Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-01-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
GOV. JOHN ". GLARE,
DELIVERED JAN. 10, 1867.

ton Of the sovereign people o. ny nHti, .
State as their choice for Chlei h'3ISIltt1o
of the Commonwealth OF fein5y y.S:I.t', iNt:Hl",
if is with mingled feelings Of humIiity
and gratitude that | have appeared IN the
presence of my fellow countrymen, ana
before thc Selrchcr of all Hearts, to take
the solemn obiigatEn prescribed as n quail
ification for that exalted station, Ito sup
port the Constitution of the | nIted states
and the Constitution OF Pennsylvania,
and to perform my Official duties with n
delity.n
Profoundly sensible OF everything that
is implied by this manifestation of the
peoples confidence, and more deeply nm
pressed with the vast importance ana re-
sponsibilitc cs Of the Office, than elevated
by its attendant hOnOTs, let it be our iifSJ
grateful duty to return lervent thankS%lN
ings to Almighty God for MS constant
providence and uunumbcred blessings 10
rs as a DcoDle. and especially mine to inn
pIore His aid and cOunselin the Discharge
of civil trusts, who has been my shield
and bucklcr amidst scenes OF peril ana
death.
In addressing YOU on this occasion, in
accordance with a custom originating
with the Republican fathers, propose
briefly to express my opinions on such
questions u concern oar constituency,
and relate to our common responsibilities.
Like countries Of the Old World, our
nation has had It's internal commoGOns.
From the last Of these we have scarcely
emerged, and during which ~ arS des-
olation" passed over or land, leaving It's
bIighting Influences principally upon
those unfortunate States whose people re-
belied against the government and not
withstanding the agOnizinm sacrifices Of a
great civil war, the States that maintain
ed the government and determined that
the Union should be preserved have con-
stantly advanced in honor, wealth, popu-
latiOu and general prosperity.
This is the first time that 4 change has
occurred in the Executive Department of
this State since the commencement Of the
war of the rebellion; a brief reference,
therefore, to that conflict, and to Its re-
suits, 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
ambition, for military rcnown, for terri
tOrial acquisition, nor was il for viola
ton of any OF the rights of the South,
but it was for the preservation of our own
rights and privileges us men, and for the
maintenance Oi justice, liberty, and the
Union. The object Of the South was
avowcdly the dissolution Of the Union
and the establishment Of contederacy
based upon the corner stone OF human
slavery TO have submitted to this on
our part, ana to have shrunk from man
ly resistance under such circumstances,
would have been deeply and laStugly de
grading, and would have destroyed the
value of the priceless legacy hequeathcd
to Us by our fathers, and which we are
obligated 10 transmit unimpaircd 10 iu-
ture generations. The patriotic and un-
ion-loying people felt that the alternative
was that OF life or death to the Union;
IA iti ,f
Abraham Lincoln, that virtuous and pa
triOtic Chief Magistrate, with ;he blessing
of him who directs the ueStlnic~ of ma
tionS, after open action and arbitrary vio-
lence on the part of the South, the appeal
to arms was made. We had lust cause
and our citizens approving it with Il de-
gree of UnanimitY heretofore unknown,
in this or any other country, left their va
riOus Cmployments. their homes and all
that was dear to them, and hastened with
enthusiasm to the scenes where duty and
danger called, and as the surest pledge of
their unSWcTVinG love and fidelity to the
Union, they unhesitatingly offered their
lives for its preservation. Nor was any
other tribute withheld in providing the
means necessary for the support OF our
fleets and armies. Nearly two millions
of soldiers entered the field from time to
time on different terms Of enlistment. The
degree Of patriotism in the prompt pay
ment Of taxes, in their liberal cOntribu-
tiOns in the shape of loans TO the govern
ment; and the world was astOnished by
the amount expended in their benevolent
care for the sick and wounded, through
the agencies Of the Sanitary and Chris
tian Commissions and other charitable
associations. More than six hundred san
culinary battles and skiTmishcs were
fought, III which nearly three hundred
thousand Of our heroic defenders laid
down their lives in their devotion to the
natiOn-''ior God and LibCrtv.n
In every phase O! lEis terrible conflict,
pennsylvania bore an honorable and con-
spicuous part. She contributed three hun
dred and siNty-ziN thousand three hun
dred and twenty-siX volunteer soldiers to
the rescue ot the nation; and nearly every
battiG-heid has been moistemed with the
blood, and whitencd with the bones Of
her heroes. To them we owe our victo-
rics, unsurpassed IL brilIiaucy and in the
importance OF their cou-c iuenccs. To
the dcad-thc thrice honorcd dead-wc
are deeply indebted, for without ttheirscr-
vices 1t Is possible our cause might not
have been successful.
1t Is natural and cminentlv proper that
we, rs people, should feel deep and
lasting interest in the present and future
welfare OF the soldiers who have borne so
distinguished part in the great contest
which has resulted i'm the maintenance Of
the life, honor and prosperity of the ma
uan The high claims OF the private sol
dlers upon the country are universally
acknowledged,a and the egcncrousscntimen
prevails that the amplest care should bt
taken by the government to compensat,
then, equally and generously, with boun
ties and pensions, for their services am,
sacrifices
desire that it may be distinctlyunder
stood that | do not speak of myself, il
connection with this subject; but | AN
happy 10 av&il myselfof this opportunity
to speak kind words of PENNSYLVANIA
gallant private soldiers, and the noI,I