The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-26
ADDRESS

nary 1876.
Gngemea ofHe Senate aa8 Horse
70 Represeaftires and FeHo'r ct'-
Gems;
Three years ago. when The oath OF
Office was administered to me as Tx
oeuiive. I toox occasion 10 express
the sense Of my Infinite obligations
10 the people of the State who hon
ored me with repeated proofs Of their
confidence aud good opinion, and Hl
would be unworthy aGectation II /
did not now renew my aekno~ledg
mepfs 10 the same generous constit-
uencv. who, after a three years
stewardship Of the highest Office in
their rift. have called me again to as
sumo its important duties.
The continued favor and %iaaexible
sBpoort my conduct Of public affairs
has received from the citizens OF the
Commonwealth, bespeak from me IN
return. the utmost zeal and fidelity
il their service, and my highest ambl-
ton VIII be reached if NY admins
tration win be remembered as an
honorable one that studied and pro-
vided for their best interests. l still
have as exalted en- opinion Of the
rreattrust You have conferred upon
mo as when FIRST confronted with its
novel and grave responsibilities, and
despite the experience had, am none
the less distrustful OF my abilities 10
meet its requirements, bat Whatever
may be my other Deficiencies, / do
not know what it is 10 be wanting
10 attachment 10 my State, or aHec-
tiop for her people who have els
ti0gaishei nae with SO many oblig-
ing and conspicuous marks of par
tally.
am not unmiadfal that tie wei
fare and progress Of q State depend
less upou It's government and rulers
than upon the habits aad ciIcum-
stances OF its citizens, ana that no
mear-urcs Of administration can pro
duce any substantial good unless they
are detected By pablo opinion or arc
bscotteD of the public necessities
A people must beripelJr reform ORE
form con work them nOpermaneut ben
Eft. Invention may exhaust itself 10
co~utrirauces ofpublic utility and rul-
ers may be never so wise 10 their devi-
co-. but if TIE dispositions and intcili
gence of a people are unpreparod Tor
The reception OF remedies they VIII
not takc root in their affections or az
fairs.
Imbucd with these convictions, the
muxims for the conduct OF my adj
ministration Uere easily formed. III
was only necessary 10 resolve that
its acts should have no selfish faint,
that they should be colored by no
personal predictions or warped by
any iavorite theories, and that inspir-
ed neither by fear nor favor they
should aim TO reacct thePeople's viii.
With the lights with which Heaven
has endowed INC | have slriven TO adj
here to these maxims, and if at any
time / have failed to conform thereto
Il has not been from lack Of patient
investigation and honest czertion or
Of atender and jealous regard for
the honor Of the STATE but from a
misconcepiton or Misrepresentation OF
the wishes or needs of her people.
10 the future then, as in the past, as
the Executive Of the Commonwealth,
lean have 90 interest TO serve that
il not her interest, aGd g embrace
no doctrine OF embark ia any cause
that will not advance the material
prosperity and premote.the cnlightcn-
mont OF her citizens.
Ny opinions upon the questions
that effect the government Of the
State have bee presented in my an
nual message and it is unnecessary
% again refer 10 them.
When we look around Us, gentle
men Of the Legislature, how various,
multiform and intricate are the inter
osts Of our great Commonwealth.
Certainly nj "a proud distinction 10 be
chosen to administer the affairs Of q
State that has within her limits so
many Of the elements Of empire and
IL behooyes US TO see 90 il that neither
its dignity or prosperity suffers
through any default Of ours. Let Us
remit no effort that viii enlarge the
happiness or benefits finer citizens;
let as be distinguished by loyalty TO
her interests, by a jealous care Of her
institutions, a liberal understanding
of and provision for her necessities,
by humane attention to the wants of
her poor and afflicted, and enlightened
treatment Of her criminal classes,
aud By a tolerance of opinion, politi-
cal aud religious, so thai when we
are discharged Of our trusts we can
deliver them 10 our successors with
,be approval 0f our c0ascieuces, and,
lct up hope, with the blessings Of a
grateful people.
With this renewal Of my obljga-
tons as Your Executive, I invite the
earnest and active cooperation and
counsel Of all good citizens, and i'm
pioge that my Official acts may have
the sanction OF Divine Providence.