The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-01-20
Inaugural Address OF Governor
Nichols.

interest the address delivered by Gen.
Francis T. Nichols at Odd Fellows
Hall, New Orleans, on the 8th inst,
upon the occasion of his inauguration
as one of the Governors of Louisiana.
We would like to give Gov. Packard's
address also, but it is too lengthy to
appear in full in the limited space
our columns afford, and press of
business precludes US from compiling
a satisfactory synopsis of its salient
points. Gen. Nichols spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, and Fellow Citizens
In obedience to the call of my fell
low citizens, as expressed through the
ballot box, by majority of more than
5000, | assume the duties of Governor
of my native State under circum-
stances of marked difficulty, and at II
period of very general distress. For
nine years a few men, having no
Identification with the people of this
State, either i'll feeling or interest,
have shaped and controlled their des-
TIMES. The result of this unnatural
condition of affairs has been that, in
spite of rich soil, genial climate and
immense resources, We find the people
to-day in wretchedness and poverty.
The very gifts of kind and benefi-
cent Creator have served to these
men as additional incentives to acts
of oppression and wrong. Not salts
fed with the injury which they have
inflicted, the authors of these calami-
ties are again struggling to maintain
their ascendency by fraud, and to
establish over this people usurpatiou
more glaring and infamous than that
which ends to-day its banefnl exist
euce. The people of this State are
determined, and also am determined,
that this effort shall be foiled. The
rights and liberties of Louisiana must
not be suffered To be destroyed. There
may be grave difficulties in the pres
ent manner of dealing with this mat
ter, but they will be overcome, and
hereafter upon the duly and legally
constituted authorities Of the State
will devolve the proper administra-
ton of its affairs. The material pros
perity of Louisiana and the happiness
of her people must be restored, and
this only can be accomplished by the
truth and energy of the people CO.
operating with honesty, fidelity, in
tegrity and patriotism on the part of
their representatives. Self must be
sunk and the general good alone serve
as the guide to the civil and political
action of each citizen. Laws operat-
ing equally upon the whole people,
without distinction of race, class, color
or condition, must alone oe found on
the statue books, and these laws should
be thoroughly, fairly and impartially
executed. In this way confidence and
hope will prevail, and this State will
speedily become IL home of happiness
and peace for all her children for the
weak as well as the strong, the poor
as well as the rich The Just object
of all government is to secure peace,
plenty and prosperity, and to give
the largest possible opportunity for
development to the individual citizen.
His interest should be its constant
aim, and the citizen should recognize
and feel the government only through
its benetieent and vivifying influence.
How nearly he governments created
in this unfortunate State in the last
nine yeals have been based upon, or
have realized these ideas may best
be seen in the picture of misery which
is reflected on all sides. How nearly
the government at the head of which
| have the honor to be will realize
them, can only be determined when
that government shall have been
fairly put to the test; but | can as
sure you that they are the principles
by which my conduct shall be guided
as Chief Magistrate of ills Common
wealth. | shall devote every energy
to the great work of restoration, and
to secure an efficient administration
of public affairs, with the least pos
sible cost to those upon whom the
o"iuoiiS w toetteO iCSt' 11OneSOy dHu
capacity will be required as absolute
conditions to appointment, and every
avenue by which the people can be
injured will be perfectly guarded to
the extent of the legal power of the
Executive. 1t shall be great Object
in my administration to promote
kindness, sympathy, confidence and
justice between the two races that
inhabit the soil, and who, with Il COM
mon interest, should cordially CO.
operate to secure the common good.
In fine, fellow citizens, | shall, invok-
ing the assistance of Almighty God,
earnestly and conscientiOusly en-
deaEor to do my duty.