Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF Governor william p. Bate.

| utnoec has an INCOMING Legislature
been looked to, at home and abroad
With prouder satisfaction and deeper
anxiety than this.
| Certainly no one has met undei
more peculiar auspices or invested
with more delicate trusts; neither ha,
one heretofore assembled, brought
with it the wi hes Of constituency
more generously confded or more
emphatically voiced by msjorities al
the polls. The prayers of Christian
and noble people 90 out for and unto
you, for just, wise, honorable and suc
cessful legislation. Then is it net the
duty, as it should be the pleasure, Of
those thus intrusted with these solemn
duties and powers Of legislation, to
implore and rely upon the aid Of him
who blesses nations, and States, and
individuals, for his guidance in this
delegated work, SO deeply involving
the veal aud woe OF this great o0Ts
monweslth.
From the olden to modern times.
every government of liberal organiza
ton, National or State, has had its
financial troubles; and in the light OF
history can il not be tru.hiully said.
that in most instances, when these
financial troubles grew ont Of war,
loreign or domestic, or obligations
we're seriously affected by it, the final
adjustment and relief has generally
come in a spirit Of compromise, BY
waving rigid teohnicalities aud en.
forcing just, liberal and honorable
equities.
Tennessee, to day, finds herself con
fronted with just such obligations;
and after repeated and unavailing
efforts heretofore made by conference
with creditors, and by legislative en-
actmentsi aud recognizing the fact
that this is a government Of, by
and for the people; chat all power is
inherent in them, and they as voters
and taxpayers, are the real parties to
whatever obligations exist against the
State-has, as she ought TO have done,
spoken through her source of power,
the ballot box, in no uncertain tone,
and sanctioned by an overwhelming
majority, the proposition TO tender to
her creditors 3 sbttleWent, WHICH is
alike just aud honorable 10 all parties
concerned.
by this expression, so recently
given, it will be seen that Tennessee
does not shrink from assuming to pay,
according to the letter and spirit of
her obligation, however burthensoue
it may be, that which she believes and
acknowledges she justly owes, known
az the "StatO debt proper
That known to the public, and
named in the official reports OF most of
our State Oomptrollers, as "cOntin-
gent or railroad indebtedness" -.
being in dispute, and ouE liabilities Tor
il questioned BY q large portion OF
intelligentand patriotic voters and tax.
payers Of the State and who, likewise
claim equities, as just and honorable
Offsets. She, by decided vote, au
thoriEes, In a spirit OF compromise, a
tender Of terms OF settlement to credi
tors of one.half Of principal aud inter
est; which, it is hoped and believed
will be met in the spirit with which il
will be rendered, and full, final and
satisfactory settlement effected.
Among other questions of moment,
and with which you have to grapple, is
the spirit OF monopoly that is rearog
its ominols crest and moving with
defiant and aggressive steps upon the
rights Of the people Those who have
been chosen as guardians Of these
rights, in these times distempered By
lobbyism, with its bapeigl fruits Of
bribery aud corruption and Official
deialcations, must and will stand
faithful sentinels on this, the watch>
tower of their citadel.
While corporations should have all
Just rights maintained. and proper en-
cOuragement TO make their york useful
and profitable, yet, as they grow mighty
in their strength and strain for unjust
power, as they are Tpone to do, they
should be checked by lines of legal
limit, and told 10 unmistakable terms
Thus far shalt thou go. aud no farther.
The spirit OF resentment and intoler
4noe, however snogld not stir the
storm of passion nor ride on the wave
Of prejudice, but give way ta that
calmer reason which respects the rights
OF 4ll. Iflag is, as il is said TO be,
"the perfection OF reason, then that
should be alike the shield to limo
cence and the sword to guilt. Ii
should protect aud punish alike the
official and unofficial, the rich and the
poor, the humble snd the great, the
| Black and the white-Bhen the Law
fails in this it fails in its grand mis-
lgIoa.
| Cur State, so full OF eventful history
so renowned in council and in arms
with only one-fourth Of her 26,0OO,O0C
of acres under culture, exhibits but
tsrdy progress in comparison with
come Of her sistbr States.
IT'S true that the favages Of wal
during our Interstate struggle, auC
| the little loss destructive consequence
that Immediately followed, crippled
the material resources; paralyzed tho
energies Of our once ballot denied
people. and gave additional weight 4
| cur burden OF oebt-yet, let Us net a
a time like this sing the Illiad Of ou
woes, but be done with the past, saw.
to profit by its experience and epiu,
the aroma OF its history, For hone
beneath her bow OF promise, Kitl
pleasing prospect. smiles as she bea
cons us to the iuture-that future +
the path we have to tread; and 1
should be done with unialterinS stem
Ihal lei US, like the antique wrest
J ler, when thrown In the struggle. ris,
the greater for the fall. Lei us pro
gress and develop according to ou
means and opportunities, &
We have here Ia our own Tennessee
! gigantic mountains, 10 whose bosom
+ slumber untold treasures Of tho Gn6
and baser metals while, inyitingl
hear are fuel deposits, with whicI
these metals can be reduced and util
Med; valleys, rich aud extended, tba
yield readily to the touch Of hqsbapdr
and render back to the toll, +, In Nal
abundance, natures kindliest gifts-
interspersed with highways, naturo
and artificial, through which the hlno
Of commerce flows, as It enliyens AM
sitalises the clements Of development