National Republican., 1883-01-05
His EXCELLENCY BEN.
His Ambition is Attained and He is Now Gov
ernOr Of Massachusetts,
An Immense Crowd Come to Beacon Hill
to Hear His Inaugural Address.
Hc Wants Full Vote, Fair Count woman's Suf-
frage and Civil Service Reform,
And After This Year He Won't Try to be
Governor Any More.


gural has been so popularity attended as
that Of Gov. Buffers at the state house to-
day. Hours before the time for him to
appear the halls and passages were crowded
so that motion was difficult, and the throng
overlooked down the broad steps, and ex-
tended even TO the common. The joint con-
Vention for the Inauguration occurred in tho
hall of the house of representatives, which was
packed full of people. The ladies' and mem
bers' galleries were opened for ladies, but tho
public gallery was reserved for invited guests.
Over an hour was consumed by the prelimi-
naries, and the crowd which could not get in
gradually disappeared. At 1890 o'clock the
supreme judicial court entered, followed by
Gen. Butler dressed in an evening suit and
carrying gold headed cane, and wearing his
usual button-hole bouquet He walked up
the aisle and sat mt the speakers desk amid
the applause of his friends.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
followed, and soon the hall of the house was
packed to the last inch. The ladies', MEM
bers' and public galleries would hold no more
aud the space on the floor not filed by the
senators aud representatives in joint conven-
tion was packed by distinguished guests, and
the very few of the miscellaneous public who
were able to crowd in.
When the asscmbluge had all passed in Presi-
dent Crocler, of the senate, administered the
oath of Office and at 1856 o'clock, Gov.
Butler signed his name TO the oath. The i'm
slant he did so his friends applaudel both in
the gallery and on the floor, and q few seconds
later the first gun of the military salute was
fired ON the cannon. Secretary. Peirce then
made n proclamation that Gen. Butler had
been duly installed governor, and warning all
people, and especially the state officers, to take
due notice thereof. Renewed applause fol-
lowed this declaration. Immediately after
Oliver Amos was inauguratcd as lieutenant
governor. Gov. Butler was then presented for
mally to the legislature, and proceeded to read
HIS ADDRESS
This document was rather long, but il
treated very fully of every department of
state affairs and as the new governor had
very p!onounced views about everything the
message was more generally interesting than
such documents usually are. The governor is
accustomed to use language with precision,
but the extreme care with which he stated
some things was noticeable and confirmed
the very general belief that he intends to take
nothing for granted until he knows it; that
he intends to know it If IL is worth knowing,
and to have something to say about it after
he knows it. For example in presenting the
statement of the treasurer he says: " AS the
incoming executive can have no other and
different knowledge than is furnished by that
officer upon these topics, content myself by
irving YOU statement furnished by him, and
then, in closing his remarks on this topic, he
adds: al may in special communication
hereafter call to the attention of the legisla-
ture such matters relating thereto, as more
full and accurate examination may make adj
visable." Continuing, he intimates that " it
would seem convenient that the same course
should be taken in regard to the expenditures
upon the Hoosac tunnel and the Troy and
Greenfield railway, which apparently are
more than equal to two-thirds of the public
debt. These state concerns, he says, "alter
costing the state more than So, ,07S 659.21 in a
commercial and trading enterprise, which in
its inception and prosecution was promised to
be of great advantage to the state, it now APP
pears that the railway and tunnel find them
selves to be in such condition as not to be self
supporting even."
On the subject of
FREE AND EQUAL SUFFRAGE
he says There is one subject which is of so
great Importance to the people of the COM
monweath and to the best interests of the
country, that / crave your patience if pre-
sent my views upon it at some length.
Free and equal suffrage to all who by the
qualification of naturalization and the con-
stitutional one of education, have the right to
take part in the government Of their state
and country.
10 this right and immunity of citizens of
the United States there should be no legal
hindrance and specially the prerequisite of
paying capitatiOn tax.
/ believe in such tax as the duty of the
citizen, but not rs qualification TO his suf-
frage. Every man ought to pay, according TO
his ability, his Just share of the burden of
maintaining the government which protects
himself, his family, and his property, and
which affords the means OF education TO his
children But the penalty for non-payment
.ho,Id not Ia lisfrauphi and Lose nf
citizenship. That is too severe, and in all
civilized countries is only attached TO the
highest crimes. But above all, it should not
be imposed when such tax has not been as
sessed upon him so that he can pay it, as is
now the law of our state.
IL is the duty of every man to attend and
take part in every election, and by his vote
to give his assent to the laws which may be
passed by his chosen representative; for all
governments derive their Just powers from
the assent of tho governed"
This duty of freeman was enforced by our
fathers in the earliest colony time. In 1860
towns in Massachusetts, passed and enforced
the following bylaw:
IL is likewise ordered that If any man who Is
warned to any town meeting be not there when
he is called, he shall be liNhle 10 pay Cd, II he
come not at all 13d. Nor shall any depart without
leave upon the like penalty.
s.How different are the provisions oflaw now
by which the state practically offers a bounty
of from one TO two dollars to any citizen who
will stay away from town meeting?
BY an act of legislation now all the state
and county taxes arc assessed upon tho pOlls
under limitation by law as to the amount.
In my Judgment the poll-taX," as it is com
monty called, should be assessed by the cities
and towns for their proper benefit only, and
not as II state and county tax. Under our
laws, there Is direct interest in the towns
not to assess the poll-taX, Tor three years in
any five, lest the payer should obtain by pay
mont a settlement therein, I. G., n right
TO be supported by the town; u pOll-tax
being for the state, the town would di-
rectly receive nothing from such taxa
tion. This inducement isnow much stronger,
rs an alien may thus obtain such settlement
who would otherwise be state pauper.
therefore recommend change in the law of
assessment of the poll taS, which is undoubt-
odly within the competency Of the legislature,
that the poll tax should be assessed rs part OF
the city or town tax for their use only. That
would induce the towns to use diligence in
assessing, and their collectors in collecting
the poll tax, which, going to the town, would
be the contribution of the poll tax payer
towards the education of his children, and in
so far an equivalent for his settlement.
He further recommends that this tax be
assessed in May and collected in August at
the latest rs at that season the labOring man
can pay it with the least difficulty.
Such change of time of collecting the tax
would also, he says, relieve our elections, and
our state from practice which has obtained
of late. of committees of the respective polit-
cal parties paying the poll-taX for voters, in