The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-03-16
essrf1eld's inaugural Address.

FelLow-citizens: We stand to-day
upou an eminence which overlooGs
q hundred years Of national life,
century crowded with perils, but
crowned with the triumphs of liber-
sv and law. Before continuing the
onward march, let US pause on this
height. for a moment, 10 strengthen
our faith and renew our hope by a
glance at the pathway along which
our people have travelled.
1t is now three days more than
hundred years since the adoption OF
the first written Constitution Of the
United States, ''the Articles OF Con-
federation and perpetual union" The
new Republic was then beset with
danger on every hand. 1t had not
conquered a place in the family OF
nations. The decisive battle of the
war for independence, whose CEN
teanial anniversary will soon be
gratefully celebrated at Yorktown,
had not yetbeen fought. The colon
ists were struggling not only against
the armies of a great nation, out
the settled opinions Of mankind. for
the world did not then believe that
the supreme authority Of govern
Iaent could be So felv entrusted to the
guardianship of the people them
Z selves. . ..,s. -.....
We cannot over-estimate the Ter
vetit love Of liberty, the intelligent
courage: and saving common sense
with which our fathers made the
great experiment of self-goVernment.
When they found, after a short trial,
that the Confeoeracy oS States was
too weak to meet the necessities OF
{ vigorous and expanding Republic,
they boldly set it aside. and, in its
stead, established National Union,
founded directly upon the will of the
people, endowed with full powers OF
selt-preservation, and with ample au-
thority for the accomplishment of its
great objects. Under this Constitu-
fien the boundaries of freedom have
been enlarged, the foundations of or
der and peace have been strengthen
I ed, and the growth of our people in
all sthe better elements of national
life has indicated the wisdom Of the
founders and given new hope to
their descendants.
Under this Constitution our people,
s long ago, made themselves safe
against danger from without and Sc
i cured for their mariners and flag
equality of rights On all the seas. Un-
der this Constitution twenty-five
States have been added to the Union,
with constitutions and laws framed
and enforced by their own citizens
20 secure the manifold blessings Of
local self-government. The jurisdic-
ton of this Constitution, now. covers
an area fifty times greater than that
offhe original Thirteen States, and a
population twenty times greater than
that of1780. .=a-.
THE CIVIL WAR. 49,.
The Supreme trial Of the Censtitu-
ton came at last under the tremen-
doas pressure of civil war. We our
selves are the witnesses that the I'm
ion emerged from the blood and fire
sf that conflict purified and made
stronger for al the bene6cent pur-
poses of good government, and now
at.the close of this first century Of
:. its growth, with the inspirations of
;ts history in their hearts, our peo-
Die have lately reviewed the condi-
ton Of the nation, passed judgment
upon the conduct and opinions Of po-
H:ical parties; and have registered
their will concerning the future ad-
ministration of the Government. To
interpret and execute that will, III
accordance with the Constitution, is
the paramount duty of the Execu-
8 tive.
Even from this brief review it is
manifest that the nation is resolute-
ly facing to the front, resolved to en-
ploy its best energies in developing
the great possibilities of the future,
and sacredly preserving whatever
s has been gained to liberty and good
government during the past century.
Our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter controg-
ersies concerning things which have
been irre7ocably settled, and the fur
ther discussion of which can only
stir up strife and delay the onward
march. The supremacy of the ma
tion and its laws should be no longer
the snhjecs of debate. That discus
sion which for halfa century threat
ened tine existence Of the Union was
closed at last in the high court of
war by a decree from which there is
no appeal, that the Constitution and
the laws made in pursuance thereof
are, and shall continue to be, the SUI
preme law of the land. binding alike
upon States and people. This de-
cree does not disturb the autonomy
of the States, nor interfere with any
of their necessary rights of local self
government but it does fix and es-
tablish the permanent supremacy OF
the Union. &C.
EFFECTS OF EMANCIPATION. ....
The will of the nation, speaking
with the voice of battle and through
the amended Constitution, has full
filed the great promise Of 1776 pro-
claiming liberty throughout the land
90 all Inhabitants thereof. The Gle
yation of the negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship is the
most important political change we
have known since the. adoption of
the Constitution ofl7S7. No thought
fal man can fail to appreciate. its
benefcent effects ON our institutions
and people. It has freed US from
perpetual danger of war and dissolu-
ton. It has added immensely to the
moral and Industrial forces Of our
people. 1t has liberated the master
as. well as the slave from relation
which wronged and enfeebled both.
It has surrendered to their own
guardianship the manhood of more
than five millions Of people, and has
onano5 to each one of them q career