Year: 1865




his Induction into Office.


The following extracts from the Inaugural


Address of Gov. Patton, gives fair repre-


sentation of his view of the political situa-


ton, and duties of the people =


OF the wide waste and ruin which the war
has wrought upon our once happy country,


Alabama has suffered full share. OF her


brave sens who entered the army, it may be


safely stated that from thirty-fve to forty


thousand perished in the service In mate


rial wealth, her loss in one species of prop


erty alone-that of slaves-is not less than


two hundred and fifty millions of dollars I;


and the aggregate amount of loss in the va


rious other descriptions of property has been
equally as great. Hence we find that, in
this State alone we have sustained loss, in
actual and substantial wealth, of at least FIVE
hundred millions of dollars $500, 900, ,000.)
In this brief reference to the events of the


last four years, do not wish to be under
stood as seeking to vindicate the correctness
of opinions which | entertained and express
ed at the incipiency OF our late troubles. 1t
is true that disaster and ruin were predicted
but heaven knows | take no pleasure in
painting the fulflment Those events are
now historic, and we should only recur to
them in that calm and philosophic spirit,
with which we may appeal to any other
history, for profitable lessons to guide us in
our actions, while dealing with the momen-
tous present, and preparing for the dubious


and even threatening future. For this pur-
pose, think we may all profit much by con-


trasting the prosperity and happiness which
our country enjoyed at the beginning of the


recent war, with its present crippled and al
most ruined condition. In doing this, we


should forget the contentious chickering's,


passions, excitements, and dissensions thro'
which we have passed. or, if we cannot


forget, let US, at least rise above them. Let


us be one man, and if we are unable to re-


cover that which has been lost, it becomes


us to bend our united energies in saving and


improving that which remains to us.


Soon after the surrender of the Southern


armies, the President, by proclamation, and


the appointment of Provisional Governors,


announced his terms of amnesty and the


policy bv which he proposed to restore har-


monious relations TO the recently discordant


States Under all the circumstances associa-
ted with the new condition of things, it must
be confessed that the terms of amnesty were
as liberal as could have been reasonably ex-


pected To the great mass of our country


men a pardon was rendered, upon the sim


pie condition Of taking an oath to support
the Constitutional laws Of the United States,
and the union of the States Hereunder, in
cluding pledge of obedience TO the Presi-
Dental proclamations in relation to slavery.
This condition was readily and cheerfulfS
complied with. The various classes who
were excepted from this liberal condition,
and who could only obtain amnesty by
special action of the Executive, have presen-
ted their applications in large numbers; and
the anxiety with which they seek for favor
able action on their respective cases, gives
evidence Of the sincerity with which our
whole people are endeavoring to conform to
the full requirements of the laws.


The reconstruction, or restoration policy
of the President was duly submitted to the
people of Alabama, and has been unhesi-
tatingly accepted BY them. 1t may be safely
asserted that, as far as the work Of recon-


struction has progressed in this State, it has


been in strict CO rmity with what was un-


derstOod to be the policy of the General
Government Without undue murmuring,
and in perfect good faith, cur people have


patriotically conformed to all the exigeneies


of the situation" They fully and fairly


accept the results of the war, with all their


legitimate consequences.


Candor and sincerity are prominent traits
of Southern Character. Onr people never
dissemble; they always mean what they say


and do. Their high character in this re-


gard is so well established that all reasona-


bic men, in all parts of the country, must


award full credit for their every action since


the termination of the war. Our soldiers


bore themselves with manliness when they
laid down their arms, and have observed


their paroles with scrupulous good faith.


Returning home, they sank the soldier into


the citizen; and cordially uniting with other
citizens, they have given the whole weight Of
their potent influence in forwarding the great


work Of restoration. Patiently and uneom-