Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-16
Full Text of Gov. Chamberlain's
Inaugural Address.

Gentlemen fMs Senate and House Of Represen-
tatires Il accept the office to which. by the voice
Of the majority Of the people of this State, have
. second time been called, with q full knowledge
of the grave responsibilities and difficulties by
which 1t 10 now attended No considerations, e1-
cept the clesrest convictions of duty, would be
sufficient to induce to accept this great trust,
under the circumstances which now surround us.
l regard the present hour in South Carolina as a
crisis at which no patriotic citizen should shrink
from any post to which public duty may call him
In sober Judgment our present struggle is in de-
Tense of the foundations of our Government and
institutions. II we fall now our Government-the
government Of South Carolina-will no longer
rest upon the consent of the governed, expressed
BY free vote by . majority of our people. If
our opponents triumph, care not under what
guise of legal forms, we shall witness the over
throw Of free government in our State. My chief
Anxiety 10 that may have the frmnes. and wis
dom 70 act in manner worthy Of the great inter-
esn SO largely committed to my keeping. My
chief public care shall be to contribute my utmost
efforts to defend the rights, to guard the peace
and to promote the welfare Of all the people of
our State. The constant occupation of nv time
with other duties which l could not postpone has
prevented me from preparing statements and
recommendations respecting our public affairs.
At the earliest prActcabl- aay will discharge this
duty. Our greatest interest-our most command
ing duty now-is to stand firmly, each in his an
pointed place, against the aggressions and allure
ments Of our political opponents. Our position
up to the present time has been within the clear
limits Of our constitution and laws. Nothing but
the cowardice or weakness. or treachery of our
own friends can rob US Of the victory. state
what facts show, what overwhelming evidence
proves, when say that if we yield that we shall
witness the contamination of deliberate and
cruel conspiracy on the part of the democratic
party Of this State to overcome by brute force the
political will of majority of twenty thousand of
the lawful voters of this State. have mourned
over public abuses which have heretofore arisen
here. l have, according to the measure of my
ability lsbored to make the conduct of our public
affairs honest and honorable. But stand ap-
pslled ct the crimes against freedom. against pub
lie order, against good government, nay, against
government itself which our recent political expe-
rience here has presented. And l am the more
appalled, when see the North-that portion of our
country which is secure in its freedom, and civil
order. and the great political party which has
controlled the Republic for sixteen years
divided in its sympathies and judgement upon
such questions. 1t Is written in blood on the pa
ges Of our recent national history that no Govern
ment can rest with safety upon the enforced sls-
very degradation Of race. In the full blaze of
that great example Of retributive justice, which
swept sway ha If million of the best lives of our
country, We see the American people divided BY
party lines upon the question OF dsfrau ch isement
and degradation of the same race whose physical
freedom was purchased at such q cost. And what
is more astonishing STILL there republicans who
permit the errors which have attended the first ef-
fort of this race in self government to chill their
sympatbies to such an extent that
they stand coldly by and practically
say that the peace of politi-
cal servitude il better than the abuses and dsquiet
which newly acquired freedom has brought. /
denounce the conduct Of the recent election on
the part Of our political opponents in this State -
. vast, brutal outrage. Fraud, prescription. IN
sinidation, oil the forms of violence, ranging
through all its degrees up to wsnton murder,
were its effective methods. The circumstances
under which we have assembled Today show US
how nearly successful has been this great con-
upirscy. II 10 for Us in the face Of all DANGER 10
the face Of false timid friends, In the face Of
open enemies to show that we understand the
,suss 10 which we are engaged, and that no
Earthly sacrifice 10 too great TO secure its triumph