Year: 1860

SAM-L. j. KIRKwOOD'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,


DELIVERED BEFORE THE


Eighth General Assembly Of the stas of Iowa,


Wednesday, January llth, 1850.


Gentiemea ofMe Senate, and w


House Of Represensotipes.


The people Of Iowa have placed in your
hands, for the time being, the law making
power of the State, and therefore they look
to you, that, during the time you hold this
trust, such course Of policy shall be pursued
and such laws enacted, ns will tend to pro-
mote the honor and the welfare of the
State.


The Office to which have been elected,
and the responsibilities which have just as
sumed, associate me with you to certain
extent, in this work, by imposing upon me,
among other duties, that of communicating
to you such information, as will aid you in
the performance of your duties, and recon
mending to you such measures as in my opin-
ion will, if adopted BY you, advance the
public welfare.


Under government like ours, where the
people are the source of all political power,
the laws are necessarily q fair reflex Of the
intelligence and morals of the people !; and
therefore it becomes of the first Importance
that the standard of intelligence and moral
ity should be raised as high as possible. In
this view it has been the settled policy of the
State to foster and encourage in oil suitable
ways, the education of the youth of the
State, so that when at a more advanced pc
riod of life, they take part in the direction
and control Of public affairs, they can do so
understandingly, and with an intelligent re-
gard to the public welfare. Under our con-
stitution the subject of education has been
almost wholly withdrawn from you, and
placed in the hands of board specially
constituted for that purpose, leaving with
you, however, the power Of revising and
amending their action. This board has just
closed session at which they have made
such changes in and amendments to the
school law as they deemed expedient and
proper, and in my opinion it would be pru-
dent for you to interfere with their action
only in case that you shall find. upon exam
ination, an overpowering necessity for so
doing.


Not only is it highly important that the
voice of our people, as expressed through
the ballot box, shall be enlighted and intel
ligent, it is imperntively necessary that the
utterings of that voice be correctly and hon.
estly reported. In a government like ours,
without privileged classes, and where the
laws effect all alike, we need not fear that a
majority of the people will deliberately pur-
sue policy intended to operate injuriously
upon the public welfare, because by SO do
ing they would be acting contrary to their
own best interests. We therefore feel at all
times safe in submitting quietly and cheer.
fully to the will of the majority fairly and
constitutionally expressed, confident that il
at any time, from any cause, the people are
led into error, they have the sagacity speed
ily to detect and the honesty promptly tt
correct the error. But if through fraud OF
violence, the ballot box shall cease to report
to us correctly and honestly the will of tht
majority, if corrupt and interested men art
enabled to substitute their will for that Of
the people, then the assurance of safety de
! rived to US from the honesty, the intelli
gence, and the interest of the people, no
longer exists-our confdenca1R cur govern
ment is lost, and we feel th ore at th'
mercy of dishonest men, who the con.
troll of our affairs, for the purpdSS of pro
noting their own private interests rather
than the public good. We cannot therefore
guard with too much care, the sanctity ant
purity of the ballot box. In my opinion
there is no measure so well calculated to eff
feet this object, as carefully prepared ant
well guarded registry law; and respect
fully recommend that measure to your con
sideration. 1t may be objected by some
that tho operation of such law is burden
some to the electors. l am satisfied tha
the supposed difficulty in this respect i
; much over estimated, and even were it not
Q cannot conceive that any elector whit
properly appreciates the value of the privi
iege he enjoys as such will deem burden
some any reasonable amount Of time an
attention that it may be necessary for hr
to bessow, in order to prevent his homes
vote from being being destroyed by fraud
ulent one.


The institutions for the care of the insane
and for the education of the mute and tn
, blind, will, doubt not, receive from yo
prompt and cheerful attention and supper,
Established as they have been, in answer t
the requirements Of those better feelings 0
our nature, which prompt US to protect th





rely with confidence upon the approval b
our people, Of all reasonable and proper ct
forts on your part to make them useful an
efficient means for carrying out the nobl
purposes for which they were created.


would also recommend to your favorn
i BILE consideration, the State University,
Iowa City. 1t ls based upon grant mad
| by the Congress of the United States to thi
State, for the support Of such an lnstitu
i ton, and, having accepted the grant, -
o are bound by a proper sense OF State pride
by our duty properly to execute the tru'
j confded to us, and by the interests of edu
cation, in which are involved the best intel
r ests Of the State, to render the institutio
: such an one as will be useful and creditabi
\ to the State.


4 The condition and affairs of the peniter
: tiary, located at Fort Madison, will neces
sarily engage your careful consideration an
: attention. The safety of society require
that the building be such as will afford proT
or facilities for tho safe confinement {
those vicious persons whose liberty is dar
gerous to the lives and property OF peacefl
and law abiding citizens. -
: An agricultural college was originated
( the last session of the General Assembl,
and has since been located IN Story count,
Agriculture will be for many years to com
as it has been in times past, that intere
!, which underlies and supports all othe
. interests in our State; and any aid th'
can legitimately be given to it, should b
generously and not grugdingly. ! have nj
: sufficient information touching the institt
!, ton, to enable me to make any specifi
suggestions in regard to it, and can onl


recommend the whole matter to your caref
and friendly consideration.


The present condition and future maj
\ agement of the permanent school fund {
+ the State deserve your serious investigate
and deliberation. Under former and e,


isting laws, this fund has been lent to Ind
!, viduals, and in many cases either throug
; the carelessness or dishonesty Of the office
N by whom it has been lent, the securiti
taken therefor have proved to be entire
= Inadequate, so that large losses to the fur