Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-11
M'DANIEL INAUGURATED.
HIS ADDRESS RECEIVED WITH
MARKED ENTHUSIASM.

tiOn PrOmised-The inaugural BAH.
ATLANTA, May lott was a lovely
morning, and the Legislative Hall was
packed. The Senate and House met at 10
O'Clock and transacted the usual routine
business preliminary to the inauguration.
The joint session was held at fl O'Clock.
The families Of Governors BOynton. Col
quit, Mcdaniel and other prominent Off
cIals, occupied reserved seats in front of
the Speakers desk. Representative Nc
DonOugh, Of the committee. was most
efficient and polite in seating these
ladies. Governors BoyntOn and McDan-
iel came in arm in arm, followed by Gov.
Colquitt, eX-United States Senator Miller.
Governor Bullock, Governor Smith. Chief
Justice jackson, Judges Tompkins.
Hutchins, Hammond and HiHyer, Con-
gresham Hammond, Major Bacon and
the State House officers. The band IN the
gallery played during the entrance
deeply impressive prayer was delivered by
Chaplin Jones, of the Senate. after which
Governor Mcdaniel delivered the follow
ing
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentteoen e., 81 the General ASSEMBLY and
FellOr Citizens:
The occasion of this assemblage
suggests the recent loss of the STATE.
ana OF mankind, in the death of Mr..
stephens, whose uneXpired term in the
once OF Governor / have been called to
NIL. More than any man who ever lived.
ne deserved TO be named 1.-The Great Com
moner. lie has joined the illustrious
men, whose place IN the hearts of the peo-
4 N ae-l. l.rrRc I Il
adOrnments OF this Representative Hall.
His fame, like that of NJ. Theirs. is thp
priceless heritage of grateful cOuntrvmen.
In assuming the duties from which divine
providence has removed him, / desire to
express my grateful thanks to the DeODle
for this mark of confidence and esteem!
cannot hope to bring to the DISCHARGE of
these responsible duties the varied eXnp-
rlence, profound knowledge and cOnsum-
mate wisdom which characterized him.
nut may hope to exhibit the same deyo-
tiOn to all the interests entrusted to INV
care.
The fundamental principles of our gov
ernment, IN State as well as Federal re-
latlOns, are expressed in the constitution.
L need not repeat them to this assemblaoe.
composed of those who enact laws, and
those who interpret them, and those who
execute them, and intelligent citizens.
Judge impartially the manner of the per
formance of official duties. Our chief
concern Is not with these maXims,
which are the results of the reyO
luton and development of centuries. and
which are familiar TO all, but with meas
ures of administration designed to carry
them into effect. The office of govern
ment is to maintain order, to suppress
crime and to insure to all the fruits of
honest la Io
suit of happiness. 1t can never be
perfect or finished. New conditions
require appropriate legis-
latiOn. Laws, wise in origin and whole
some in operation, lose fitness i'm the
changes incident to modern progress
and must be modified, or yield to other
better adapted to the emer-
gency.
Diversities of interest tend to produce
1iversitieS of opinion i'm matters of State
policy. These conflicts of opinion are
real and confront us in every detail of !
but there is no real conflict of
interest between the various classes of
the people. Diverse as may be their oc-
what is wholesome of one class
cannot be hurtful to another, and what is
lurtful to one must result in injury to all.
1t is common mistake that the pros
perity of one class depends on laws en-
will not supply the want of those
qualities of industry, thrift, skill and
prudence, on which, rest alike private and
public prosperity. What is Eeeded in
legislation is that it shall be Just to all
classes, imposing no burdens that are not
equally borne by all. Within these limits
the administration will be best which is
'elt least by the people. Taxation from the
sovereign nature of the powers exercised,
IS the most important subject of State
policy. 1t is felt in every household.
When burdensOme, it crushes the weak
and clogs the efforts of all
Who endeavOr to improve their
fortunes. No free people should long
submit to unjust systems of taxation
which can be remedied. Experience
teaches how difficult it is to carry into
Effect the wholesome provisions of our !
that taxation shall be equal |
and uniform. Much has been done to !
perfect the system, but much remains to |
be done. This must be left to the skill and |
patriotism of the Legislature, applying |
-he lessons of the past to the conditions |
IF the future.
Besides improvements in the tax laws, |
to thoroughly distribute public |
burdens, a policy to be patiently and per- |
pursued, it is our duty to main |
.ain the present low rate of taxation, and |
to reduce it if it can be done without !
,rippling the resources Of the treasury. !
1t is true that.Our credit is equal to that I
IF any State in the Union, that we annual |
" reduce our debt, that we might pay it |
ltf within reasonable time by |
sales of public property, that |
our pride in the financial condition of |
Georgia is justified by the increasing |
wealth and prosperity of the people. But |
these advantages should not inspire |
merely Il feeling of satisfaction and pride !
we must use them to the utmost as a |
means to effect these desirable results.
To accomplish this, economy in ex- |
pense must be rigidly enforced. The pub |
lie can no more hope to keep money in the !
treasury without discriminating economy,
than individuals in their private busi- |
ness. There may he many worthy objects
for which expenditure of public money !
would prove beneficial, were our re- !
unlimited. The constitution does |
not leave us in doubt as to what are le-
Ultimate objects of expenditure. These |
are plainly expressed, and comprehend |
briefly the support of the government in
all its departments, the support of the |
public institutions for the care of the help |
less classes, the support OF the public |
schools, the payment of the public debt, |
and the public defense, For these objects |
wise economy will require as much TO be !
ing the people. No object, save the public |
defense, will justify an increase |
of public burdens. n State of |
abounding territory, rich in |
climate. in soil, in minerals, in forests, in |
water power and in harbOrs; blessed with |
a variety of crops and fruits unequaled |
in any country of like extent on the |
globe; traYersed by nearly 5000 miles of
with a teeming population eager |
to place her in the front rank of Amerl- !
can States in agriculture, in commerce, IN |
and in all that manifests
the progress of great people; surely |
commonwealth requires the wisdom
and patriotism of al her sons. take |
courage in the fact that all |
the departments of State government, !
distinct and independent, are |
wisely burdened with share of the du-
ties, upon the discharge of which depends |
the common welfare These interests |
will not rest on the Executive alone.
60 far as my power extends, the law |
will ne rigidly enforced, and all officials !
will be held to a strict accountability. J |
NAV often commit errors of judgment, !
never intentional wrong. Nor are legisla- !
tive, judicial and executive officers alone |
responsible for the enforcement of law
and wise administration of public |
affairs. AL citizens owe a duty |
to the country in sustaining
and assisting and defending the work of !
their servants in office, Public opinion !
in a free State is all-pOWerfui. It can de- |
feat the execution of every vital law, such |
as laws TO preserve the purity of elections, |
nnon which depends the very life of the |
Slate. laws for the suppression of |
crilae, githout the vigorous execution OF