New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-14
GOVERNOR WARMOTH's INAUGU
RATION.

4AC h1dLlOh NO4NlAOhANS J-sNSANey
passed off altogether happily and auspi-
ciously.
As we entered the large hall Of Repre-
sentatives shortly after noon the tall and
handsome figure of the new Governor was
advancing toward the Speakers chair at
the head of deputation of Senators and
Representatives amid the wild applause Of
the assembled multitudes. Pausing a mo-
ment before the secretarys desk, Senator
Jewell, of the deputation, said, 'Mr. Presi-
dent: have the honor to presentto you the
Governor elect of the State of Louisiana"
Amid new applause Judge Warmoth
assembled the, steps leading to the
Speakers platform and took 3 seat by
the side of the President, Lieutenant Gov
ernor Dunn, who thereupon formally intro
duced him to the Legislative Assembly,
whose members meanwhile had remained
standing. Governor Warmoth then rose
and delivered the inaugural address, which
will be found in our report of the proceed
ings in the House, amid frequent outbursts
of approval from all parts of the assembly.
The eject upon the audience of the clear
and forcible language of this speech, the
kindliness, moderation, and manly frank
ness of the spirit which pervaded it, was
much enhanced by the fine ringing voice of
the speaker, his distinguished appearance,
and handsome manner and delivery. At the
close he turned to the Lieutenant Governor,
and announced his readiness to take the
oath ofofice prescribed by the Constitution;
this was duly administered by Chief Justice
Hyman. The President then announcing a
recess of ten minutes, that those who chose
might pay their respects to the new incum-
bent, there was general pressing forward
of members of all shades of color, whether
of skin, or of political sentiments, toward
the speakers PLATFORM and for many min.
utes Governor Warmoth was the center of q
dense throng that showered upon him
hearty greetings and ompliments-among
the first to do so we noticed ex.Governors
Wells and Flanders, and Judge Taliaferro, late
gubernatorial candidate of the Democracy;
nor were the Democratic members backward
in their salutations, or stinted in kindly
expressions of approval of the inaugural
address. In due time the gavel of the
President called to order, and presently the
Governor returned to his room, the Sena-
tors fled off to their own chambers, and
the House resumed the regular routine of
business.
For some hours after the process of hand.
shaking with the Governor and various
complimentary demonstrations toward him
went on in his receptionroom. The colored
people especially, made justly proud and
happy by an occasion of such hopeful and
inspiriting significance to their race, seemed
to feel peculiar satisfaction and delight in
doing honor to the first ruler of the State
in whose election they had ever taken part.
1t was to large group of these that Gov
ernor Warmoth in the course of proceed.
ings in his room addressed himself as fol-
lows:
my friends, this is a great day for
the colored men of Louisiana. 1t is full of
good for you if my hopes and expectations
in your favor are well founded. If you are
honest, industrious, and peaceable you will
have millions of friends who will stand by
you, and see that you are protected in all
the political rights which they themselves
enjoy; you do not wish to intrude yourselves
socially upon those who do not want your
society any more than you want other people
to intrude themselves upon you without your
consent. The contest from which we are
emerging has not been for social equality,
but for civil and political equality. This
last you now have, and it will be my duty
to see to it that you are protected in it, and,
if am not mistaken in my opinion of your
race, it will be cheerfully accorded to you
very soon by everybody; and remember that
the roads that lead to prosperity for every
man, whether white or black, are those Of
virtue and education, Of honesty and so.
briefly, Of industry and obedience to law"
Altogether, the ceremonies at the In
stitute yesterday were full encouragement
and hopeful augury for the future.