Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-01-23
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
GOV. J. w. GEARX
DELIVERED JANUARY 18th. 1857.

The great length Of the Inaugural
, compelled US to use our scissors sc'orc
sending it to the coYpositors, consequent
ly we publish the porticcs that most in
terest the publie. 1t is an interesting
and busiues5-hkc document. Opening
with review CT the atr-gg!ca in whica
the State. with others CT TIE Union, VS.
involved during the Rebellion and col
cluding with Il patriotic rc9iea {. lie
situation of ;ao l,a;io2, and the changes
which have resulted Il = the inJer!e:e;ea
of the Executive With The Congressional
! franchise OF restoration, anl the day
which devolves upoa the rcpresouta;ra
of, the people 10 make the worA compile.
FELLOW CITIzEEs-Noaoged by be
selection of the sovereign people Of ~
native State as their choice fer Cjei
Magistrate OF the Common .zea.;.i CT tPo,a-
sylvaria, it is with mingled feelings OF
humility and gratitude that l have sp-
peared in tie presence of my ie.ipv
countrymen, and before t. Seaycle.
of all Hearts, to take the solemn obi;ga
ton prescribed as q qualification for that
exalted station, 90 support tho ConstItI-
tion of the United States and the Con-
s;itution CT Pennsylvania, ani 10 perform
my official duties With GIelity."
Profoundly sensible c. everything that
is imI lied IT, this manifestation Of tie
peoples confidence, and more deeply in
pressed with the vest i.Tpo. lance and re-
sponsibililias Of tie ofEes, thaa cie"2tei
by its attendant aonors, l,t It De our Gsat
grateful! duty 10 return tesveGt thar IS
giving 70 Almighty Sod fer HE constant
providence and Uan-noerod blessings to
us as a people, aaL especially mine to i'm
plore His aid and counse! il the discharge
Of civ; trusts, vho has 5con my shield
ard buctlcr amidst scenes Of peril aud
death.
In addressing you On this occasion, in
accordance with custom originating
with the Republican fathers, ! propose
briefly to express my opinions Ca such
questions as concern our conllOn cen
stituency, and relate TO orr coEplol re-
sponsbiitios.
Like cocutries oe the Old World, OR
nation has had its Internal oomnlotions--
From the last OF these we have scarcely
yet emerged, and during which wars
desolation' passc3 ever our l@ad, leav:ng
its blightning Influences pr.noira,y Upon
those unfortunate STATES whose rsople re
beled against the govcrnmont, and rot
withstanding the aSoaizirg sacrifices OF
great civil war, the States that maintained
the government and determined that the
Union should be preserved, have con
SANITY advanced in honor, wealth, ropu-
latioa and general prosperity.
This is the first time that change
has occurred in the Execntive Depart
ment OF this State since the commences
mcnt of the war of the rebellion q 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, ca our part, ore tor
ambition, for military ranown, ter terri
torial acquisition, nor was it for viola
ton of any of the rights of the South,
but it was !or the preservation OF our own
rights and privileges as meu, and ior the
maintenance of justice, liberty ana the
Union. The object OF the South was
avowedly the dissolution Of the Union
and the establishment of conteeeEacy
based upon ''the corner stone .of huuan
slavery" To have submitted to this On
our part, aud to have shrunk from j
manly resistance under such circumstsn-
ces, would have been deeply and las;ingly
degrading, and would have destroyed the
value of the priceless legacy beqreashed
to us ny our fathers, and which we are
obliged to transmit unimpaired to future
generations. The patriotic and Union
loving people felt that the alternative was
that of life or death 20 the Union; and
under the auspicious guidance of Abraham
Lincoln, that virtous and patriotic Chief
Magistrate. with the blessing Of him who
directs the destinies Of nations, after open
action aud arbitrary violence on the part
Of the South, the appeal to arms vas
made. We had a jus; cause, and our
citizens approving 1t WIN utS'eo Vi
unanimty heretofore unknown, in this or
any other country, left their various EN-
ployments, their homes and ali that was
dear to them, and FASTENED with enthusl-
asm to the scenes where duty and danger
called, and as the surest pledge of their
answering love and fidelity to the Union
they urhesitatingly offered their lives for
its preservation. Nor was any other trio
ute withheld in providing the means nee,
essary FOR the support Of our fleets ana
armies Nearly TWO millions OF soldiers
entered the field from time to time on
different terms of enlistment. The clti-
zcns generally exhibited the highest de
gree of patriotism in the prompt payment
of taxes. ir their liberal contributions ID
the shape oe loans to the government
and the world was aStonished by 'Ec
Il la