South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-03-10
Gov. Jacobs Inaugural.


low-townsman, Gov. JONI j JACOB. The
Inauguration took place at Charleston, at
noon, on Saturday last, on the front steps
of tue capitol, in presence of about three
hundred persons. Judge MAXWELL, of
the Supreme Court, administered the oath
of office. The address, that paper very pro-
perly remarks, twill attract attention by its
dignity Of tone, its moderation of statement
and good sense generally" The following
is copy of tho address:
Feiiow- Cti4en, Of West Virginia:
BY the Constitution and laws Of the State.
| am charged with the performance of du-
ties which more or less affect the interests
and well-beiOg of all the people However
light these duties may seem, when compared
with those imposed upon the chief executive
officers Of some of our larger sister States,
with respect to the freedom aud welfare of
our own people, they arc most grave and
important. do not, therefore, enter into
the Office to which | have been elected by
your suffrages with that confidence in my
ability to meet successfully all it's RESPONSE
bilties, which one with larger experience
III public affairs might rightfully claim nor
do look upou the office itself as an empty
honor simply to be conferred by the peo-
pie of the State upon one Of her citizens.
Though elected to Office by one of the
great political parties of the country, do
not conceive it to be my duty to regard the
rights and interests of that party alone -
The views and wishes, and, may not also
say the prejudices, to some extent, Of all,
must be regarded and respected. The mi
nority rs well as the maiority-the few as
we'll the many-havo rights which cannot
be trampled upon without giving a shock to
our whole political system. The blind, uu-
reasoning rule of the majority over this mi
nority Is wholly at variance with the spirit
of our Republican institutions, and if we
ever lose our boosted freedom it will be
when we forget that others have rights
well as ourselves Our written Constitution
aud the laws made in pursuance thereof.
are intended to afford ample protection to
the rights of all citizens alike, aud if it fail
IN this respect in the slightest degree, sure.
ly all should consent to correct the wrong
by amending it. 1t is my primary duty to
SEQ that the Constitution be preserved iuvi-
ted. 1t is my province neither to make
laws nor to construc them except so far as
authorized to do so. The Legislative and
Judicial Departments of the Government
have their well defined and independent
powers and limitations, and their appropri-
ate functions must not be invaded by the
Executive Department.
The continued Advancement Of our reo.
pie in wealth, aud in the arts of civilized
life, demand that as small proportion of
their means shall be Withdrawn from the
productive forms of industry in the way of
taxes as is compatible with the requirements
of a well organized Government. The 20.
sition that heavy taxation is ultimately no
loss or injury to people, from the fact that
the money drawn from them in this way is
refunded by Its expenditure among them. Is
dangerous fallacy. Every dollar unneccs-
sarily collected as tax is the conversion of
so much productive resources into uon-pr,-
ductive expenditures.
In view Of the fact that honor aud our
Constitution alike require US to assume or
pay an equitable portion of the old debt Of
Virginia, and Of the probable Increase Of
our public burdens from this cause, il will
be absolutely necessary that our ordinary
expenditures shall be reduced 10 the lowest
amounts that our necessities will permit
That the State may promptly meet all Of
its obligations and the machinery fits gov
eminent be kept in proper motion, officials
having charge Of the collection Of the pub
lie dues, must be required strictly and ac-
ourately 90 account for all moneys with
which they arc chargable
a system of public instruction has be-
come a part Of the policy Of nearly all the
States Of the Union. This will always re-
qu;ro o considerable outlay Of money, but
IL is believed that a system, simpler and
better adapted to the peculiar character Of
our State, can be devised that will be less
expensive and more satisfactory I'm iis re-
suits. While ] can have no voice in tho
imposition Of taxes, it will be my care to
SEQ that the money appropriated by the
Legislature from time TO time shall be hon
estly used for the purposes intended II is
most dish0n0rable 10 think that the public
money can be controlled or disposed Of with
less caution or care than we employ 10 our
private affairs
The liberal and enlightened policy of the
Legislature which has recently adjourned.
looking 20 the full and complete onfran-
cbiscmcut Of al the citizens Of the State
will doubtless be received with lively sat-
isfactou by the masses Of The people. For
a long time a large class ofour citizens have
been denied All participation 10 public affairs.
Much dissatisfaction and discomfort have
been the natural result In our lit,lo State
VIC could sd afford TO spare the intelligence
and hearty cooperation Of any Of our peo-