Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-01-26
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.
Inauguration Of Governor and Lieu.
tenant Governor. E.,.%

COLUMBIA, January 18.-Governor
William IL. Ellcrbo and lieutenant
Governor Nj. Is. McSweeney were
inducted into office to-day. The
ceremonies attending the change of
administration were brief, not lasting
over twenty minutes altogether.
Thorc was nothing unexpected or
remarkable about the exercises. 1t
would have been difficult to have
made the ceremony more formal or
brief. Several hundred visitors. at
most, witnessed the swearing in of
the Governor. The young ladies
from the colleges were present in a
body, also number of Governor
Ellcrhc's friends in the city. One of
r, tho interested spectators was Mrs.
Ellerbe, who was accompanied by
her children and members Of the
household.
The procession was not over five
minutes behind tho hour appointed
for the exercises. Sergeant-at-arms
CASTOR, of the Senate, with Sergeant
alarms Stansell, headed the line of
march. Governor Ellcrbe, who came
in on tho arm of Senator Mower,
came next. We wore a black frock
coat and black crayat, and looked
quito well. Following camc Lieu
tenant Governor McSweeney with
Mr.. Magill, Judge Ernest Gary with
Senator Graydon, the Rev. Mr.. w.
II. Richardson with Mr.. Montgom-
cry, Comptroller General Derham
with Superintendent Of Education
McMahan, former Adjt. Gen. Watts
with Adjt. Gen. elect Floyd, former
Attorney General Barber with Attor-
ney General Bellinger and Mr.. Sim
kins with State Treasurer Thinner
man.
AS soon as the State officers, their
escort and the Senators arrived in
the House and were seated, Mr..
Scarborough, President of the SEN
ate, announced the purpose of the
joint assembly and that Rev. Mr..
Richardson would deliver the prayer.
Mr.. Richardson, of the Washing
ton Street Methodist church, deliv-
cred quite long and fervcnt prayer.
1t was then announced that "the
Hon. VIM. II. Ellcrbc, Governor
elect, was present and ready to quail.
ify." Governor El!crbe placed his
hand on the Bible and held it while
Judge Gary read the oath, to which
Governor Ellerbe gave concurrence.
Governor E!lerbc walked to the
front of the Speakers stand anG
spoke as follows:
"Fellow Citizens: Two years ago
l was called by an almost unprecc-
dented majority to the highest office
within your gift. The reasons for
my overwhelming victory arc not far
to seek. We had just passed through
four years of the bittcrcst partisan
warfare that had ever shaken the
State. 1t had arraycd brother
against brother and friend against
friend. 1t had engendcrcd the Bit
terest feelings between the different
classes of our population. Town and
country were at war, instead of
working harmoniously together for
common good. The Reform Move
ment brought many substantial gains
to the people; but, like every other
social revolution, it brought with it
concomitant and inseparable ills of
which | have spoken. The good
remains; the evil in time disappears
The people, especially the people of
So, th Carolina, are generous, and in
their hearts the passions of partisan
hate soon die out, self lf-consumcd.
"Twas thus, after four years Of
strife, the people now, in mutual,
well-bss@GSming ranks, marched all
one W % more opposed against
acqua $5mce, kindred and allies.
Ignoring party lines, they turned
with characteristic generosity to me ;
not because of special worth or fitness
on my part, for had done nothing
TO merit such marked ustuosn, ouj
because they who knew me best
believed that as Governor would
serve no faction, but tho whole pco-
pie, and strive to bring in an era of
peace and good fellowship. Thus
was | enabled to launch the ship of
State under fayoring brcezes.
Knightly and generous souls came
forward with pledges of CO. operation.
The press, with scarcely an excep-
tion, promised support and prophe-
sled a happy voyage under favorable
skies. With many misgivings I
undertook the task 70 which | was
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