The daily gazette., 1875-01-19
Inaugural Address
OF HIS EXcELLENcy,
JOHN p. GOCHR A N,
GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE.
Delivered at DOper, Jdhudi'y
I9th, 1870.
Gentlemen Of the Senafs
aad House Of Representatives.:

OnthB Of once prtSrflteu ny iht N'phoh-
tutions Of the United States and OF this
State, | propose TO address you hfiehy
upon those questions of public interest
which the proprieties OF this occasion
and the exigencies of the times seem 10
rende, important.
In assuming the duties OF the high Of
fee have received ut the hands nf my
fellow citizens, | desire to make public
Of the Obligations
feel for this gratifying proof OF their
confidence and regard.
To be chosen by the people of my ma
tive State, in the closing years of a long
life passed in their midst. to occupy the
highest station Of trust and honor III
their gift, fills me with tho most CRATE
full emotion.
;. But while | appreciate the distinction
conferred upon ME | am not unmlndtul
of the duties and grave responsibilities
with which il is accompanied.
To merit that honor and to retain that
confidence by u faithful discharge OF the
duties of the office to which have been
chosen shall be my constant aim ani
effort.
Viewing official power as public trust,
and not private perquisite. ! shall ex-
ercise it conscientiously, and to the best
of my ability, for public and not for per-
sonal ends for the welfare Of the entire
State and people, and not in the interest
| of any particular section or clnss.
APPOINTING POWER.
BY virtue of express provisions OF the
| Constitution of Delaware, the supreme
executive powers OF the State are vested
| in the Governor.
| Among these is the power to appoint
all officers whose Offices are established
by the Constitution, or shall be estab-
lished by law, and whose appointments
are not therein otherwise provided for.
This Constitutional power lies at the
root of all good government and should
be exercised with the most careful dis
elimination, and with the view of SO
llecting only honest. capable and Jealous
public servants,
Public Offices are created for the bene
lat of the people and not for selfish anc
individual ends.
This consideration should always b,
kept in view both in the creation OF oili
ces and in the appointments to fill them
II New offices should he created only o.
urgent necessity requires, and should b'
abolished promptly when 1t ceases.
"a multitude of new Offices and swarm
of officers to harass our people and ea
. our substance" should be as odious t.
us as they wore to our ancestors.
The disposition of the present time
to multiply unnecessary Offices, and tn
deploralle consequences resulting there
from, have occasioned disquietude in tn
minds OF all true friends OF economics
! and well ordered government.
Fortunately, the offices in this Stat
are comparatively few and limited to til
requirements Of strict necessity.
So that. whilst fragrant and wide sprea
official corruption has existed elsewher
it has been our just pride that it is III
known in the administration OF our Stat
i affairs.
With proper care in the selection
A of appoint acs to office this eny iabls di
y tinction may be maintained, and sha
b earnestly strive to preserve reputatic
SO honorable TO our people.
PARDoNINd POWER.
al Our State Constitution also provid
that the Governor shall have power
remit fines and forfeitures, and to ral
ireprieves and pardons, except N cases
:. limpeachment."
n This high prerogative is entrusted
u the Executive in order that the rigoro
execution of the law may be temper
with mercy.
, Its object is to provide rene,
y against possible error in the admin
tration of public justice, and to sa
the deserving subject of Executive clei
ency from otherwise irremediable injui
z Human punishments are designed
NJ prevent the commission OF crime by l
a. reforming, or deterring the offender,
u by depriving him of the power of m
u chief
If therefore, the pardoning power
~ oaralaoclu anrrlntlV
100 cised, it becomeI an instrument
,u0 evil to defeat the objects of public il
,00 ,,0Oo tice and place society at the mercy
~ ~ the evil doer.
I'D should be at least as cogent as the q
100 peals of private sympathy, and both
lc0 ouirc that executive clemency shall
o00 o00 carefully and conscientiously exercise.
M M The Constitution further provides Il
800 the Executive "shall from time to Il
600 give to the General Assembly informal
000 000 of affairs concerning the State anu
g0 commend to their consideration 8,
NV predecessor hay ing complied so
600 Gently with this Constitutional requ
900 ment, l shall restrict myself to the c
.oo sideration of few questions OF pul
'ooo interest which seem of present iml
Ter tance.
E.. FINANCIAL AFFAIBs
be Our community, in common with
$. other States of the Union, is sntfel
Inc from stagnation in almost every bra
Of business, and wide spread d;streS
ms consequent among all ella sses OF our
!iZens.
ion The causes for this depression and
ID. alysis of industry may, in great deg
be found in the destruction OF the
tural market for our .mannfactures
Dy other products in the Southern Sta
'r'" which, by deplorable T'srule, have
come unsafe for the investment OF c
tai, and so impoverished and prostri
as to be unable to prrchase our com
dities or to supply thew owl in excha
A.. and in tine enol nous outlay OF cal
- upon distant and premature railway,
other enterpr. .ses, from which no rel
could, or can reasonably be expected
sts til the lapse of many years.
Tnis large outlay of capital Il
diff therefore, SO far as the business OF
hand ! country is concerned, he considered
0ns oao5 utterly sunk for the present generf