The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-22
Gov. Warmoth's Inaugural

Gov. Warmoth's Inaugural
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the Senate
and House of Representatives:
lam deeply impressed with the grave
and reculiar significance of this occasion
and the magnitude of the responsibility
which am this day to assume. l trust
the hearts of all of us are moved and per-
vaded by a realizing sense OF the new ana
serious duties we have been called upon to
discharge Before me is the first legisla-
tare as an equal member of the American
Union that has sat for seven years. need
not recount to you the history OF these sew
an wears, so full of startling aud wonderful
as we'll as painful and terrible events-so
pregnant with mOmenteas issues, SO pro-
aneniye of great and glorious results Nor
do / deem It expedient at this time to trace
tba chain of causes which led to these
5events. and produced these results, or to
zd;scnss the questions of who have been
most culpable and responsible for whatev-
er has been wrong or mistaken in the past,
and who are most deserving of credit for
whatever is good in the present. We have
here met not to speculate upon the past,
nor to brood and quarrel over it's ashes,
INIT rather to meet the great living issues
of the present and the duties which it inn
noses ,ipon us. We st"nd amid the ruins
Of an old order of things; it SHOULD be Ours
to work wisely and manfully for the estab-
l;sbment of a new and better order of
thines upon the foundation which these
seven wears have established. So long as
time is speut in futile and irritating dis
OMISSIONS upon the readiness and probable
nermanency of these foundations, or per-
sistent and perhaps turbulent efforts to I'M
settle and npheave them, SO long will the
public peace, order and tranquility refuse
to be restored, and so long will the restor-
alton and development of all the great in
terests of the State be delayed and endan-
gered.
foundations laid and fixed forever by
war. sealed as firmly believe by the hand
of God himself, and recognized by that or
ganic law under which We have assembled,
and Which am here to swear to support
and defend is the equality before the law
and the enjoyment of every political right
of all the citizens of the State, regardless
of race. color, or previous condition; and
only when this grand distinctive feature
of the new Constitution shall be stamped
on every act of legislation, and when such
legislation shall find approval and support
in that general public sentiment Which
gives to law it's vitality, will our State
fairly enter upon that career of greatness
and prosperity which the Aim ighty design
ed for her. It would be idle TO DENY that
while large majority ofour people have
testified in the strongest manner to their
approval of that feature of tie Constitu-
tion of which l have spoken, there is still
minority, not wanting in Intelligence
and virtue, who are strenuously opposed
to it, Much is to be hoped from the good
sense, the discretion, and inherent love OF
justice of the American people for the grad
ual wearing away of the prejudices upon
which alone this opposition is founded.
Meantime let our course, while resolute
and manly, be also moderate and discreet.
Let legislation be kept as much as possible
in harmony with the sentiments of the
whole people. 1t is better that the course
of legislation should rather fall behind than
to outstrip the popular wishes and de-
mands. Let everything consistent with
right and justice be done to bring back the
era of good feeling, and to wash from the
memories of all erything that tends to
ALLEVIATE one class or one party from an
other.
/ refrain at this time from entering into
any discussion of measures which I may
deem of Importance. In future will dis
CustfSe INC uu ~ inpoSeu upon me ny CIV
ing to the General Assembly information
respecting the condition of the State, and
recommending to its consideration such
legislation as may seem eXpedient. ven
ture, however, t. urge Immediately meas
ures for the repression of lawlessness and
disorder now rife in many parts Of the
State From many parishes we have al
most daily accounts of violence and out
rage--in many cases most brutal and re-
voting murders-without any effort on the
part of the people to prevent or punish
them
We want peace and order; without it
we can have no prosperity. Such meas
tres must be adopted to secure life and
property as may be necessary. If the tax
payers prefer to support a strong constabu-
larry force to doing their duty as citizens
by helping the officers, yes, by making the
officers of the law keep the peace, and pro-
tect the life of every man, however poor,
then the responsibility will be upon them,
and not the State administration. Every
body knows that the strong men, the pro-
perty holders, and those who claim and
command the respect of their parish, could
make it as peaceable and safe throughot
the State as any part of the Union.
The hands of the courts must be strength
ened and upheld-the peace officers must
up and vindicate the law. The press too,
yindictive and partisan, should unite with
the government in denouncing crime, and
aid in the establishment of healthy pub
lie sentiment which of itself would protect
the peace by its frowns Upon evil doors
You should drive those drones upon socie-
ty who eat but do not work, who consume
and produce nothing. more dangerous to
peace and prosperity than famine or pesti-
lence, to go to work or find another couu-
try than this to curse.
appear before you to-day not as par
tsan, but to take the oath of office prescrib-
ed for those who are chosen by the people
to discharge the duties of the Office of gov
ernor of your State. My object will be to
enfeice the law, protect the people, ard
aid II advancing the social, material, and
political interests of the whole people. Il
believe the epoch has the smiles of Provi- |
dencs. Cursed for our sins with war,
sse,ourged with the epidemic, our crops
S6lighted for succession of years, our fair
state overlooked by the torrents of the
mississippi, commerce paralyzed, the peo-