The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-09
NORTHERN Is GOVERNOR.
he TAKES THE OATH AND DELIv.
ERs HIS MESSAGE.

spicuous by Its Gallantry-The New
Governors Address Sensible and
Conservative "a Levee Held ey the
New and the Old Chief Magistrates.
ATLANTA, Ca, Nov. s.-Long before
noon, the hour for the Inauguration Of Gov.
Northen. IL was evident that an unusual
event was at hand az the state capitol The
galleries we're crowded with ladies and their
escorts, aud the proceedings of the Senate
and House wore in the nature Of killing
time. A little futter was created by a
party OF ladies hsing escorted to the seats
yielded them by the Chatham delega-
tion. The ladies were Mrs. Gazaway Hart
ridge, Miss Binks aud others Mrs Senator
Joseph e. Brown and her two daughters
also found places in the front row.
ENTRY or THE GOVERNOR.
1.-THE governor awaits the pleasure of the
joint session." was the announcement of ths
doorkeeper, and the governor the governor
elect the stats house officers, ex-governors,
the judges Of the state supreme court, ex-
senators, congressman aud other dis
tinguiSaod public men made an imposing
procession into the House from the execu-
tive department rooms
Prayer by Chaplain Jones Of the Senate
dent Mitchell of the Senate introducing
Gov. w. j. Northen, whose message was
then read
1t is as follows:
Mr. President aud Gentlemen Of the Genera
assembly:
Custom has made the law of this occasion.
IL is expected, before proceed to take the oath
OF Office and assume tho duties of the executive
OF the state, that will out Inc somewhat the
public policy will commend to the representa-
tives OF the people who are for the time to
direct the interests OF the commonwealth.
The object OF. all government, fairly adminiss
tered is the good OF the governed This is eJpes
cially true OF the theory Of our system, both
state and national. It's fundamental principles
are found In the equality of all men before the
law; untrammeled freedom in the exercise OF
the rights of citizenship and individual liberty
under wise and judicious popular control for
the public good
In the republic and in the states we recognize
the superior rights OF no individual and no
class. In our system the lawmaker aud the ad-
minstrator Of the law. at the expiration OF
their brief authority. return again tn the level
of the people from whence they received their
commission to control.
OUR THEORY OF GOVERNMENT.
1t the face Of oil history we confidently hold
ours TO be the most perfect theory of human
government tho world has ever known. OF all
Others it secures the largest popular freedom, II
offers the highest Inducements for individual
effort, while IL guarantees the security of the
general good under the safest and wisest con
troll, No human government has ever been
practically perfect. Our system has not been
spared the errors OF mistaken government; tho
evils OF personal ambition; the demands OF self
Seeking: the power of class that burdens the in
terests or the many; the interruptions tyranny
of aggregated money that oppresses the
weak and the centrazing forces that
destroy the liberties OF the people and absorb
from the states the right OF local self-control.
Public policy, both state and national, should
seek to restore the government to its rightfu
authority-the people; public policy should de
mand the lowest rate OF taxation consistent
with 1udicous and economical administration
Of public affairs; the elevation of the masses TO
the fullest appreciation and the fullest exercise
of the privilege OF citizenship, and a proper and
due understanding Of it's duties; the
best development OF natural resources
the broadcast and most liberal supper,
of the states bsnefactions toward Its unfortunate
citizens; the strictest enforcement against the
violators of the law and the surest enactmsnts
for the thrift. prosperity and happiness of all
the people without distinction as TO class or
condition. The freest government is that con
troled by the least law; the wisest government
Is that maintained by the best law. The freest
aud best government, therefore, combined, la
that exercising the wisest law.
TOO MUCH Law.
In my deliberate Judgment the people Of this
state are burdened by too much law. Under
officer, the awe Of the court,
the grim walls Of the prison,
and the chains or the convict make the security
of the community and the safety OF the state.
With US the safeguard is the high American
sentiment that exalts peace and order snd law:
the abiding principle that yields 10 every man
the fullest exercise Of his rights consistent with
the common good and inhexible justice that de-
mandg the equality OF every man before the
law. The American idea trains the people to
live largely without the restraints OF the law by
the uniformity of its operation, the justice Of
its demands and the certain, speedy and
adequate punishment for it's violation.
AS our laws have Iincreased their uniformity
has been destroyed and the rights Of the people
been impaired AS our laws have changed the
practice in the courts has been confused, and in
making distinctions where there should be nc
differences communities have been wronged
and the people unwisoly burdened The best
government Is that controlled by the least law.
Special legislation In this state, by reason Of
It's character and amount, has grown TO be in
tolerable. The constitutional convention OF
1877, forseeing the tendency of the times.
attempted 70 restrain somewhat the
limiting provisions for local enactments. The
general assembly has since sought TO hinder
this evil In our legislation, and yet its last ses-
sion gave 10 the state an amount or local iegis-
lation unprecedented IN the history OF our peo.
pie
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
The acts of the last general assembly occupy
lao pages OF printed matter, and of these only
164 pages are devoted to laws Of a general
character and 1925 are given to local and
special laws intended to restrict the rights and
privileges of citizens in certain counties
OF the state in ths one cese aud
Indirectly to enlarge the rights
and privileges of citizens in other counties of
the state in another case. Why this differences
of right under the same government? NOS to
detan you with further illustratiou-you viii
find in the recent acts OF the general assembly
special act tor twelve counties In this state that
could have been covered under q general state
law, that would bring uniformity of rule and
use of adjustment. If such law is good fos
twelve counties in the restrictions it imposes.
why Is 10 not good for the states II good for
the state 10 should not be enacted with local
force If such law needs TO be engrafted
upon our system at all let it be done
under general enactment that our governments
may be uniform and just, the work of the gen
eral assembly shortened. and the expenses OF
the state reduced IL the state Is to act without
distinctions and differences involving rights it
should in all cases act under uniform law
Laws to be effectual must be impartial and just
To preserve the symmetry of government and
defend without distinctions the rights, OF the
citizen they must be uniform. The poicy
commend for your consideration would make the
laws OF the state few, simple, uniform ana just.
Change in an established law should never be
made until the public good demands 1t. when
the government OF the state becomes uniform
and established the work OF the general as.
sembly will be greatly reduced.
UNIFORMITY ESSENTIAL
Copartnership in business has now given piscs
to corporarions Corporations demand charters
hao tod lnif0rFrtfE