Year: 1864

AsA - ~ ~ ~ AeLAA4 AAD - h4nSNy
Delivered before the Members of the


General Assembly of Ohio, and


n large Assemblage Of La


dies, Citizens, and


Soldiers, on


Monday, january AIth, 1864.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
Sentdtiues: ....


Obedient to the mandate of the people,
appear before you to-day to assume the du-
ties of Chief Magistrate of the State of Ohio.
] am not ignorant of the magnitude and inn
portance Of the position, nor unmindful of
my own want of experience and ability to
so administer it, as to satisfy the eXpecta-
tions of the people who have chosen me.
Most gladly would / have seen its honors
and duties imposed upon some ADLER citizen
of the State; and it is with no ordinary de-
gree of diffidence that assume to-day its
1abors and responsibilities. l can only as
sure you, gentlemen, and those you represent,
that / bring to this position fixed deter
mination to discharge its duties, to the best
of my ability, in spirit of unyielding
faithfulness and integrity to the State,
and impartality and justice to the peo-
pie.


, There is significance in the recent ex-





all from many of the embarrassments that
usually attend such events. 1t heralds no
mere party triumph-itis is no individual sue
cess. No mere partisan effort could have
achieved such victory; no man in the
State is worthy of, or could have received,
so sublime an ovation. 1t is spontaneous
declaration of the intense loyalty of our
people to their government, and bearing it
with the stern commandment that every
energy of their State, and every eXertion of
its rulers shall be given to the restoration
of that government to its original unity and
power. 1t not only relieves us of all mere
partisan trammels and aflinities, but it COM
mands us that, for the time being, these shall
be laid aside, until the great purpose is ac-
Complished of restoring our country to a
position in which partisan contests may be
indulged without involving our nationality;
and party victories be won without their
possible results giving encouragement to
rebels in arms against the supremacy of the
Constitution and laws of the land. In that
spirit / accept the late declaration of our
common constituency; and humbly thank
them that, in this particular, they have
made my path easy and straight before
me.


While this national obligation is laid up
on us, it does not relieve us from the fur
ther duty of guarding the local interests
and promoting the prosperity of our own
State. This duty, to a large extent de-
wolves upon the legislative body. / fully
share in the confidence of the people who
have called you from your respective avo-
cations in life, and committed to you, for
the time being, the honor, the credit, and
the prosperity of the State. In all that
can, and properly may do, it will give me
great pleasure to cooperate with you in
the accomplishment of this great purpose.
The annual message of my worthy pre-
decessor, with the accompanying docu-
ments, presents you, in concise ard intel
hgible manner, the condition of our State
affairs. His recommendations are worthy
of, and will undoubtedly receive, your care
full consideration. His arduous labors have
contributed. in no small degree, to the
gratifying results presented to you; and it
Is pleasing reflection that the people of
the State Will be able to follow him into his
present retirement from executive duties,
with the grateful plaudit of "well done
good and faithful servant" 1t will be an
abiding pleasure to me, if, at the end of my
own brief service, shall be able to attain
alike his usefulness and his reward.


1t is not less gratifying than honorable to
the State that we have been able to pass
through the third year of an expensive and
sanguinary war, in the full performance of
all our uuJicS W Jllc NdJlOudl OONtlulucllt,
without impairing, in any manner, the
prosperity of the State, or depressing our
people by burthensome or excessive taxa
tion.


The financial condition of the State is
highly satisfactory. The currency is in q
soIud condition. The agricultural. indus
triM and commercial interests of the State
were never more prosperous. The State has
been protected, with. single. exception,
from invasion, and the desolating rayages
of war have not spread themselves within
our limits. AT the same time the great in
stitutions of education and benevolence,
which constitute a material element of our
pride and strength, have not been en-
croached upon or Impaired. Our schools
and colleges-our seminaries of learning
our arts and sciences-our noble institutions
for the relief and instruction of the stricken
portion of our people--our public works.
all these have been fostered, encouraged
and protected, as though war had not ex-
listed in the land. While we have abundant
cause in this, not alone for self graduation
but of devout thankfulness to that Divine
Providence that rules in the affairs of ma
tions as of individuals, we may learn of il
the obligations of duty, that, by wise adj
ADMINISTRATION, we secure to the future, as fal
as human effort can do so, the blessings We
have enjoyed in the past. >t


1t is true that amid all this prosperity ou
people. have been called upon to meet priva
tions and endure sacrifices. The blood o
Ohio has been poured out upon almost ever.
battlefield of the nation, and her sons hav
found graves In nearly every Southern State
The shouts of victory from ensanguine
r battle-fields, have been two-fold messengers
bringing alike joy and sorrow to our peO
pie; and with the exultation of the one ha
been mingled the lamentations of the othel
Our men have given freely of their sub
stance, and our noble women of their endul
ing patience and labor, to alleviate the pr
vations and sufferings of our sons in til
field. The parental hand Of the State Coy
ernment has been constantly and LIBERAL
extended, to aid and protect her gallant me
living, and honor her dead heroes. Yet a
these burthens have been freely and eve
cheerfully borne; for the reason that Il