Press enter after choosing selection

Inaugural Address

Inaugural Address image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
January
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The following is the Inaugural Adclress a of Gov. Feich n bcing swqrn into office in " prcscncc of the two Hoiises : " Fcllow CitizcnsofÜe Señale s and the House of Reprcscntalivcs : n In your presence and in the presence of l ihis convocatiou of free citizens, 1 have taken e upon me the QÖUgatiohS of the oath rcquired J of the Cllief Executive ofliccr by the , tutioii of Michigan. . ] ünder (he happy system of representativo government, offices of power and trust are j The birthright of none. ,,. , . i No ancient charter establishes in ad vanee the succession of miers ; no imperial doeree, no military prowess, no diplomatic arrangement desígnate the individuals who are to bc clothed with authority. Under our system the private citizoñ listens to the voice oi Kis fcllmvs, and while jt is yel soundmg in hia eat, the dulies and respoasibibues_ol oilicial slation are resting upon hun. belected bv their votes, he is frörn thcir own numbcr.'and rercives the chart of lus authority from their hands, lhus catad by the saffragee of his fellows, il is well that ue shauld enter upon the responsibilities of his oflioe, with the cnnsiitutions of the State and the Union in his hand and on Kis lips, tbc promisc by' á solcmn appeal to Heaven to support their provisions and iiitliivilly to perform the.tluties of llic oilice assunicd. The high responsibilities and duties of the oÜice of Chief Executive magistrale of our State, I talce upon me with rriuch diflidencc, and distrust of my own powers and qualifications. Huncsty of purpose and an anxious desire to promolc the public good, I can promisc, for these are wilhin my own command, bul the result with whicn they shall beattended, is bidden in the future. The history of our young republic, minibering even now scarcely ten years of existence as a State, has been crowded wilh questions of diiiiculty and ombarrassment. They attended upon her iïrsl oiyauialion, and for a time stáyed the hand that should have written her name on the list of States coinposing the A morirán Union. Tlicy altendcu upon ber earíy ïegisfahon, and taxed the wisdom of all the, departments of government in adfopting and putting inio pnejratiqn a system which should secure the best inte: resk oi' the people. It is ug'. tobe denied that the carly legisla tion of the State partook in sóme dëgxee, as dtd ahnost every other state in the Union, of the spcclihitive and ■oxlrauigant spiritof the times. JBut allhough in the hislory of ihe past we.sce errors which, with the light of experience we may now think might have been avoided, yet il is evident tbat our Comihonweahh has been blessed with general prosperity, and that her progress bas been onward and upward. The embarassments wbich have grown out ofearly legislátion to which I havo alhuled still however, presents inany subjects of difficulty and perplexity, which v.ill demand the careful attention of bolh the legislativo and executive departmeuts of goyernnunt. The preSent state indebtedness is a matter deeply involving our interests and reputation. The utmost wisdom will bc Fequifed to prevent oppressivc taxalion for its discharge, or the disgrace of repudiation. With the means now in our power, and the bcne(its of the general pVóspbrity which bas bles.scd individual enterprise, and the consequent increaseof weallhamong our citizens, Michigan will never consent that a farthing of her honest debt should remain unpaid. The proiils oi' the public works of the State have much been relied on as a mcans for liquidating" tlïis indebtedness. The procceds as vet, how-over, promise little assistance lor this purpose. A sale of the works to aid in this design, bas deen proposed, and the action of the Legislation on that subject will be anxiously expected. The revison of the statutes, which will bc presented for definite action at the present session, open ancw tbc investigation of every object of general legislation. The interests of the State involvcd in the charge of the pyplic nroperly in the care and disposition of the works ofinternal improvement in ihe proper and mostefricicut organiation of the judiciary, in the management oí the-University and school funds, in disseminaiing the benelits of universal education, in guarding, protecting and preserving every rigíit of every individual citizen and throwing'overthe whole body politie, the protection and blessing of cqual laws and a freegoverninent. These areamong the long catalogue ofsibjects that awaityour consideration. Bul upou these subjects, it will bc my duty to communicate with youin another form. It will be my dleasure at all times, to cooperate with you, in such action as your wisdom shall díctate; by which the public interests may be secured and promoted. i Deeply sensible of the arduous duties andresponsibilities which devolve on tliL Executive, l shrink from the trusts which I am hercto assume. I can bring to the task neithersuperior wisdom nor grëat polilical exporiencc. I can uring nothing but a íirm delcrmination to devote myself to the public service, and, with such feeble powers asi may possess, to cndeavor to see that tho republic receives no detriment. Callëd as I have been to this elevated station, by the votes of a large majority of my fcllow-citizens, without solicitation on my part - nay, even in opposition to my own wishes, 1 enter upon the performance of its duties, unembarrased by obligation to any faction or interest, separate from the general good of the public. I claim no exemption from error, neither do I expect to escape the detraction of censure. Committingmy motives to the just appreciation of my fellow citizens, I invoke the superintending goodnes.s of Providence, so to direct cvcry eiTort as to presevo our republic andto promote its dearest interests.