Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-03-15
INAUGURATION OF GOV. JACOB.

Governor Jacob was duly anaugura-
ted at the Capitol, in the presence OF
both Houses of the Legislature, on the
4th of March, as were the other State
officers. The Governor appointed Chas'
HedrSck, Esq, of Charleston, as oecre-
tary of State, which appointment was
confirmed by the Senate.
The following is Gov, Jacobs in'"
gural address - -.
Gentlemen of the Senate ana C Gt sns
House Of Delegates Fellow oa''A ths
of West Virginia-ln ASSUMING, h;f Er
~ o va" ,;ms the duties of the Chief hA-
s se,',;,a ' office of the State, desire TO
eou.,ou I nv deep sense OF obllga-
ton to the good people OF yves. a .nd
o;nia for their continued eoniue.oe s. a
s Ii is impossible tor me 10 meee
,s"", al at their homes, and by their
E lnesi' o. and say to each, 81 thank you'
' '. arail myself of this public coca,
G ;1n ~ tender them my warmest ana
s $40" q grsteful thanks for their unfaiter
ii'os, ,,SSnnort and personal good will. In
~" ;,,r ~t t5r their generous confidence, l
,r' As tar as have power, TO
li,nsrJ tenderly all their rights, to pro-
80 and consult their highest Interests,
and 10 protect their honor and good
name as a people.
Two wears ago, without any experi-
encc in the cares, aud responsibilities OF
this Office, when was about to enter
mon its duties for the first time, used
the following language Though cleo
ted 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 l not also
say, the predjudices to some extent OF
ali must be respected. The minority
as well as the majority-the few as well
as the many have rights which cannot
be trampled upon without giving a
shock to our political system, The
blind unreasoning rule Of the majority
over the minority is wholly at variance
with the spirit of our republican instl-
tutions. And if we ever lose our boast
ed freedom, it will be when we forget
that others have rights as well as our
selves.
After an experience Of two years al
though | now take my Office by the tree
suffrages of men of all parties, and
shades of opinion, have no reason to
retract these sentiments. L believe
them to be founded OH justice and TRUTH
and neither reproach nor personal favor
shall cause rue to swerve from the APP
plication of them to the varied duties OF
my office. :,
No office can rightfully be exercised
for mere personal, local or partiSane ends;
an attempt to do produces discordant
factions among the people, one strug-
giing to obtain supremacy over the 9th
tr. Government instruction for the
benefit of all citizens alike, thus becomes
the machinery in the hands of one fac
1ion for the oppression and Illumination
of another. History is full OF unhappy
examples of this kind. We are making
history to-day, but | trust we may never
blot its page with the stain OF a similar
exlmr le, 49,.
After all, what do the teverlsh polltl-
cal struggles Of the day avail IN the
presence of the stern and unbending
princiYlas which lie at the foundation
If all free governments. Mere partisan
contests are ephemeral, and either per
ish in the hour in which they are born,
or pass away rs chatf before the wind,
when great interests are at stake 10
such interests, to the preservation OF the
good we have already acquired, to the
advancement OF the people Ill intelii-
gence, virtue and material prosperity, L
shall eudeavor to bend all my energies,
rather than to foster political strife and
personal chickering's.
With a high-spirite1, liberty loving
people with great native vlSor OF mlnd
we have but to afford them wise ana
liberal means of cducation,to make them
the peers of any people in intelligence
and moral force.
With untold sources of wealth locked
nm within our borders, we have but to
develope these great native resources,to
place the State side by side with her
most prosperous sisters. She is still in
her infancy. 1t will be chiefly your
care and responsibility, gentlemen OF
the Legislature, so TO shape her future
policy as TO secure her speedy ana
vigorous growth. 1t will be mine,so to
put into execution laws that you may
pass as not to retard or check her IN her
progress.
In this age Of Improvement and pro
gress, to stand still while others are ad-
vancing, is equivalent to retrogressioh
and decay Of former times. No alterna-
tive is lett us except to keep step with
our sister States, as they advance or TO
fall behind, and accept position of in
ieriority. am willing to join hands
with any persons, whether friend or foe,
that favor an advance movement of the
people, and in the deyclopement Of our
material resources.
In the discharge OF the duties OF my
office, is it too much to ask the aid and
support Of my ftilow-citizensin allthings
that may seem just and proper, or is it
unreasonable to expect that patient for
bearance on their part, which the trailty
OF human judgment may generally right
fully claim for errors or mistakes
TO enable me to discharge these du-
ties wisely aud well, | humbly invoke
N,,,;ob.v Cod And