The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-06
A Moderate, Sensible and Dig
nifed SpeeCh-.He Approves
the Flick Amendment and
COunseIS Good Feeling,
Economy and Light
Taxation.
COLD COMFORT FOR THE CON-
VENTIONERS.
DisorderIy Conduct Of tho Citizens.

Ut tuG iOIlb StCJS vi tlb ShpI1OIt :" l"''0
cnCe Of about three hundred persons.
Judge Maxwell, Of the Supreme Court
administered the oath Of Office, and i'm.
nrdately followed the address OF his EX-
ceIIency, which give below. During
its delivery the Governor was frequently
Interrupted by applause from thcmodcratc
portion Of the audience. The revolution
lists were notiCcably disappointed in hear
ing the Governors approval of the Flick
Amendment and not hearing anything OF
their pet convention scheme. After the
other State officers had qualified the crowd
without reference 10 any order, hastencd
10 the Senate Chamber and partook freely
ofa collation. prepared by tho Charleslo-
mans, consisting OF champagne and cake.
Governors Stevenson and Jacob each re-
spondcd to tho loud calls for speeches,
that Of Gov. Stevenson eliciting hearty
applause. Two gentlemen got into n diill'
Guilty, resulting in cut heads and u display
ofknives and rcvolvCrs. Col. Early re-
Cciyed severe head cut accidentally.
Democrats and Republicans join in
dcploring the total absence of order or
system in the proceedings, and the want
Of the courtesies usual everywhere
towards retiring officials, displayed on
this occasion.
GOV. JACOBS INAUGURAL Address.
Ftll0tr. Citizens Of West Virginia;
BY the Constitution and laws vi tho
State, | am charged with tho performance
Of duties which more or less affect the in.
terests and wcll.being Of all the people,
However light these duties may seem,
when compared with those i'm.
posed upon the chief executive OIL.
GERS of some Of our larger sister
States, with respect to the freedom
and welfare of our own people, they arc
most grave and important. l do not,
therefore, enter into the office 10 which |
have been elected by your suitragGs with
TINT confidence in my ability to meet
successfully all its responsibilities, which
one with larger experience in public at.
fairs might rightlully claim; nor do |
look upon the Office itself as an empty
honor simply, TO be conferred by the pcO.
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 1t to be my duty to regard
the rights and interests Ol that party
alone. The views and wishes, and, may
not also say the prejudiCcs, to some CX.
tent, OF all, must be regarded and respect
cd The minority us well as the majority
the few as well rs the many-havc
rights which cannot be trampled upon
without giving shock to our whole pOlit-
icul system. The blind, unrCOsOning rule
Of the majority over this minority is
wholly at variance with the spirit Of our
Republican institutions, and It We ever
lose our bOastGd freedom 1t will be when
we forget that Others have rights as well
uS ourselves. Our written Constitution
and the laws made in pursuance thereof,
are intended TO afford ample protection to
the rights of all citizens alike, and if 1t
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 pre-.
served inviulatC, and that the laws be
faithfully executed. 1t is my province
neither 10 make laws nor, to cOnstrue them
except SO tar us authorized to do so. The
Legislative and Judicial Departments OF
the Government have their well defined
and independent powers and limitations,
and their appropriate functions must not
he invaded by the Executive Department.
The continued advancement OF our peo-
pie in wealth, and in the arts OF civilized
lille, demand that US small u proportion Of
their means shall be withdrawn from the
productive forms Of industry in the way o!
taxes as is compatible with the require.
ments Of well organized Government
The position that heavy taxation is ulti
mately no loss or injury to "a people, IRON
the fact that the money drawn from them
in this way is refunded by its expenditure
among them, is u dangerous iallacy.
Every dollar unnecessarily collected us II
tax is the conversion OF so much produc'
tive resources into nOn.produCtivC eX.
pCnditurCs.
In view Of the fact that honor and 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, it
will bc absolutely necessary that our ordi'
nary expenditures shall be reduced TO the
lowest amounts that our necessities will
permit. That the State may promptly
meet all Of its obligations and the mach'
merry of its government be kept in proper
motion, officials having charge of the
collection OF the public dues, must be re-
Quired strictly and accurately to account
for all moneys with which they are chnrg'
able.
A system Of public instruction has be-
come Il part Of the policy OF nearly MI the
States OF the Union. This will always
require considerable outlay Of money,
but It is believed that system, simpler
aud better adapted to the peculiar char.
acter Of our State, can bC devised that
will be less expensive and more satislac
tory in its results While | can have no
voice in the imposition Of taxes, it will be
my care to see that the money Nppropria.
ted By the Legislature from time to time
shall be honestly used for the purposes
intended. 1t is most dishonorable to
think that the public money can be con.
trolled or disposed OF with less caution or
care than we employ in our private affairs.
The liberal and enlightened policy Of
the Legislature which has recently nd.
iourned, looking to the full and complete
entranchisement Of all the citizens Of
the State, will doubtless be received with