The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-01-24
Our New Governor.

Tuesday of last week. His inaugural
address, which is very long, shows con-
clusively that he understands thoroughly
the nature of the important work before
him, and will leave no single duty unper-
formed. a considerable portion of the
inaugural is devoted to the essential
subjects of the education of the people,
the support of soldiers orphans, the ne
cessity OF military system, and home
| labor but the portion de voted to National
affairs, as showing the position he assumes
in the present crisis of the government,
is the cream of the whole We subioin
| an extract -
"We are cOnfessedly in transition
state 1t is marvellous how prejudice has
| perlshed In the furnace of war, and how,
from the very ashes of old hatreds and
old parties, the truth rises purified and
triumphant. The contest between the
Executive and Congress twice elected
oy substantially the same suffrages-a
contest so anomalous in our experience as
not to have been anticipated by the fra
mers of the National Constitution. has
only served to develop the remarkable
energies of our people aud to strengthen
them TOR future conflicts. That contest
is virtually decided.
"The victorious forces, physical and
moral, OF the patriotic millions, are simply
pauslng before the perfect work of recon-
struction. Twenty-six States have rot
only been saved from the confagration of
war, but have been crystalized in the
saving. The unrestored ter, still disaf-
tected aud still defiant, seem to be provi-
dentlaliy delaying their return to the
Union, SO that when they re-enter upon
Its obligations and its blessings they will
be the better able to fulfil the one and
enjoy the other. Their condition is a
fearful warning to men and nations, and
especially 20 ourselves
"Until slavery fell we did not fully
understand the value of Republican insti-
tutIons. Accustomed to tolerate, and in
many cases to defend slavery, we did not
EEL that Its close proximity, so far from
assisting, was gradually destroying our
liberties and 1t was only when rebellion
tore away the mask, that we saw the
hideous features of the monster that was
eating out the vitels of the Republic.
elf we are now asronished and shocked
at the exhibition of cruelty and ingrati-
tude among those who, having inaugurated
and prosecuted a causeless war against
| generous Government, and having been
! permitted to escape the Punishment they
deserve, are once more arrogantly clam
oring to assume control of the destinies of
this great nation, how much greater cause
would We have had for surprise had sla-
very been permitted to increase and
multiply?
"BOast as we may of our material and
our moral victories, yet is l. not true thar
there Is Nd such thing as republican
| government in the ten States that began
and carried on the war There is not.
to-day, despotic State in Europe where
the rights of the individual man are so
| deiantly trampIed under foot as in the
| sections which were supposed to have
! been brought into full submission to the
| Government of the United States. But
the disease has suggested its pIoyidential
cure.
"The abhorrent doctrine that defeated
| treason shall not only be magnanimously
| pardoned, but introduced to yet stronger
! privileges, because of its guilty failure,
seems TO have been insisted upon, as if to
| strengthen the better and the contrasting
doctrine, that nation, having conquered
It's freedom, is It's own bes, guardian, and
that those who were defeated in honorable
battle should be constrained to submit to
all the terms of the conqueror.
"The violators of the most solemn
obligations, the perpetrators of the most
| atroclous crimes In the annals of time. the
murderers of our heroic soldiers on fields
of battle and in lpathsome dungeons and
| barbarous prisons, they must not, shall not
reappear In the council chambers of the
nation, to aid in its legislation or control
its destinies, unless it shall be on condi-
tions which will preserve our institutions
from their balefui purposes and influence,
and secure republican forms of govern
ment, in their purity aud vigor, il every
section of the country.
"That they are indisposed to accept
such conditions is manifest from their
recent and even arrogant rejection of the
proposed amendments of the National
Coustitution-amendments which are
believed by many true aud patriotic cit
izeus and statesmen to be too mild and
| generous.
"They have, however, been fully con-
sidered by the people during the late
elections, and approved by majori,ies so
large as to give them a sanction that l.
would be improper to either overlook or
disregard. And certainly in view of this
fact, none of the late rebel States should
be admitted to their former practical
| relations 20 the General Government.