The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-01-19
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV.

appear in this presence to-day.
in obedience to the Constitution aad
laws, to take the oath of office and
assume the duties of Governor of
Georgia. / come in response to the
call of the people of my native State
"A people who, having been scourg-
ed with fire and sword, and have had
their patience still more sorely tried
by want Of integrity in office, and by
corruption in high places. But af-
ter long and cherries night of
misrule, let us unite in INDUCING
the hope that a brighter day, bring
ing with it peace, happiness and
prosperity to our stricken people, is
already dawning upon our beloved
State.
The duties required by the Con
situation and Laws, Of the Chief
Magistrate Of tho State, are clearly
indicated by the oa,h of his office. -
He swears to execute faithfully the
Office of Governor, and to preserve,
protect and defend tho Constitution
of the State and of the United States.
When he takes this oath, he pledges
his sacred honor before Almighty
God, and the assembled people who
have conferred upon him the high
est office in their gift, that he will
honestly and faithfully execute the
duties of that office, and that he will
to the utmost Of his ability maintain
the fundamental laws of the land -
How can these great duties be met
and discharged ? The answer to
this question is easily made; bu:
how difficult the performance Of the
duties here set forth!
All civil government should have
for its object the preservation of the
rights of the persons and property
of the people, and it is the first and
highest duty Of governments, by
wise and wholesome legislation, to
provide security for these sacred
rights. But the mere enactment of
proper laws is not sufficient for the
accomplishment of the object indi-
Gated. Unless there is also a strict
and faithful enforcement Of the laws,
society must be without that feeling
of security upon which the prosperi-
ty and happiness of the people de-
pend. The honor of the State, as
we'll as the best interests of the citi-
zen, demand that Laws passed for the
good of society, should be promptly
and justly enforced. We may pity
the criminal, but when we 60 be-
You'd this and interpose to shield him
from the punishment due to his
wrong-doing, this feeling ceases to
be mere sentimental weakness, and
becomes an act of cruel injustice to
society. Prompt and certain execu
ton Of the laws is the surest, and in
deed the only elfectual means of pre-
venting crime. The courts, whose
peculiar province it is to try persons
accused of violations of the penal
code, and to pronounce judgment
upon the guilty, should be left to the
discharge Of this sworn duty, free
from Interference on the part o. the
Executive. When, by the abuse Of
power vested in him, to be cXer-
cised only when the ends of justice
and the welfare of society demand it,
the Chief Magistrate of tho State
grants dispensations to criminals,
and suspends the operation of the
laws prescribing the punishment due
to convicted felons, he becomes the
greatest of all criminals himself, and
merits the punishment from which
he seeks to shield the less guilty.
Under the Constitution, it is the
duty of the Governor, with the con-
currence of the Senate, to fill the
judicial offices of the State. If he
would faithfully discharge this duty,
he must see to it that none are in
vested with the ermine of Justice but
honest and capable men. A vir-
tuous and independent Judiciary is
blessing to any people. Ignoring all
distinctions growing out of condition,
race or color, and holding the scales
with an even and steady hand, it
metes out justice alike to the rich and
poor, the proud and humble. 1t en-.
camps around the weak and defense
less, and keeps watch and ward over
them with a vigilance that is sleep
less, and unpurchasable with gold
or power.
But it is of the last Importance that
the Chief Magistrate should himself |
have clean hands. He may appoint /
none but upright and faithful men
to office, and yet if he be not also
upright and faithful, these good acts
will count for but little. He must
not only call around him honest
men, bat he must himself be honest
n the widest and deepest sense of
hat word. Neither the glitter of
wealth, the seductions of popular
avor, nor the whispers of ambition,
should be permitted TO allure him
rom the path of duty, let it be never
10 thorny and rugged.
It's not necessary, however, on
IN occasion like this, to enumerate
N tho Jntins re,uired If tho hands