Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-14
Inaugural Address of Gov. Powell Clayton.

were so violently torn asuader seven years ago and upon the progress made in the great work of rebuilding the edifce of Civil Government, which, at the same time, was so ruthlessly torn down and de- stroyed. Tho delegates of the people, who met here in January last, guided undoubtedly by the Great Architect of the Universe, wisely agreed upon the plan, aud laid upon the eternal rocks of truth and justice the foundation. The people of this State and the representa- tives of the people of the nation, have each excessively inspected the work, and pronounced it good. Andnow, gentlemen of the various departments of the State, into your hands and mine is confidcd the duty of raising up the super-structure, If we would have this work well done, we must labor together with harmony and unity-with energy and circumspection- paying due regard to the value of time, and the exigencies of the public service ; and yet avoiding that superficial haste which might require others to pull down and rebuild that which we have erected at so much expense. The duties and res possibilities of the office that l have been called upon to administer, have been con sidered, in ordinary times, arduous and difficult. Under the trying circumstances of the present, my mind is filled with sentiments of the deepest solicitude The solemn and binding oath which l am about to take in your presence, will consu- mate the act, which places in my keeping, to great extent. the vital and varied in terests of over four hundred thousand fel- low creatures. Deeply impressed with this truth and conscious of my inexper- fence, I implore the Supreme Ruler to endow me, and all other officers of the state, with those qualities which are essen- tial for the wise and efficient administra- tion of public affairs. And I earnestly solicit the counsel and aid of the officers of the coordinate branches of the State government, and the indulgence and hearty cooperation of the entire people,
 In return for the confidence reposed in, and the honor conferred upon me, can only offer my humble services, which shall, to the best of my ability, be devoted to the public welfare.
 It is proper for me, at this time, to re- view briefly the situation of affairs, and foreshadow the course 1 expect to pursue ill the service of the State this however, will greatly depend upon events as they are unfoded by the future
 We have State, surpassing all others, in the richness and variety of its natural gifts. Here nearly every branch of indus try may find quick and rich return. We ought to be great and prosperous people But owing to that blind policy of the past, which sought to build up a non-producing aristocracy based upon the involuntary and unremunerated labor of a class of the community, directed almost entirely to the cultivation of single pro- duet, every interest has lain idle and undeveloped, And by reason of those untoward events with which all are pain fully familiar, the wealth ofthe community has been worse than wasted, and the best energies of the people expended in vain. A large part of the community, still grasp ing at the shadow of dead and buried slavery, seem unwilling to accept the situation, and with poverty and bank ruptcy staring many in the face, disregard that irrevocable law, which says, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" The hours that should be devoted to honest industry, "are too often expended in idle invcctive against what is termed "A tyrannical government" or in denun- citation of that class of the community, who have been lately cnfranchised, and who constitute to-day our producing class
 The condition of affairs growing out of, and incident to the war, have been such as to permit wicked and evil disposed per sons to practice their nefarous designs in comparative security. And notwithstan- ding the earnest efforts to preserve law and order upon the part of my worthy prede- cessor, and the patriotic and efficient officer who has commanded this sub-district with such admirable discretion, their limited means, and uncertain powers have been entirely inadequte hence, in many localities a state of lawlessness and crime exists bordering upon terrorism. When the rebellion closed, it was fondly hoped by many that such of the people as en- gagged therein, had submitted everything of political nature to the arbitrament of the sword, would accept the result, and return in good faith to their allegiance. Such hopes have not been realized to any great extent but, upon the contrary, every effort at conciliation conforming to principle, and every overture upon the part of victorious nation which would not surrender the dearly bought fruits of the war, have been misconstrued by the leaders of the rebellion, and scornfully re- jected. The four years of civil war was of course favorable to the growth of the widest passions, and the three years which followed, and which should have been devoted to their alignment, and to the paciiication of the masses, were con sumed in persistent and determined efforts to elevate treason to the highest niche of honor, and make loyalty but an other name for infamy As it was found necessary, during that period known as "thc war" to give up all efforts at concilia- ton, and crush with sheer force, that rebellion which would not be appeased, so believe it will be found necessary at this period of covert resistance to lay aside all present efforts tosatisiy that part of the community who seem determined not to be satisfied, and march straight for ward in tho path of duty, of justice and of right, to the end, that the fruits of the war may be secured, permanent peace established, and civil government erec- ted which shall afford shelter to every class of the community, and rise in such grand proportions as to become the pride and glory of the whole people.