The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-07
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


By the Constitution and laws Of the
State, am charged with the perform
ance OF duties which more or less affect
the interests and well,being of all the
people. However light these duties
NAV seem, when compared with those
imposed upon the chief executive otfi-
GERS Of some of our larger sister States,
yet with respect to the freedom and wei
fare of our own people they are most
grave and important. do not, there
fore, enter into the office to which !
have been elected by your sutirages,
with that confidence in my ability to
meet successfully all Of its responsible
tiles. which one with larger experience
in public affairs might rightfully claim;
nor, do | look upon the office itself as
an empty honor, simply to be conferred
by the people of the State upon one Of
her citizens.
THE RIGHT OF ALL TO BE PROTECTED.
Though elected to office by one Of
the great political parties Of the coun-
try, | 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 aud respected. The minor
ity as well as the majority; the few as
well as the many; have rights which
cannot be trampled upon, without Civ
inc shock to our whole political sys
ten.
The blind unreasoniug rule OF the
majority over the minority is wholly at
variance with the spirit of our Republi-
can institutions, aud il we ever loose
our boasted freedom it will be when we
forget that others have rights as well as
ourselves.
Our written Constitution, and the laws
made i'll pursuance thereof are intended
to afford ample protection to the rights
Of all citizens alike, and if it fail in this
respect in the slightest degree, surely
all should consent to correct the wrong
by amending it. 1t is my primary duty
to see that the Constitution be preserved
inviolate, and that the laws be faithfully
executed. 1t is my province neither to
make laws nor TO construe them, except
so far as authorized to do 80.
The Legislative and judicial Depart
nents OF the Government have their well
defined and independent powers and
limitations, and their appropriate func-
tons must not be invaded by the Exec
utve department.
ECONOMY AND LIGHT TAXATION.
The continued advancement of our
people in wealth and in the arts OF civ
ilized lite demand that as small a pro.
portion of their means shall be with
drawn from the productive forms Of in
dustry in the way Of taxes as is compat-
ible with the requirements Of well
organized Government. The position
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 unnecessarily collected
as tax, is the conversion OF so much
productive resources into non-pro-
ductive expenditure. In view OF
the fact that honor and our
Constitution alike require us TO as
sumo, or pay, an equitable portion of
the old debt OF Virginia, and of the
probable increase of our public burdens
from this cause, it will be absolutely
necessary that our ordinary expendi-
lures shall be reduced to the lowest
amount that our necessities will per-
nit. That the State may promptly
meet all OF its obligations, and the
machinery OF its government be kept
in proper motion, officers having
charge OF the collection of public dues,
must be required strictly and accurately
to account for all moneys with which
they are chargeable.
A system OF public instruction has
become part OF the policy OF nearly
all the States Of the Union. This will
always require a considerable outlay OF
money, but it is believed that system,
simpler and better adapted to theIpecu-
liar character OF our State can be de-
vised, that will be less expensive and
more satisfactorSin its results. While |
can have no voice in the imposition OF
taxes, it will be my care to see that the
money appropriated BY the Legislature
from time to time, shall be honestly
used for the purposes intended 1t is
most dishonorable to think that public
money can be controlled or disposed of
with less caution or care than We en-
ploy in our private affairs.
PEACE AND HARMONY RESTORED ny THE
LEGISLATURES.
The liberal and enlightened policy OF
the Legislature which has recently ad-
journed, looking to the full and COM
plete enfranchisement Of all the citizens