The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-03-11

engage every faculty and effort i'm tn,
promotion of their welfare.
Amid the din of party strife the pco
pies choice was made, but its attend
ant circumstances have demonstrates cd
anew the strength and safety of n gov
ernment by the people. In cacE sue.
ceedins yoar it more clearly appears
that our democratic principle needs nc
apology, and that in its fearless and
faithful application is to be found tho
surcst guaranty of good government
But the best results i'll the operation OF
a government wherein every citizen has
share largely depend upon proper
limitation of purely partisan zeal and
effort and ccrrcc. appreciation Of the
time when the partisan should be merged
in to the patriotism Of the citizen. To-
day the executive branch Of the govern
mcnt is transferred to new keeping
but this is still the government of all
the people, and it should be none the
less an object Of their affectionate solici-
tudc. at this hour, the animositi.s of
political strifp,. The bitterness of parti-
san defeat and the cXultattiostt.. of -parti-
san triumph should be supp!antcd by
IN unSrudSlng acquicsccnce IN the pop
ular Will sober, conscientious concern
for the general veal. Moreover, if from
this hour we checrfully and honestly
abandon all sectional prejudice and dis
trust, and determine, with manly conf >
ccncc in one another, to work out har-
m"niously the achievements of our
national destiny, we shall deserve to
realize all the benefits which our happy
! form Of government can bcstow.
Loyalty to the Constitution.
On this auspicious occasion we may
we'll renew the pledge Of our devotion
to the Constitution, which, launched by
the founders Of the republic and conse
Grated by their prayers and patriotic de-
votion, has for almost century borne
the hopes and the aspirations Of great
people, through prosperity and peace
and through the shock of foreign con-
tl'cts and the pcrils Of domestic strife
and vicissitudcs. BY the Father of his
Country our Constitution was com
mendcd for adoption as ''the result of Il
spirit OF amity and mutual concession,
In that same spirit it should be adminis-
tered III order to promote the lasting
welfare Of the country and to secure
the full measure Of it's priceless hcnc-
hts to us and to those who will succeed
to the blessing of our national life.
The large variety Of diverse and COM
peting interests subject to Federal con
troll persistcntly seeking the recognition
OF their claims mood giva US no fear that
"thc greatest good to the greatest Au,n-
ber'' will fail to be accomplished, il in
the halls OF national legislation that
spirit OF amity and mutual concession
Shall prevail in which the Constitution
had its birth. If this involas the sur
render or poStpon"ncnt Of private in
tcrestS and the abandonment Of local ad-
vontages, compensation viii! be found in
the assurance that thus the common in
terest is subSnrvcd and the general wei
fare advanced. In the discharge Of my
official duty / shall cndeavor to be
guided by inst and unstrained con-
Struction Of the Constitution, a careful
observance of the distinction between
the powers granted to the Federal Gov.
ernmcnt and those reserved to the
StntcS to the people. and by a,cautious
appreciation Of those functions which.
by the Constitution and laws, have been
especially assigned to tho executive
branch Of the government But he
who takes the oath to-day to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution Of
the Cuitcd States only assumes the sol
cmn obligation which every patriotic
citizen, on the farm, in tho workshop, in |
the busy marts Of trade, and every
where, should share with him. The |
Constitution which 'prescribes his oath,
my countrymcn, is yours; the govern
ment you have chosen him to administer |
for time is yours; for the suffrage |
which executes the will of frccmen is |
yours; the laws and the entire scheme |
of our civil rule, from the town meeting
to the State capitals and the National
Capitol is yours. Your every voter as |
surely as your Chief Magistrate, under !
the same high sanction, though in a diff
forent sphere, exercises a public trust. |
Nor is this all. Every citizen Of ours
owes to the country vigilant watch and
close scrutiny Of its public servants,
and a fair and reasonable estimate of
their fidelity and usefulness. This is
the peoples will imposed upon the
whole framework Of our civil policy
State and Federal,--and this
is the price Of our liberty and the in