directs the destnie
b of nations, after open action and arbitrar,
violence on the part of the South, the appea
to aims was made. We had just cause
and our citizens approving it with degre
of unanimity heretofore unknown. in this o
any other country, left their various employ
ments, their homes and all that was dear t,
them, and fastened with enthusiasm to tn
l. scenes where duty and danger called, and a
). the surest pledge of their answering low
;, and fidelity to the Union, they unhesitating
i ly offered their lives for it's preservation
g Nor was any other tribute withheld in pro
l. viding the means necessary for the supper
,r of our fleets and armies. Nearly two mil
e lions of soldiers entered the field from tim
to time on different terms of enlistment
The citizens generally exhibited the highes
,r degree of patriotism in the prompt paymen
of taxes, in their liberal contributions in til
n shape of loans to the government; and th
r, world was astonished 10y the amount exper
D. dcd in their benevolent care for the sick an
z wounded, through the agencies of the San
CT tary and Christian Commissions and otht
charitable associations. More than six hui
z, dred sanguinary battles and skirmishes wei
It, fought, in which nearly three hundred tho,
ar sand of our heroic defenders laid down the
lives in their devotion to the nation-'ft
God and Liberty"
@, In every phase of this terrible confic
90 Pennsylvania bore an honorable and consp
- cuous part. She contributed three hundre
10 and sixty.six thousand three hundred an
~ twenty six volunteer soldiers to the reset
N of the nation and nearly every BATTLEFIELD
y has been moistened with the blood, ar
i, whitened with the bones, of her heroes.
- them we owe our victories, unsurpassed
at'' brill:ancy and in the importance of the
az consequences. To the dead the thri
M honored dead-we are deeply indebted, f
~ without their services it is possible our eau
Nm might not have been successful.
nd 1t is natural and eminently proper tb
,n we, as people, should feel a deep and la.
on ing interest In the present ana future vi
a. ware of the soldiers who have borne so d
an tinguished a part in the great contest viii
;no has resulted in the maintenance of the Ii
;sb honor and prosperity of the nation. 7
1r 90 high claims of the private soldiers upon t
e, country are universally acknowledged, a
~, the generous sentiment prevails that t
)" amplest care should be taken by the govel
ment TO compensate them, equally and g
erously, with bounties and pensions, for tn
services and sacrifices.
desire that it may be distinctly und
stood that do not speak of myself, in CT
nection with this subject; but / am hap
to avail myself of this opportunity to spe
kind words of Pennsylvania gallant priv
soldiers, and the noble officers who co
manded them.
The generosity of the people of Penns
vania to the Union soldiers has been imi
ted, but not equalIed, by other States. Tb'
. is something peculiar in the loyalty of PEI
int sylvania. She seemed to feel, from the fiji
md as if upon her deyolved the setting ot a
ate perior example. The fact that she CARR