Year: 1864

The iolIowine is . COPY q she inaugural cath -


OATH orFrCs


Almighty God that win henoeforward faithfully sup.
port protect and defend tho constitution Of the United
IN IKE manner abide by and faithfully support all acts Of
Congress passed during the existing rebellion with REFER
slaves long and 90 far as NOT repealed mod
fed held void by Congress or by decree Of the Supreme
Court that will IN like manner abide by and faith
fully support al proclamstions Of the President
during the existing rebellion having reference 70 slaves
long and 20 far as not modified declared void by the
Supreme Court.


And do further solemny swear sha. am qualined,
according 70 the constitution OF this state, 70 hold the
ofce 70 which have been elected and that will faith
fully and mpartiay discharge and perform all the duties
according 70 the best Of my abes and understanding,
agreeaby 70 the constitution and laws OF the United
States and support Of and according to the constitution
and laws or this State far they consistent with
the necessary military occupation OF the State by the
troops Of the United States for the suppression Of the
Or ted States. @ u.s. So Sol nelp me Cod MICHAEL HAHN.


The "Star Epangled Banner" was now played BY tho
band the children joining a. before, accompanied BY the


The Governor was then introduced by the Chairman,
Judge Howell and without further ceremony tho Bon.
Michael Hahn read his


INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


FNlow CrnzENs-ln difident obedience 70 your sove.
on o ns c
Washington, Iappear before you your freely elected
Governor, doubtful Of myself in all things in devo.
tion 70 my country and sincere and heartfelt affection
for oil my fellow citizens, irrespective Of birthplace,
creed or political opinion. In the exercise or dear
a aDs
your actsy0u have shown that although the people OF
State may err, State. as a member Of the American
Union, cannot die Is there among us to-day man actu
ated by genuine American sentiments and true patriot
Ism who would even for hour consent 10 have the
genius vaor OF Andrew jackson abdcate her place
10 the national constellation hope not. accept the
great honor which has been conferred upon me at
tne important epoch IN the history OF our State
with profound distrust of my ability
70 adequately discharge It's many accompany.
ing duties and respons bilities; and ! do not
wholly despond 10 anticipation 1t is because OF the cheer
ing evidences everywhere present around that gen.
indulgence will extended 70 my deficiencies and
that cheerful aiacrity viii animate the people in
tanning me In all the efforts it will be my constant study
10 mako In their behalf resident OF Louisiana from
and have claimed the privilege alloccasions public
and private In the Congress Of the nation popular
had ever seeded from the Union, had any time
even IN any apparently authoritative form. given
Their sanction 70 the act by which unfathful agents
ing this declaration behalf OF the people OF this
did no more than give expression to the sincere
sentiments OF her patriotic citizens native and adopted
and The immense coucourse Of every description OF per-
sons around and about me at this moment is strong
testimony to its correctness. We the people, have
never seceded we never intended 10 abdicate our
proper place In the Union; and, with the assistance
Of the national goyernnent, whose duty i Is TO





republican form Of government, we are deter
mined we never SHALL We have had our trials physical
had share Of suffering and sorrow-God knows how
Ead and affecting but at length. drawing veil the
devastation Of the past the wants and suerings Of
people, the social Interruptions the the DEAR
tender ties OF e the broken hearts tho hostile separa
ton OF members OF the household, the blood and
death following 10 the footsteps Of grim vsaged
raising ourselves up from lehargy naction We have
again shown our ability TO participate in the blessings OF
equal and just laws and in the maintenance Of the most
perfoCl system OF hna haAn
vouchsafed 70 mankind Where on earth was there a
people, when the demon Of dscord cupidity and oppcs
sion the hearts OF the wicked who plunged
this country into maricda strife, happy contented
or powerful as the American Union? And where nation
dedh part the liberty and prosperity which the United
States enjoyed, and could with certainty promise to
their posteryY Many Of our blessings we have endan-
eered. and some privileges, looked upon by many as
benefits bnve been destroyed S the foundation of
social edihce s not ruined or SO damaged az 70 be
beyond the reach Of early reparation. How II WIN be
asked shall this reparation be made9 The answer is
obvious follow up the sensible and reasonable work
you are this day with much civic pomp and
nanguraiing by she determination 10 act each 10 his
own sphere, a. becomes living man, IN the most pro.
gressve existing nations For the moment civil gov
ernment must necessarily harmonic with military nd.
minstration. There Is good reason however for
mittng hswhich will interfere but little with ndi-
vidual actiop-to deter any from setting TO
energetcallv formerly 70 m for lost time aud
recompense himself fully in the future for pas,
In all things compatible with steady and unnnckng
support Of the national unity and the efforts OF the gov
ernmeut 70 establish and sustain IL, on possible i'm
proven IruuuatODs, my constant study Will De OpSt
70 promote the substantial interests OF the people Of
Louisiana and TO that end invite friendly counsel
ara support OF oil ci2eps The Union OF these States.
handed down by Revolutionary ancestors is Of
value tnan any falsely lied Stale rights especially
when those rights sectional Institutions found.
ed gret moral social political evil and inconsst.
with the principles of free government The Ipst
tuition of slavery opposed alike 70 the rights OF
race and the interests Of the other the Of the
present unholy attempt TO break up government;
aud, unpleasant the declaration may sonnd many
you tell yon that regard its universal and immediate
extinction as pubic and private blessing. II is noe to
be supposed that, IN the adjustment Of the altered rca
tons OF labor 10 capital immediate satisfactory result
can be reached although the happest results have al
ready been witnessed on many plantations now worked
and cultivated under the compensated labor regu.
laons Of the distinguished commander OF this military
department desirable result will soon be generally
attained II the difficult matter s taken 10 hand q
practical question: free from the perpextes that cannot
fail to encompass it, a return to the old system
among conceivable possible To profit, as IL rs iu
OCT power at once 10 do bv situation, must dis
mrs dreams o. The past and accept accomplished facts as
they are and as they are evermorc certain to remain
10 the nature OF things, IL we will only act as
becomes sensible people. the greatness we have mo
mentariy had eciipsed will be ours again, and secured
to us by mere binding and lasting tenure than
before II must be based on a devotion 70 the
Justice and humanity The losses, IL any. Incurred by
this change 10 labor system by the truly loyal czen
will doubtless be properly returned 10 him In
by generous government. Al an early day election
will be ned for members 10 convention the revision
Of cur state constitution The Importance OF such no
election scarcely be exaggerated Every citizen
oceply The organic law and that il may ip
all respects faithfully mirror the wishes OF the people
harmo6ze with the spirit Of the age the people mus,
themselves exercse all due croumspection In the selec
ton OF delegates W represent them The convention win
doubtless provide for early election OF legislature
On the meeting OF the latter the absorbing labor question
will al demand It's most serious attention. and the
importance Of this aone will appeal strongly TO the minds
OF all good citizens, 80 that in the selection OF members
none unworthy from vicious habits or educational unit
may DO ch sen. With the natural advantages Lou
siana possesses, in her inexhaustibe SOIL her GENIAL
climate, her domination Of the OF rivers, ber fac
ties for commerce. manufacturing, and the most varied
AGRICULTURAL pursuits, nothing prevent ber present
population, or, they viii not do It, thea the emigration
that will speedily supersede them from becoming
what oCr people once nsnred with reason TO benamey
the meet Rourishing portion o the powerful OF
tons Proper legislation, snch may look forward
10 obtain before many months, Ill enable the people
profit by tho new lie that being infused into social
system and in presence OF the change OF obser
walton, enterprise and enlightenment need have dis.