The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-11
Governor Jacobs Inaugural Address.

Governor Jacobs Inaugural Address.
Gentlemen of tho Senate and House Of
DISQUALIFICATION. Citizens Of West Vir.
gIHtG:
In assuming the second time the duties
of the Chief Executive office of the State
desire to acknowledge my deep sense oil
obligation to the good people Of West Viz.
ginia for their continued confidence and
esteem. 1t is impossible Tor me 10 meet
them all at their homes, and by their fire.
sides, and say TO each, II thank you" but
avail myself Of this public occasion to
tender them my warmest and most CRATE
full thanks for their unfaltering support
and personal good will. In return for
their generous confidence, promise, as
far rs have power, to guard tenderly all
their rights, TO promote and consult their
highest and best interests, and to protect
their honOr'Gnd good name as u people.
Two years ago, without any expert
enCe in the cares and responsibilities OF
this office, when was about 10 enter up
on ils duties for the first time, l used the
following language: Though elected to
office by one OF the great political parties
OF the country, ! do not conceive it to be
my duty 10 regard the rights and inter-
esls of that party al0nc.c The views and
wishes and may not also say, the pre-
iudlCes to some extent, OF all must be re-
spcCted. The minority as well 0s ina.
jOrity-thc few MS well as the many have
rights which cannot be tramplCd upon
without giving shock to our political
system. The blind unreasOning rule OF
the majority over the minorityis wholly
at variance with the spirit OF our rcpub-
lican institutions. And If we ever lose
our boosted freedom, il will be when we
forget that others have rights as well as
ourselves"
After an experience Of two years, al.
though | now take my OfllCe,by the tTee
suffrage OF men OF all parties, and shades
of opinion, | have no reason to retract
these sentiments. | believe them to be
founded on justice and truth, and neither
reproach nor personal favor shall cause
me TO SwerVe from the application OF
them 10 the varied duties Of my office.
No office can rightfully be exercised
for mere personal, local or partisan ends:
an attempt to do so produces discordant
factions among the people, one struggling
10 obtain supremacy over tho other,
Government instruction for the benefit Of
all citizens alike, thus becomes the. ma
chinGry in the hands OF one faction for
the oppression and humiliation Of Anoth.
or. 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 oil similar example.
After all, what do the ieverish political
struggles Of the day avail in the presence
Of the stern and unbGnding principles
which lie ut the foundation Of all Tree gov.
ernments. Mere partisan contests are
ephcmeral, and either perish in the hour
in which they are born, or pass away as
chat before the wind, when great inter-
ests arc at stake To such interests, to
the preservation Of the good we have al
ready acquired, to the advancement OF the
people in intelligence, virtue and material
prosperity, shall endeavor to bend all
my energies, rather than foster political
strife and personal pickering,
With high'spirited, liOGrty-iovlng
people Of great native vigor Of mind,
we have but 10 afford them wise Ond lib
eral means OF education, TO make them
the peers OF any peoplei in intelligence and
moral force.
With untold sources Of wealth locked
up within our borders, we have but 70
develop these great natural resources, 10
place the stale 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 Leg.
islGtUEe, so to shape her future policy us
to secure TO her q speedy and vigorous
growth. II will be mine, SO to nut into
execution laws that you may pass as moi
to retard or check her In her progress =
In this age Of Improvement and pro.
gress, to stand still while others are ad-
vancing, 1t is equivalent 10 retTogressiOn
and decay OF former times. No alterna-
tive Is left US except to keep step with our
sister States as they advance, or TO fall be,
hind, and accept position Of lnferiorliy.
am willing 10 Join hands with any per-
Sons, whether friend or foe, that favor an
advance movement Of the people, and iu
the development Of our material resources,
In the discharge Of the duties of my
office, is 1t too much to ask the aid and
support OF my fellow citizens in allthings
that may seem Just or proper, or Is il un.
reasonable to expect that patient iOrbear.
RnCe on their part, which the fraity OF hui
man judgment may generally rightIully
claim Tor errors or mistakes
To enable me TO discharge these duties
wisely and well, l hum6ly invoke the
guidance Of Almighty God. And | pray
that hia choicest hles1inryu rDO,, .o., - ~