Year: 1879

GOVERNOR HALLS INAUGRAL ADDRESS be.
fore the Legislature has the merit at least of
briefness. He opens by recognizing and
invoking Divine wisdom and strength in s
the performance of duty. He then gives {
expressions of pleasure at the opportunity
to express his grateful appreciation OF the
honor they had conferred upon him. lie
then launches forth in a disquisition on
militia and military rule, which covers
about one.third of the printed document.
He refers to the power conferred upon the
Executive by the constitution as COM
mander in chief Of the army and navy, and
while recognizing the fact that our earlier
history showed the State in possession of
well regulated militia demanded by public
sentiment, he argues that there is no dis
turbing element in our midst, that the |
people have faith in an independent
judiciary to sustain the peace and dignity |
of our State, and says, "there is no ne
cessity at this time for any organization
which would awaken this dormant func.
ton of the executive Office"


He argues with rs much force against the


habit of calling upon the general govern


ment for troops by the States to suppress


disorderly and turbulent demonstrations


therein, and on the back of it says 81


desire to emphasize the importance and


necessity of the State relying upon its own


governmental resources and appliances to


maintain tranquility and the supremacy of


law within its own borders" The logic Of


his argument is that the State must not


have any militia for police force and must


not call upon the general Government (lest


it tend to centralization of Government) for


help in time of emergency. He seemed
entirely oblivious to the fact that in the late
railroad riots the most of our large cities
were, for a time, at the mercy OF mob


and but for timely aid from the Govern
ment might have been burnt TO ashes. In
: fact, the mind of the writer of the address
: seems to have been dazed by the glamour
| of military trappings, and is quite ready
q to resort to broom stick or any other
q thing for public security. In little State
!, like ours, it is unimportant whether we
. have a militia law or not but there shoulC
t be power some where to meet and sup
f press public disturbances. There is
}. further disinterment of the past and it
q issues, that in spirit and want of executive
q Judgment, stands in strong contrast to tn
IT. late able message of Governor Cochran.
n The Governor from this turns to wha
d. is more pertinent and personal, viz: tn
r. responsible trusts confded to the Execr
o. tive. Governor Hall is everywhere locke
10 upon as a man who wants to do right, an
as if he acts on the letter of his Inaugural
is the people will not have been disappointe
le in him. He says:


"a "Ofices constitute the machinery


State, by which the burdens, as well as til
- blessings of government, are distribute
S; among the people; and as the one in man
,ir instances provoke the censure more readl
ef than the other eXcites the praise Of ii
l., public, it is highly proper that homes
:! capable and faithful men only, should
lis appointed to office, in order to insure
We the public the benefits of good government





:, the burdens which itimposes. IncOmpetel
and faithless public servants, by the
ny ignorance Of duty, or abuse of power, {
lily ways bring reproach upon the office vii
nd whose authority they have been clothe
-, and to that extent weaken and embarra
~ the administration of the government.
,ro the performance Of this duty, my chi
aIl purpose will be to select such person {
;ra the offices as shall possess those elemer


Of character that will best secure the el


of their creation"


- This is the cogent part of the addre
in the rest consisting largely of platitud
by written as if to fill out a certain amount
for space) and by it the Governor must
VS.. judged for the four years he fills the CUB
wn material chair. He further tells us he "
lily be sparing in the exercise of executi
ers clemency, will faithfully execute the lav
1t says the object of legislation is to prone
he the public good and calls the attention
ess the Legislature to this in contrast to Il
rye species Of legislation which contempla
nal any particular class or interest, and clio
i'm. with a review of the financial question a
ted says the business depression does not lie
The our door but is charged upon the fnanC
ing mismanagement of the Federal Cove
tue ment, coupled with wasteful and reckl
Tvs expenditures Of the public revenues.
self ---