The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-01-17
GOVERNOR NICHOLAS INAUGURAL

Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
Representatives, and Fellow citizens:
In obedience to tie call Of my fell
ow-ctizcns, as expressed through the
ballot box, by Il majority of more than
eight thousand votes, | assume the
duties Of Governor of my native State
under circumstances Of marked diff
Gully, and at rnIiud of very general
distress. For nine years a few men,
having no identification with tile peo-
pie of this State, either in Gerlingo in
terrs;, have shaped and controlled
their drstinies. The rrs.rlt Of this an
natural! condition of alt;tirs has been
that, in spite of rich soil. genial eli
mate ana immense resources, we find
the people to-day in wretchcdness aud
poverty. The very gifts Of kind
and 1eniticcnt Creator have served to
these men rs additional Incentives to
acts of oppression and wrong. Not
satisfied with tie injury which they
have inflicted, the AUTHORS Of these
calalnities. are again struggling to
maintain their ascundnncy by fraud,
aud TO establish over this people Il
usurpation more glazing and infamous
than that which ends to-day its bane-
fad existence. The people OF this
State'are determined, and [ also am
determined, that this effort shall be
fuiled. The rights and liberties Of
| Louisiana must not he Suffered to he
destroyed. There may be grave diff
culties in the present manner OF deal
| ing with his matter, but they will be
overcome, and hereafter npon the duty
and legally constituted authorities OF
the State will devolve the proper ad.
ninistratiOn of its affairs. The mate.
rial prosperity of Louisiana and the
happiness of her people must be res
toIed, and this can only be accomplish
ed by the truth and energy of the PEG
pie CO cooperating with honesty. fidelity
integrity aud patriotism on the par
of their representatives. Self must bt
sunk, and the general good alone serve
as the guide to the civil and politlca
action of each citizen. Laws operating
equally upon the whole people, with
out distinction of race, class, color o.
condition, must alone BE found on thu
statute books, and these laws shout,
be thoroughly, fairly and impartial!y
executed. In this way confidence ant
hope will prevail and this State VII
speedily become home of happiness
and PEACE for all her children, for TIT
weak as vel Us the strong, the poor al
we'll as the licli.. The just object o
all government is to secure peace
plenty and prosperity, and to give th'
largest possible opportunity for devel
opment to the individual citizen. : Hit
interest should be it's constant aim
and the citizen should. recognize an(
! feel tile government only through it,
benifcent and vivifying influence
How nearly the governments erected
| in this unfortunate State in the las
nine years have been based upon, O.
have realized these ideas, may best b.
seen in the picture of misery which il
REFLECTED on all sides, how nearly thu
government, at the head of which
have the honor. .tosbe will realize them
can only be determined whea5 tina
Cover nment shall have been fairly pu
to the test; but can assure you tina
they are the principles by which m.
conduct shall be guided as Chief Mag
istrate of this commonwealth. / shall
devote every energy to the great worl
of restoration, and to securing an eff
Gent administration of public affair
with the least possible cost to thos
upon whom the burdens of the Stat
rest. Honesty and capacity will b
required as absolute conditions to ap
pointment, and every avenue BY whicI