The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-11-06
OUR FIRST GOVERNOR.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF
PETER BURNETT.
An Interesting Document, Apropos
Of Problems of Expan-
sion.


ton it is interesting to go back to the
pioneer era when Californians elected
their first Governor The Placer
Times" of January 5, 1850, contains
the inaugural address of Peter Bur-
nett, first Governor of California. 1t
is a tersely written document that few
persons Of the present generation have
seen, and it is as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and Assem-
bly,: | have been chosen by majority
of my fellow-citizens of California to
be her first Executive. For this proof
of their partiality and confidence. l
shall ever retain most grateful sense.
To be chosen Chief Executive of Cali
fornia at this period of her history,
when the eyes of the whole world are
turned toward her, is a high and dis
tinguished honor, and 1 shall do all in
my power to merit this distinction by
an ardent, sincere and energetic dis
charge of the weighty duties incident
to- the position 1 occupy
Nature, in her kindness and benefi-
cence, has distinguished California by
great and decided natural advantages;
and these great natural resources will
make her either very great or very
sordid and petty State She can take
no middle course. She will either be
distinguished among her sister States,
as one of the leading stars of the
Union, or she will sink into compare
tive insignificance. She has many dan
gers to encounter, many perilS to meet
In all those countries where rich and
extensive mines of the precious metals
have been heretofore discovered, the
people have become indolent, careless
and stupid. This enervating influence
operates silently, steadily and contln-
ually; and it requires countervailing
causes, or great and continued energy
of character in a people to success
fully resist it. How far this influence
may mold the character of the future
population of California, time alone
can determine. If she should stand
and overcome this great peril, she will
constitute a bright exception to the
| fate that has attended other States
similarly situated.
But I anticipate for California a
proud and happy destiny. If she had
| only her gold mines the danger would
be imminent, but she has still greater
and more commanding interests than
this-interests that seldom or never
enervate or stupefy a people, but on
| the contrary tend to excite and nour-
| ish industry enterprise and virtue /
mean her agricultural and commercial
advantages While our mines will
supply us with capital, and our fine
agricultural lands will furnish us with
| provisions, our great commercial facili-
| ties and position will give full en-
| ployment to the energies of our people,
| and will prevent the State from sink
| ing into that apathy which cannot ex-
| list in a commercial and active com
| munity.
| (Here follows a paragraph descrip-
| tive of the union of the destinieS of
| California with that of the Union)
| How wide and extended is our ex-
| panding country! With only thirteen
| States and three millions of inhabi-
| tants originally, we have grown in the
| short space of three-quarters of a
century to be one of the greatest ma
| lions of the earth. With a Federal
| Government to manage our external
relations with the world at large, and
| State Governments to regulate our in
| ternal and business relations with each
other, our system is peculiarly adapted
| for extension over a wide field, with
out the danger of becoming unwieldly
and impracticable We have command
| ing military and commercial positions
on both oceans, and nothing can retard
us in our onward march to greatness
but our own errors and our own follies.
California has her part to act in this
great march of Improvement, and
whether she acts well her part or not
depends much upon her early legisla-
ton With the most ardent desire to
do my duty fully and frankly toward
our new and rising State, I pledge you
my most cordial cooperation in your
efforts to promote the happiness of
California and the Union. For the
principles which will govern me in my
administration of the Executive De-
partment of the State, I beg leave to
refer you to my forthcoming message.
thank you, gentlemen, for the kind
ness and courtesy you have shown me,
and hope that your labors may re-
dound to your own honor and the hap
piness of your constituents.