Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-14
Governors Address.
Gentlemen Of tic Senate and
House. nj Beureseu{J{ires.

mind a due estimate ot their Importance;
and acknowledging and invoking the di-
vine favor. seek for wisdom in their faith
iul discharge. IL is true that the councils
OF the nation have more 10 do with the
greater matters OF our common veal or
woe; but the questions which are within
Your control, and the duties TO which YOU
arc now solcmnly devoted are worthy OF
your best thought and conscience and wis
dom.
While the dark burden of tho war roll
cd its gloom over us, the people were not
niggardly in giving nor oycr-crtical in
receiving whatever promised material Tor
the common defence and aid in the great
dcliverance. With q patriotism which
knew no class or section, with generoSi-
" which counted no cost, and n devotion
that shrank from no sacrifice, they pour.
ed their choicest treasure and their most
precious lie into the field. where the
great issue was Joined for the guarantees
of liberty and q government OF law. In
tent on this they paid little attention TO
little things they did not stop to challenge
either men or measures that came in the
guisc and color of the common cause.
But the crisis is now past; the field won
The times are different; our duties new.
We must challenge both measures and
men, cast ont the false. displacc the weak
entrcnch the strong. We must look back
over the tumultuous track and see where
ruin can be repaired and abuses correct
cd the false channels cut by the wild
overflow and sapping our strength dam
med up; The true currents Of prosperity
restored. We must look forward, not
only TO see what must be borne, but
what must be done. c.-stiled energies to
be set free, new powers put in motion.
No spiritless or timid reluctance 10 crap.
Pile with the vexed questions which may
claim our attention, should be allowed 10
settle upon us from the too modest i'm
preston that our acts are OF little consc
qucncc. On the contrary. never was
sound judgment and generous toll and
the clear sharp scrutiny that runs before
and after. more demanded by the eNigen-
cy of the times and the interests OF the
people.
A government has something more to
do than TO govern and levy taxes to pay
the governors. 1t is something more than
a police TO arrest evil and punish wrong.
II must also encourage good, point out
improv cments, open roads To prosperity,
and infusc ife into all right enterprises.
II should combine the insight and tore
sight of the best minds of the State for all
the high ends for which society is estab-
lished and to which man aspires. That
gives us much to DO. We sit down here
to devise things for the public good Let
us be at the work early, and do it both
well and quickly For both ale possible.
Promp,tude and activity will enable Us
TO avoid n protracted session, emitting
nothing and ut the same time considering
well. That there will be conflicts OF
opinion and differences of judgment may
be expected. and is well. When men are
thoughtful there will seldom be unanimity.
Where men are honest there will be sharp
individuality. independence, if it is gen
uinc, is no evil. but n good. The great
requisite. indeed, on the part of those
who make or administer laws is moral
courage. We cannot expect much that
is good from laws enacted under clamor
or TO meet some crisis, nor from states
men who are chiefly concerned IN con
irving tn keep their place and power.
One thing We may be sure of, the virtue
in the hearts of the people, that instinct
may be deceived but will not be defeated.
Ii demands honesty and will pardon us
If i'm that cause we are over bold.
One man indeed, We have lost from &C
tive participation anil influence in our af-
fairs. One voice is silent that was wont
To speak only honest conviction without
favor and without fear. William Pitt
Fesscnden is gone. The race Of men that
dare he right has suffered loss. The man
who will calmly resolve and give ludS-
ment with understanding. unmovcd by
the voice ofthoSe who seeing not so clear
Is feel more violcntIy-the man who aims
for the ultimate right rather than for the
near advantage-thc man who in the tre
menduous hour of responsibility when
great issues hang upon this action, hear
inc above the tumult OF taunting foes and
supplicating friends the deeper voices oi
reason and conscience, fixes his single
eve on duty and stakes his all upon the
blow-that man it is hard 10 find and hard
TO lose. One by one the great men around
whom our hearts rallied in the dark days
of the Republic are passing from our
view. We feel that we are lost rather
than they. Happy will il be if the young
men now rising to their places shall learn
from their example and be able when the
day of trial comes to do their duty as UNI
selfshly, as boldly. as well. The deeds
of such men live after them. Their words
are gone out unto the end OF tho world.
Their light shall shine along the heights
of history as the glory lives ON the Alpine
peaks when the sun is seen no more.
The vacancy in the United States Sen
ate it became my duty to fill for the time,
and accordingly appointed Hon. Lot Nj
Morrill,. 1t now dcyolves on you to elect
a Senator for the remainder OF the term
ending March, 1871.
proceed TO lay before you an abstract
of the condition Of the State, with the few
suggestions which appear ncedtul to be
made the more complete details and CO.
gent reasons will for the most part appear
in the several reports and other docu
ments submitted to your inspection.
FINANCIAL.
The report of the Treasurer will present
Il most illclcoiiiis st''loihSH' an" i'i''ois
OF our finances. Our receipts during the
past year have been $939,el4 80, and our
expenditures 1919 500 so. On the old
civil debt we have paid the annual in
stalrnent of S37 900. leaving balance OF
1884, 600. Our war debt December 81,
1869, was S4,632. 500. This samply pro-
vidcd for by the sinking fund arising from
the tax of three fourths of mill on the
dollar by the valuation of 1860. OF this
debt $500, 900 falls due in 1871. The
sinking fund, with the collections from
the general government applied to ex
tinguish this debt, already amounts to
! 1912, $50 so that we are already Sl72 $50
in advance OF our liabilities in 1871, and