The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
BY Governor Jacob b. jackson
The New Governors Reflections
Upon governmental Affairs in
State and NatiOn-TOpics Of q
General and Special Nature
Discussed.

upon Governmental Alta1FB IN
State and NatiOn-TOpics Of 8
General and Special Nature
Discussed.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, My Eel
LOW CIrlzESs-By the choice of the
people, embodied in the will of an
intelligent majority, I have been
called upon to- be the CheifMagistrate
Of this commonwealth.
AS commonwealth our interest:
and our duties as one people are the
same. 1t is incumbent upon us as
one body Of citizens, in a very mark
ed sense to create and perpetuate the
PROSPERITY Of the State, as a commun-
ity having heritage from the past
to maintain, and large prospective
Interests in the future to extend and
improve.
Althouh We were part Of Old vir-
ginia, with many Of the ancient and
noble associations with its past histo.
ny, our population was composed Of
citizens from every part of this great
country, and from the older continents
of the world; SO that we are we'll pre-
pared totake up all lines Of march
forimproyement, and yet to be con-
servativeof all principles and careful
in the adoption Of all measures which
will keep US in the line Of progress,
protect our Liberties, maintain the
honor Of the State and secure as far
as in US lies the Constitutional in.
tegrity of the Union.
CONTINUATION OF PROSPERITY.
We are one of a great body of sister
republics, and in the joint destiny,
which belongs to all these, it is our
duty to look TO the welfare Of all,
well knowing, that any principle or
measure which strikes down one,
threatens the whole. The first duty
even to accomplish this is to secure
our own prosperity; and to do this to
all legitimate extent, we must re-
gard the Constitutional limits of our
powers, and we must exercise our
powers TO their full legitimate Con-
stitutional extent. So we shall pro.
mote the welfare Of all, and at the
same time preserve the integrity and
true freedom Of that Commonwealth
with which we are SO intimately
connected, and whose laws and
Of legislation SO fully enter into and
affect our daily life in our homes and
at our fresides.
EFFECT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
The will of an intelligent majority
-four people who have imposed on me
the responsibilities Of office shall be
my guide in all my opinions and
action as Chief Magistrate of the
State. make this avowal the more
fully and clearly, and with the great
er confidence, knowing as l do, that
that majoritity is composed of some
Of the best elements Of the old Wing
party Of the best men who stood by
the Government and the Union in
the late civil war, formed around the
old solid nucleus of the Democratic
party which, since the days of Jeffer-
son and Madison, have regarded the
Constitution Of the United States, in
its simplicity and integrity, as the
surest guardion of the liberties Of the
people, and the tirmest support of q
Union that must rest so broadly on
public opinion. Whatever written
Constitution may be, its interpreta
ton and application in legislative
acts, in judicial interpretation and
in executive construction, depend
largely upon public opinion. 1t is
this public opinion that makes all
these officers, and TO a great extent
inspires them, with intent, purpose
and policy. fla party shall avow or
have q policy of consolidation in a
central government, and that this
shall be strengthened by measures of
the government looking TO the ac-
cumulation and Capitalization of
wealth for the success of such policy,
then the only alternative to preserve
the ancient form of the government,
secure the power of the States to pro-
mote the daily welfare Of the people
in their homes and at their frtsides
and perpetuate their liberties, will
be another party of moderate, CON
sistent and patriotic principles, who
will resist encroachment on the one
side and oppose radicalism on the
other, and will be the determined
foe of both when they so unite that
the strong government party shall
seek to use radcaliSm for the accom-
plishment Gifts policy. tits this con.
dition Of things which has made
that intelligent majority in this
State composed of these old line
Wings, these Union men, and this
"old solid nucleus Of the Democratic
party"
In so shaping my opinions aid
actions as the Chef Magistrate Vi
the State, l am controlled by the
clear conviction, that in so represent.
ing the will of the majority, l shall
be taking care of the interest. of all
in a manner and upon PRINCIPLES