Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-06


CapitOl-saturday in the Legislature.
ATLANTA, November AT noon, the
hour fixed for the Inauguration of Governor
elect Stephens, the General Assembly con-
vened in joint session and marched to
De6ive's Opera House, which was crowded
with a representative audience. Upon
the stage were seated the several State Off
GERS, Judges Of the courts, Senator Brown,
Congressman Hammond and BIount. and
Others. Governor Colquitt sat to the rear of
Mr.. Stephens, while General Toombs was
seated on his left. In a clear voice Mr..
Stephens delivered the following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS:
Gentlemen Of The General ASSEMBLY,, Spgantors
and Representatives
Having received your official notification
OF my election TO the Chief Magistracy of
the State. now appear before you accord
ing to joint resolution Of your respective
bodies to take the official oath prescribed
by the constitution.
Before taking this oath aud assuming the
discharge OF the dnties OF the Office thus
conferred, in conformity with immemorfsl
custom, 1t is doubtless expected that shall
present some remarks Indicative of the
general line OF policy which will mark nv
administration. These views, concisely
stated, shall address not only to you. GEN
tlemen Of the General Assembly, but to the
large and respected auditory of citizens
comprising ladies and gentlemen who grace
and honor these inaugural ceremonies.
Indulge me, then, fellow citizens, In say
ing that being called to this high Office bv
the voice OF the people shall enter upon its
duties with no feelings Of elstion, butrather
OF deep depression from profound sense OF
the weight of responsibility attending this
new position. am entirely untrsmmeled.
l have no promises or pledges to redeem,
except faithfully to discharge the
duties OF the Office to the best CT
my ability. have no enemies to
punish, no personal aims or objects
to accomplish, no partisan views to
advance, no purpose to promote the schemes
or objects OF any combination or class of
persons whatever, and nothing to serve but
the interests Of the people, the whole
people, of the State. With the co operation
Of the Legislative Department OF the gov
ernmeut my efforts will be directed with
an eye single to the advancement and pro.
motion of the general peace, welfare and
prosperity OF our beloved State.
In the administration of the laws, as far
as lies in my power, It will be my object to
see that equal justice is done to all alike.
All our industrial pursuits, agricultural,
manufacturing, mechanical, commercial,
mining, shipping, and internal transporta-
tlon, should be looked after with care. All
those institutions, educational, benevolent
and others, which are provided for by our
fundamental law, should be fostered and
promotedsto the extent of legislative ability
with like care and attention.
In this way we STALL be able to promote
aud add to the honor and glory and renoWn
of our good old Commonwealth.
AS to general measures In practical legia-
lltion, l have nothing further to offer than
my past public record, in 8 long and not
uneventful life. This is the only guaran-
tee as to the character OF my acts In the fu-
ture.
As to those general political principles by
which my administration, Providence per
mitting shall be governed, can but repeat
what was said in nv acceptance of the
nomination rendered me for the Office. l
repeat these on this more solemn occasion
with an emphasis, and especially because OF
an evident and growing disposition In many
quarters of the country to neglect and
ignore them.
These are those essential principles OF re-
publican government which lie at the
foundation of our whole system of free
institutions, and which can be maintained
Only by being deeply impressed upon the
minds OF legislators and sll other officials Of
whatever grade or character, as we'll as
upon the masses of the people, and
especially the rising generation.
2 These are the principles announced by
Thomas Jefferson, and adopted by the
fathers OF the Republic, early after our com
pllcated system OF government was insti-
tuted.
These principles apply as well to our
Federal system as to the several State gov
ernments, and by their maintenance the
harmony apd success Of the system can
only be preserved AMI perpetuated. They
are as follows:
Equal and exact Justice TO all men Of
whatever State or persuasion, religious or
political.
"The support of the State governments
In all their rights as the most competent
administrators OF cur domestic concerns,
and the surest bulwark against anti-republI-
can tendencies; the preservation of the
General Government in its whole constitu-
tiousl vlgor as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad.
ga Jealous care of the right of election
by the people.
"Absolute scquiescence in the decisions
of the ma1ority-the vital principle of re-
publics, from which there is no appeal but
to force, the vital principle and immediate
parent of despotism.
''The supremacy of the civil oyer the mill
tAry authority.
ECONOMY in the public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened.
Encouragement of agriculture, and COM
merce, fits handmade.
"Freedom of religion, freedom of the
press, freedom Of person, under the pro-
lection of the habeas corpus, and trial by
juries impartIally selected.
''These are some Of the principles (said
Jefferson) which constitute the creed of
faff 4ba fo1v - olxvfI frot
tion, the touchstone by which TO try the
services of those we trust, and should"
said he, eve wander from them in moments
Of error or alarm, let US hasten to retrsce
our steps and to regain the road which
alone leads to liberty and safety"
These are what constitute the essentials
OF the creed of Jeffersonian Democracy.
They were proclaimed when there was a
strong tendency to abandon the federative
feature in the government, and to merge
the State governments into consolidation
or centralism, the inevitable end Of which
would hsve been empire and despotism.
The object of the founders Of the old Re.
publican D. mocratic party, at the head of
which stood Mr.. Jefferson, was to check
this tendency OF the government, and to
preserve that system from which alone
springs all hope for the perpetuation OF the
entire fabric. These principles look as well
to the preservation of the Federal Union
in its proper sphere, as to the maintenance
and preservation of the reserved rights of
the several States, in their proper spheres,
under the Constitution of the United States.
This is the true doctrine OF home rule on
the part of the States under our novel and
wonderful system Of Federal Union.
There is evidently now, my countrvmen,
q tendency to centralism, as in 179S and
1893, by the party now in power in the
administration OF the General Government
bearing the name OF Republican.
As Burke, upon most memorable occa-
sion, appealed from the then new Whig
party OF England, to the old Wings Of his
earlier days." so we appeal from modern
Republicanism to the ancient creed Of our
fathers. Those who have departed, or are
departing, from that path under apprehen-
sion OF danger, we, and all friends of the
Constitution, organized from one extent of
the Union to the other, should invoke k"to
retrace their steps and to regain the road
which alone leads to liberty and safety"
am now prepared to take the oath OF
Office.
TAKING THE OATH.
At the conclusion of the address, which
was heartily applsuded, Chief Justice James
Jackson administered the oath Of Office, and
Governor STEPHENS received the great seal
OF the State, which he delivered to Secretary
of State Barnett. Amid the strains OF
''Dixie" and prolonged cheers the audience
dispersed, and Governor Stephens drove 70
the capitol, where he entered upon his
duties.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House to-day motion to reconsider
the Joint resolution creating committee OF