The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-03-18
GaTfBld's Inaugural Address,

Fellow citizens We stand to-day |
upon an eminence which oyerlooks a |
hundred years of national life--a century |
crowded with the perils but crowned |
with the triumphs of liberty and law. |
Before continuing our onward march, let |
US pause on this height for moment
strengthen our faith and renew our hope
by glance at the pathway along which
our people have travelled.
1t is now three days more than hun
dred years since the adoption Of the first
written constitution Of the United States
the articles of confederation and per
petual union. The new republic was
then beset with danger on every hand
1t had not conquered a place in the fam
lily of nations The decisive battle of
the war for independence, whose centen-
NAL anniversary will soon be gratefully
celebrated at Yorktown, had not yet
been fought. The colonists were strug-
Cling, not only against the armies Of a
grea nation but against the settled opin-
ions of mankind, for the world did not
then believe that the supreme authority
Of government could be safely entrusted
to the guardianship Of the people them
selves. We cannot overestimate the fer
vent love Of liberty, the intelligent cour-
age and the saving common sense with
which our fathers made the great expert.
ment of self-goyernment.
When they found, after short trial,
that the confederation Of the states was
too weak to meet the necessities Of the
vigorous and expanding republic they
boldly set it aside, aud in its stead estab-
lished national union, founded directly
upon the will Of the people, endowed
with full powers Of self-preseryation and
with ample authority for the accomplish
ment Of its great objects. Under this
constitution the boundaries of freedom
have been enlarged the foundations Of
order and peace have been strengthened,
the growth Of our people in all the better
elements of national life has indicated
the wisdom Of the founders, and given
new hope TO their descendants. Under
this constitution our people long ago
made themselves safe against danger from
| without, and secured for their mariners
and flag equality Of rights on all the seas.
| Under this constitution twenty five
states have been added to the union, with
constitutions and laws framed and en-
forced by their own citizens, to secure
the manifold blessings Of local self-goy-
ernment. The Jurisdiction Of this con-
stitution now covers an area of fifty
times greater than that Of the original
thirteen states and population of twenty
times greater than that of 1880.
The supreme trial Of the constitution
came at last under the tremendous press
ure Of civil war. We ourselves are wit
nesses that the union emerged from the
blood and fire Of that conflict purified
and made stronger for all the beneficent
purposes of good government, and now,
at the close of this first century Of
growth, with the inspirations of its his
tory in their harts; our people have lately
reviewed the condition Of the nation
passed judgment upon the conduct ant
opinions OF the political parties, and have
registered their will concerning the fu
ture administration of the government
To interpret and to execute that will, il
, accordance with the constitution, is the
paramount duty of the executive.
/ Even from this brief review it is man
} ifest that the nation is resolutely facing
: the front, resolved to employ its best ener
I gies developing tn geat possibilities
I Of the future, sacredly preserving what
, ever has been gained to liberty and goot
government during the century. Gu
! people are determined to leave benin,
! them all these bitter controversies con
4 cerning things which have been irrevC
! cably settled, and the further discussion
: of which can only stirup strife and della
8 the onward march, The supremacy q
. the nation and its laws should be n
longer a subject Of debate. That dil
cussion which for half century threa
ened the existence of the union wa
closed in the high court of war by a d.
,, cree from which there is no appeal, tbs
: the constitution and the laws made i
pursuance thereof are and shall continu
: to be the supreme law Of the land, bant
ing alike upon states and people. TIL
}, decree does not disturb the automon
, Of the states nor interfere with any I
their necessary rights Of local governmeI
but it does fix and establish the perm
nent supremacy of the uniCn.
The will Of the nation, speaking wit
: the vehemence of battle, AMI throue
a the amended constitution, has fulfillt
3 the great promise of l775, by proclaim
ing liberty throughout the land to q
q the inhabitants thereof" The elevate
) Of the negro race from slavery to the fu
4 rights Of citizenship, is the most impor
i ant political change we have known sin
Z the adoption of the constitution of 17S
No thoughtful man can fail to apprecia
its beneficial effects upon our institutio
1t and people. 1t has freed us from a pc
4 petual danger of war and dissolution.
E. has added Immensely to the moral al
Of industrial forces Of our people. 1t h
a. liberated the master as well as the sla
a from relation which wronged and e
re feebled both. It has surrendered to the
N own guardianship the manhood of mo
K than five million Of people, and has ope
Lh ed to each one of them career of fri
:. dom and usefulness. It has given nj
le inspiration to the power of self. f.help
> both races by making labor more hon'
u able to the one and more necessary
II r