The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-03
Redeemed Alabama.

The inauguration of Gov. Houston, the sue
cessful Democratic candidate, took place on
the Oath ut., and was attended with rejoicings
appropriate to the occasion. Under the con-
troll and dominion of carpet-baggers for the
last seven years, Alabama has suffered untold
eutrages at the hands of venal and unprinci-
pied ofice-holders whose purpose was to de-
grade the manhood and despoil the honest citi-
zens of the State The united and earnest
efforts of the Democrats, lighting squarely upon
political issues, proved gloriously successful on
the Sed of November, and the shackfes of
modern despotism were thrown of, never again
to fetter free people. The colored people
aided to some extent in this good work, and
receive the result of an overwhelming victory
with greater enthusiasm than their white
allies.
The Inauguration ceremonies were imposing
and grand, reminding one of the most auspi-
cious days of the Republic, when every one
reioiced in this land of liberty, and felt secure
at all times in person and property. Hun
dreds and thousands of citizens assembled in
Montgomery from every portion of the State,
and with flags unfurled and the booming of
cannon, mingled with the loud huzzas of re-
deemed people, the victorious chieftain was es-
corted to the capitol, where in the midst of his
fellow.citizens, Gov. Houston took the oath of
Office and delivered his inaugural address, which
was spirited, sensible, patriotic and timely. AS
showing the tone and temper of his speech, and
manifesting the purposes and desires of the
Southern people, we make the following ex-
tracts:
With firm determination to respect and
maintain my oath of Office, which shall be a
seal to my conscience, INTERESTINGLY under.
take to perform such duties as it impose, and
will regard it as one of my highest and most
sacred obligations to see that the laws are faith
fully executed and the rights of all citizens,
without regard to race, color or previous condi-
tion, duly guarded and protected. Let this oc-
casion inspire the conviction that we live in a
land of liberty, regulated by law. without which
the citizen would have no security against do
mestic discord or violence, and that our duty
to preserve such laws in their constitutional
nurity and power should not and cannot be
avoided. Let us dismiss from our thoughts and
forget whatever acrimonies there may have
been engendered by the severe conflict in which
we have been recently engaged, and draw from
it only lessons of moderation and wisdom, which
shall be exercised for the improvement of the
present and for our guidance in the future.
We should understand our victory and so en-
ploy it as to profit by its results. Our rejoic.
ing should not be alone because of tri-
umph over defeated adversary, but also
because of the success of those great
principles which we believe essential to
the successful administration of good gov
ernment. And in the day of our gadness
we must not forget our obligations and respon-
sibilities to the State imposed upon us by our
success. Alabama is embarrassed; her lndeht-
edness is great, aud her people are impoverished
Time will be necessary to correct errors OF the
past and establish confidence in the future
I've must restore the credit Of the State to its
former high and honorable position, preserve
inviolate her good faith, and, at the same time.
protect her people against excessive, unjust and
imnroper taxation. Wise legislation is required
to ccomplish these ends. Governments were
made by the people to secure their happiness
and to protect their rights, and it is the duty Of
tn, 90 who may be selected to administer the
jova IN do 80 with reference to the attainment
of these ends.
So far as it may be in my power as Governor
of Alabama, shall regard it as sacred duty
unceasingly to use all proper means for the ac'
complishment Of these grand purposes, with
malice toward none and charity for ALL" The
citizens of Alabama truly desire peace and
perfect restoration of fraterna relations between
all portions of our common country They are
loyal to the government of the United States
and will readily yield a cheerful obedience te
its authority and laws. They only ask to be
permitted, under the constitutional laws OF the
country, to exercise, secure from unwarran'abIt
1t home by just and wisely exercised laws