The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-06-24

new constitution the members elect of III
Legislature assembled in Tallahassee '"e
Monday, the 8th inst, for the purpose Of ;n
augurating the government. No orders :.
the premises had been received from a.. III
Meade, or any other authority, and son,r
doubt existed as to the proper course to mn"
sue, but acting under advices from Wasbrin"rl'
ton, it was determined to proceed in the ras S'
ular manner.
A committee. appointed by the memho,.
in joint caucus, waited opon Gov Walls
in the morning and requested the kew >,
the Representative Hall and Senate CLon""
Der. The former apartment had been ornm,
ed by Colonel Flint to the fire company f.,
their use during the evening, and could mt
he had, but in place of it the Supreme Court
room was placed at the disposal of the COM
mittee Gov. Walker, with his usual cons
tesy, did all in his power to assist the Com
mittee, and no obstacles were thrown il
their way either by the civilor military an,
thorities..
Alta O'clock noon the Senate assembled
in the Senate Chamber Twelve memLe,s
were present and a temporary organization
was effected by the election of Gen. Fl Jen
kins, Jr., Chairman pro TEN, and Col. WI
Apthorp as temporary SECRETARY The Sen.
ate then adSourned to meet again at three
pm.
The Assembly met, at noon, in the Sin
preme Court room. Twenty-four membpr,
were present, W. w. Moore, of Lake c,tv
was elected temporary chairman and DR. Ry''
mum temporary Secretary. The ASSEMBLE
then adjourned to 3p. m.
A 4 al MI hnf1, Il
the Supreme Court room, and a committee
was appointed to wait upon Governor Reed
and escort him to the Chamber for the mr..
pose of being inaugurated The commit.
tee were also instructed to invite Governor
Walker and Colonel Flint to attend
The committee having returned. Governor
Reed assembled to the speakers desk yhrra
the oath of Office was administered to him
by Judge Boynton of the U. S. District
Court, for the Southern District of Florid,
after which the Governor delivered the fol,
lowing :,... .e ..s.r.
3g D. INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Fellow-citisens Of Florida:
In entering upon the high trust which
your partially has conferred. in deIcrence,O
time honored custom, it becomes my duty
to briefly indicate the policy of my adj
ministration as Chief Magistrate of this
State a. ri
In November, 1860, the constitutional
rights of the people of Florida were subvert
ed and its civil government was ovcrthrown;
since then the State has been without con-
stitutiOnal government and subject to mill.
tary law. ie-..,..
In March, 1867, the Congress of the Uni
ted States, in obedience to its obligations to
"guarantee to every State republican form
of government" prepared plan by which
the State could regain its forfeited rights,
and its people be restored to the benefits of
constitutional government. Under this plan
you have framed government which We
are here to-day to inaugurate and prepare to
make effective. You have framed and adop-
ted Constitution based upon the great the
DRY Of American government, that all men
are by nature free and endowed with equal
rights. You have laid deep and broad the
foundations of the State upon the principle
of universal freedom.
Bred to freedom and under Republican
MISUNDERSTANDING slavery an unmitiga-
ted curse as well as violation OF human
rights-7-a moral, political and physical evil
whever tolerated. most cordially congrat-
ulate you that it no longer exists to blight
the fair heritage which God has given us
here, and that the Constitution which you
have adopted contains no germof despotism
to generate future dscorl.
l congratulate you also that no spirit of
malevolence or bitterness, growing out of
the wrongs and conflicts of the past, have
been suffered to mar your organic law, but
that in spirit Of magnarimity and forbear
ance worthy of the highest commentator,
those who have forfeited their citizenship
are welcomed back to the benefits and priv
ileges of the government, upon the sole con-
dition of tealty and adherence tothe Const-
tuition and laws.
Amid the ruins of government embody-
ing antagonisic principles, you have laid
the foundations of a government insuring
harmony, stability, security, and peace. The
conflicting elements and interests OF the past
may now all unite in a homogeneous system,
all yielding obedience to a common law
which respects alike the interests of ALL
Time alone can heal the social disorders and
dissensions created by the disruption OF SD
ciety and the radical change in the system
of government consequent upon the war.-
Wewill patiently await its modifying influ-
ences, interposng no obstacle to-a speedy re-
storation.
All classes of society and all the interests
of the State demand peace and good gov
eminent, and if the spirit of our constitu-
ton is appreciated and reciprocated, every
citizen may realize those advantages and
the State may arise from IFS PROSTATE condi-
ton to measure of prosperity unknown in
the past, and become one of the brightest
luminaries in the galaxy of States of our
glorious Union. ,q, .,..i, ....l ..
Felow-citizens, accept the high respon-
sibility of the chief magistracy under your
new constitution, believing firmly in its prin'
piles and unquali6edly endorsing its policy
| and that of the Congress under whose cienl'
ency we are permitted to inaugurate anew
civil government for the State. I enter upon
this high trust with the firm purpose of exc
cutting the laws in the spirit of liberality 10
which they are conceived. and in view o!
| the highest interest of the State and the peo'
| Pile Relying upon your loyalty and patriot
ism, and the favor and guidance OF that Dr.
vine Power which sways the destinles OF ALL
shall do what within me lies to render ell
fectivc the government, and tocommand ior
it the respect and obedience of all classes
of our citizens.
At the conclusion of the address the Gov
ernor, descended from the desk, and Gov
Walker stepped forward, shook him cordial
ly by the hand.
| An inaugural hymn, composed for the &c,
casion by Rev. L. Barker, was then sung anu
the assembly dispersed. . j, Pa.
At noon on Tuesday both branches OF inc
Legislature met in their respective rooms
and each having quorum present, compie-