Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1867-01-23
INAUGURAL
Address of Governor John w.
Geary.


FELLow-CTTTZENs :-Honored by the Sc
lection of the sovereign people of my native
State as their choice for Chief Magistrate of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1t is
with mingled feeling of humility and graft
tude that l have appeared in the presence
of my fellow countrymen, and before the
Searcher of all Hearts, to take the solemn
obligation prescribed as n qualification for
that exalted station, support the. Constitu-
ton of the United States and the Constitu-
ton of Pennsylvania, and to perform my
official duties with fidelity
Profoundly sensible of everything that is
implied by this manifestation of the peo-
ples's confidence, and moro deeply impress
ed with the vast importance and response
bilities of the Office, than elevated by its
attendant honors, let it be our first grateful
duty to return fervent thanksgivings to Al
mighty God for his constant providence and
unnumbered blessings to us as people, and
especially mine to implore His aid ana
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 custom originating with the
Republican fathers, l propose briefly to ex-
press my opinion on such questions as coz
cern our common constituency, and relate
to our common responsibilities.
Like countries of the Old World, our ma
ton has had its internal connections. From
the last of these we have scarcely yet emerg-
ed, and during which WARS desolation'
passed over our land, leaying its blightn;ng
influences primo; pally upon those unfortunate
States whose people rebelled agaiast the
Government, and notwithstanding the ago.
nizing sacrifices of great civil war. the
States that maintained the Government and
determined that the Union should be pre-
served, have constantly advanced in honor.
wealth, population, and general prosperity.
This is the first time change has occur
red in the Executive Department of this
State since the commencement Of the war of
the rebellion; 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 ambl-
ton, for military renown, for territorial ac-
ouisition, nor was it for a violation of any
of the rights of the South, but it was for
the preservation of our own rights end privi
leges as men, and for the maintenance of
Justice, liberty, and the Union. The object
of the South was ayowedly the dissolution of
the Union and the establishment of a con-
federacy based upon 1.-THE corner stone of
human slavery" To have submitted to
this on our part, and have shrunk from a
manly resistance under such circumstances,
would have been deeply and lastingly de-
grading, and would have destroyed the val
ne of the priceless legacy bequeathed to us
by our fathers, and which we arc obligated
to transmit unimpaired to future genera
tons. The patriotic and Union-loving peo-
pie felt that the alternative vas that of life
or death to the Union; and under the au-
spicious guidance of Abraham Lincoln, that
virtuous and patriotic Chief Magistrate,
with the blessing of Him who directs the
destinies f nations, after open action and
arbitrary violence on the part of the South,
the appeal to arms vas made We had