The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-23
THE NEW GOVERNOR.
Tennessee Has an Inauguration and Dis
play Of Flowers and Fine Ladies.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.


Buchanan was yesterday inaugurated Gov
crnor of Tennessee, the impressive cerc-
monies occurring in the hall oil the House
Of Representatives.
The Inauguration was witnessed by an
immense audience, every available foot of
space on the floor and in the galleries be-
ing occupied. Many ladies graccd the
occasion by their presence.
The hall was tastefully and profuscly
decorated with flowers and bunting.
Choice musical selections were rem
dcrcd by the Theatre Vendomc orchestra.
Thomas Buchanan, father Of the Governor.
with Mrs John 7. Buchanan, daughter
and two sons, other relatives and intimate
friends occupied seats on the right OF the
speakers desk. The Senators sat on the
left and the Representatives in front.
Gov. Taylor and Governor-elcct Blu
chanan entered the hall at | :31 and were
conducted to the speakers stand.
at noon President Dismukcs called the
assembly to order and the resolution pro-
vidng for the convention was read.
Prayer was offered by Rev. NJ. Dewitt, D.
d., after which Governor Taylor was in
troduced and delivered brief address, in
which he said among other things: II am
here at this hour to surrender the highest
trust, which has twice been coniidcd to me
by the voice of a sovereign people. The
sccptrc is departed from my hand; the
crown ofhonor is lifted from my head, have
no stately powcrlett and hardly haircnough
to harbor havsccd. Never again will the
hinges Of the knee he crooked
before me that pardon may follow plead
ing and no more will the appointment OF
one of my fellow citizens to Office bring
upon my head the malcdictions of the
other ninety and nine. have often
thought if had power to construct Il
State, | would make every human being
within its limits happy. Its Governor
should give every applicant the office OF
his choice. Every supplicant should he
permitted to sup, every mother should
have her hayward boy from the prison
walls; every poor miserable wife should
have her condemned husband stripeless,
provided he would agree TO be sober and
do right; every criminal child should
90 to Il rcformatory school; every far
mcr should he commissioner of agri-
culture; every aspiring statesman should
he Il coal oil inspector; every military
genius should be Il general; every corpo-
ration should be excused from back taxes;
every citizen should have Il balance in
bank, and pumpkins should be receivable
for taxes
Governor Taylor spoke briefly of his
administration, and said that he com
mitted the work to his honorable sue
ccssor, feeling that it was confdcd to hon
est hands. Loud applause followed the
remarks of the retiring Governor.
After music Governor Taylor introduced
Hon John +. Buchanan, who then dcliv-
cred his inaugural address. He was
frequently applaudcd, and at the close OF
his address he took the oath of Office,
which was administered by Chief Justice
Tnrncy, of the Supreme Court. The
booming of the cannon followed. and the
spectators dispersed.
Governor buchanan began his address
by saving that he, as Governor, and the
General Assembly, as law-sivers, were
but servants vested with the authority
only to express and execute within con-
stitutional limits. the will OF the people.
1t is the duty of each Representative. he
said, to give voice to needs and desires of
his constituency, and all should harmo-
niously take counsel together for the
greatest good for the whole State. The
principles that form the basis of our
American theory of government are, he
said, that all men are equal before the law
and that power and rule belong of right
to a majority. The first principle Of civil
liberty recognizes the superior rights OF
no individual and no class, and affirms
that there is no one who by inherent right
ought to rule 1t therefore declares that
the people ought to rule in contradiction
to autocracy, arist0cracy or plutocracy.
This system accomplishcs more nearly
than any other yet tried by man, the main
object Of all government, the good OF those
governed. Yet this has fallen into grave
and serious errors; it has violated the
principle Of the equality of all men be-
fore the law Of undue protection OF il
favored class. 1t has made dangerous
strides toward plutocracy by submission
TO the power of aggregated money; it has
centralized power until it threatens de-
struction of popular government, and the
right of the States to local sclf-GOvcrn
mcnt. 1t has by these errors fostered
monopoly until it has placed itself within
the mcrciless grasp of this relentless
tyrant lone of the greatest wonders OF
our American SYSTEM said Governor
Buchanan, is that We have built up the
greatest nation on Garth and left our self
government intact. This has been ac-
complishcd by allowing county, township
and city local government under the an
thority of the sovereign States, and b.
allowing the States local government
within constitutional limits under the
Federal Union. This is the germ of The
american system and most jealousy
should it be guarded.
Referring to the laws Of Tennessee
Governor Buchanan said that only sucl
laws as the State needs should be enacted
AS much harm may accrue from Ovcrbur
dcning statute book with laws involving
distinctions without differences, he said
as from lack of legislation. The Jcfler
sonian non-interfcrcnce theory ofGovern
ment is the wiscst. Governor Buchanan
said, leaving people to he happy in thei
own way without undertaking TO do fol
them what they can do better for them
selves. The weakness Of the State Gov
crnmcnt does not arise so much from thu
inefiiciency of the law as from the ineffi
cheney of the execution of the law. II
enforce order, the execution of the Law
to G,p, DrO p,rt on1