Year: 1871

GOVERNOR BROWNS INAUGURAL


ADDRESS.


Senator's and Representatives:


Called by so emphatic an expression Of
popular will to the chief executive Office
Of our state, I feel that my first duty is to
return profound thanks to those who have
shown me such confidence. l shrink
however, with unaffected humility from
undertaking n task almost always begun
in great hopefuluess; but that, with the
best effort and purest purpose of those
engaged in administration, rarely fails to
end in disappointment. On the other
hand, there are many considerations to
brighten the prospect. Tho time is ripe
for o harvest of good work. There is
manifested everywhere a disposition to
co operate in useful public labors. And
wish to say unreservedly that nothing
more encourages me towards discharging
the duties devolved than the convic.
tion that the legislative branches Of the
government embrace much Of the wisdom,
the virtue, the courage, and the progress
sive intellect of the people. Upon you
will be imposed the Inauguration of com
prehensive reforms it will be my sole
object to join in giving approval and
enforcement to your well matured action.
There shall be honesty, economy and
rigid observance of the best interest of
the state in all that lies within my con-
troll, and the authority delegated shall
neither be used for bad ends, nor stretched
beyond its rightful limit.


THE REVOLUTION CLOSED.


Fortunately, we have arrived at the
close of revolution. Missouri rcposes in
absolute peace, and invites all her citi-
zens to turn them to the industrial ayoca.
tions of ordinary life. The lingering
animosities of civil war have been sup
planted by an accepted reconciliation on
all sides. The very ideas upon which
that strife was precipitaied have sutstan'
tally disappeared from the minds Of men,
and our people have pronounced with an
almost unanimous voice that this com
monwealth is to be characterized by the
essential elements of an equal freedom.
They have declared that hencerorth the
evidences of patriotism shall consist in
accomplishment, not in memory in
brave present work, not in continued
wrang'e over obsolete issues. Once
before great changes involved in great
social conflict passed upon the institu-
tions of our land. When consumated,
the patriot statesman Of that day, Mr..
Jefferson, couuseled moderation, brother.
hood, unity, uttcriug these memorable
words "Lst US restore to social inter
course that harmony and affection, with
out which liberty and even life itself are
but drcary things. Let US reflect thai
every difference Of opinion is not diff
ference Of principle. Wo have called by
different names brethren Of the same
principle; we are all republicans-we arr
all feIeralis,s. If there be any amongst
US who would wish to dissolve this Union
or to change its republican form, lie
them stand undisturbed as monuments O.
tho safety with which error Of opinion
may be tolerated where reason is left
free to combat it, Such language wa
not less admirable in its texture than wa
the warp and woof of fidelity to primar.
truths, out Of which it was woven. Ii
the same spirit let US approach the con
clusion Of this crisis. Let US recogniz
in its acceptance Of the Fundamental
principles of human freedom FELLOWSHIP
} Of thought, let US appreciate that anelior
alton Of opposing attitudes which ha
already extended to the most intimat
relations Of social life, and let us say, toe
realizing that politics cannot be distin
guished from the body of common exist
cnce of which it is only h partial reAe,
that in the advent OF liberalism-we ar
all Republcans-we are all Democrats
Q THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
A constitution of state governmen
shaped amid the ardors of an embittcrc


struggle, has inst been amended in man
l. of its most important bearings upon per


sons and property and education and tn


appliances Of justice by the adoption {


new articles largely In the interest of
, more liberal policy. OF these it may !


important to note the clause which col
o irmed the right of suffrage to every cit
i, zen without respect to race or color {
It past completely with rebellion, by pol
= ular vote of one hundred and twent,
= = seven thousand six hundred and fort,


three in the affirmative against sixtec


thousand two hundred and sixty .elght


the negative; also the clause declaratol


of the right to hold Office without di


elimination as to color or lineage


previous disability approved by CORE


ponding vote Of one hundred and twent


three thousand four hundred and egh


cen ayes as against eighteen thousar
and five nays. Also the clause whit
= admits all citizens, black as well as whit


to qualify as jurors, iudorsed by


equally significant majority OF one hu


dred and thirty.one thousand four hu


dred and ninety to ten thousand sew
-: - = :.