The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-01-22
Gov. % INAUeURAL AppREss,

wv SpAAro AN4DGJAAL ADDRESS.
Felloe-eitissns Of Terms After passing
through many yicissitudcs and trials, and
being chastened IN the ordeal Of adversely,
you az length have reached the haven where
the nights and powers Of self-govefnmeni
are yours, and the duties and fesponsibili-
ties Of that condition are devolTed upon
you. To-day, for the first time since she
emerged from the ruin and disaster Of the
great civil war, Texas sees the inauguration
IN her Capitol Of q government chosen by
the free and untnmmeled suffrage OF her
people, having their confidence, and look
ing 70 them Tor support and socountabiiity.-
Let the heart Of the patriot sifob with JOY,
for the old landmarks q constitutions
representative goveIp car, SO long lost, are
this day restored. - 'ns ancient ilbersles
Of the neonlo ofIexas re-established. The
,ivtne and diligence Of the country, 10
lonoer ost<cised, now WELD their legiti-
mate i.Edence, and the government of
s0enceforth Is TO be administered in
H. Interest and for the benefit Of the peo-
Die, and to reflect their viii. / congratulate
you, fellow-citizens upon this grand con-
summation, upon your restoration to that
which is the birthright of the people Of
every State, in this great Repubnc-the
right Of local sclf-government q right re-
served by each Of the several States when
they formed the Union, and created the
Rlicrai Government. That right which
reserves to the States respectively the
power 10 regulate and control their In
tcrnal and domestic affairs, and 80 20 shape
their policy and direct the operations OF
their government. as to give scope and de-
yelopmcnt TO the inclinations and genius
OF their people. The wise founders Of our
r..
pansc Of territory, so diversified In climate,
soil, production, and population, perpetual
Earring and discord would ensue, arising out
Of the different, and in many cases conflict
ing, interests and views Of the various
States, II the notions Of proper public pol
icy Of any one or more Of tho States should
be enforced on another State contrary to
It's own opinions Of what was best for its
interests. Hence the fundamental idea,
which underlies the Federal constitution, is
a recognition OF the perfect right of each
State in its own way to work out its own
destiny, and seek the prosperity and happi-
ness Of les people, subject only to the re-
quirement that Its government shall be re-
publican in form, leaving to the general
government the care and control Of all mat.
tiers pertaining TO the common interest and
general welfare of oil the States. This
wise distribution Of power leaves in Che
State governments respectively, which are
Immediately under the influence and con-
troll Of the people, and reflect directly the
popular will, jurisdiction over the near
est and dearest rights OF the citi-
zen to regulate his conduct, The use,
possession, title, aud descent of his
property, his dulles as member of society,
in fine, to govern mm and his family, his
home and his ireside, in every particular
wherein the interests Of society require that
they shall be governed. How indispensable
20 the liberty of the citizen it is that the
government which thus controls and dedls
with his person and property should be near
him and directly accountable to him. On
the other hand, 10 the Federal government,
which Is more remote, Inaccessible, and
therefore not so directly accountable to the
people, is delegated power over matters that
90 not so nearly concern the people, in
which they arc not so directly and person
ally interested, but In which the people of
all the States have common and general
interest, Under our Federal constitution
these two powers are so adjusted as to work
in perfect harmony, each achieving in its
appropriate sphere the desired result
and the two combined constituting that
grand fabric Of free government which is the
In this plan of government, the wisest
ever devised by the ingenuity of man, the
right Of local seli-government, so indispen-
sable TO q preservation OF the liberties of the
people and 10 their material prosperity, is
the fundamental principle. In virtue Of it,
aoeb State h0isS frco To frrsisa its- iatercsts1
aud the happiness and prosperity of its peo-
pie, according TO its own ideas of proper
policy, possesses opportunity and margin
for development and advancement, which
is limited only by its resources and
the wisdom Of its government and people.
Having an equal voice through its represen
tatives in the administration of the Federal
government; sharing its burdens and its
benefits alike with its sisters and having
with them common interest and COM
mon pride in its greatness and power, its
bcnetcence and care, each State may in the
career chosen by tho viii Of its people
speed onward TO the fulillment Of its des-
tiny; while the Federal government uniting
IN itself the continuing effort Of all the
States, receives momentum from its eonsti-
tuents and represents within its constitu-
tional sphere the aggregate greatness and
power of them all. The adoption of the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend
nents TO the Federal constitution, which
asa rs binding as II promulgated in the orr
ssnal instrument, has taken from the States
AID vested in the Federal government,
powers formerly residing the States, and
it's true thatin tho operative agency Of the
Federal government there is a natural ten
dency to an absorption of power from the
States, which tendency was greatly stimu-
lated during our civil war and has grown
constantly since. Still the essential princi-
pies Of local self-govemment remain to
the States respectively untouched and now
that slavery and secession are dead and
buried beyond the possibility Of rcsurrec-
ton and no sectional question disturbs the
public mind; since the States recently under
going reconstruction have been restored to
their constitutional relations with theF'ederal
government, aud the people remittted to
their original rights and duties; since a true
and lasting peace has caine. and tho power
and authority Of the Federal government,
Within limits which cover all the issues Of
the war, have been amply vindicated, and
are acknowledged by all; since it is the
Inherent right Of every American citizen to
90 So ia the interest Of good government,
has not the time arrived whom. without be-
ing obnoxious to the charge Of tisloyalty,
we may rccur 20 original principles on
which che government was founded, discuss
them among ourselves. and base our politi-
cal action upon themi Is il Inconsistent
with 4 patriotic devotion 10 the Union and
the Constitution 70 do so! IS It not rather
the highest duty OF the citizen 70 study
and understand the principles 81 tho gov
eminent under which he lives. and in de-
fCnse 81 which, if necessary, he should Law
down his liies Il, whilc pefpetuating the
Union, wc, at the same time. would pre-
serve therieht OF local self government IN the
States from the dangers which menace It