346 



GEOEGIA. 



to the material and moral condition of the 

 State : 



In transmitting this my final message to the Legis- 

 lative branch of the State government, in compliance 

 with the requirement of law and custom, I perform 

 the duty with the deepest of gratitude to the Giver of 

 all good, and with elated feelings in view of the state 

 of our beloved Commonwealth. We have never had 

 better reason for congratulation at our present condi- 

 tion or for hopefulness of the future of the State than 

 we claim at this time. In our recent history our re- 

 trospect lias often been of ^the saddest, while the pros- 

 pect had but scanty promise. 



The strain to which our powers of endurance and 

 recuperation were subjected was such as to dispirit 

 the most hopeful and resolute, and our deliverance 

 from the ordeal that threatened to overwhelm and de- 

 stroy us seems to have been achieved by a wisdom 

 above that of man. 



Without arrogance or vainglory let us rejoice that 

 under the signal blessing of Providence we are press- 

 ing on to take our place abreast of the most advanced 

 states in Christendom, and with an intense love of the 

 arts of peace and a generous emulation of older and 

 more favored commonwealths, we are establishing and 

 diffusing among our citizens the most potent and bene- 

 ficial agencies and methods for the development of the 

 highest civilization. 



We may justly claim for our State that in every de- 

 partment of our industry our people are prospering 

 and advancing. In pur agriculture in our mining 

 operations in the introduction and multiplication 

 of' mechanical establishments in the wonderful ex- 

 tension of our lumber interests in the marked im- 

 provement in the healthfulness of our State, we find 

 the most substantial grounds for self-gratulation. 



And superadded to this cheering summary of mate- 

 rial advantage and promise, we may felicitate ourselves 

 upon the general peacefulness and good order which 

 have prevailed throughout the State. With a very 

 few, but unhappily marked, exceptions, the public 

 tranquillity has been undisturbed by outbreaks of vio- 

 lence, and there seems to be a pervading spirit of con- 

 ciliation which has successfully resisted all unfriendly 

 influences. 



Mr. Stephens was inaugurated Governor of 

 Georgia on November 3, 1882. The following 

 is his inaugural address : 



GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATORS 

 AND EEPRESENTATIVES : Having received your official 

 notification of my election to the chief magistracy of 

 the State, I now appear before you, according to a joint 

 resolution of your respective bodies, to take the offi- 

 cial oath prescribed by the Constitution. 



Before taking this oath and assuming the discharge 

 of the duties of the office thus conferred, in conformity 

 with immemorial custom, it is doubtless expected that 

 I shall present some remarks indicative of the general 

 line of policy which will mark my administration. 

 These views, concisely stated, I shall address not only 

 to you, gentlemen of the General Assembly, but to 

 the large and respected auditory of citizens, compris- 

 ing ladies and gentlemen, who grace and honor these 

 inaugural ceremonies. 



Indulge me, then, fellow-citizens, in saying that, 

 being called to this high office by the voice of the 

 people^ I shall enter upon its duties with no feelings 

 of elation, but rather of deep depression, from a pro- 

 found sense of the weight of responsibility attending 

 this new position. I am entirely untrammeled; I 

 have no promises or pledges to redeem, except faith- 

 fully to discharge the duties of the office to the best 

 of my ability ; I have no enemies to punish ; no per- 

 sonal aims or objects to accomplish ; no partisan views 

 to advance ; no purpose to promote the schemes or ob- 

 jects of any combination or class of persons what- 

 ever ; and nothing to serve but the interests of the 



people ; the whole people of the State. With the co- 

 operation of the legislative department of the govern- 

 ment my efforts will be directed with an eye single to 

 the advancement and promotion of the general peace, 

 welfare, and prosperity of our beloved State. 



In the administration of the laws, as far as lies in 

 my power, it will be my object to see that equal justice 

 is done to all alike. 



All our industrial pursuits, agriculture, manufac- 

 turing, mechanical, commercial, mining, shipping, 

 and internal transportation, should be looked after 

 with care. All those institutions, educational, be- 

 nevolent, and others, which are provided for by our 

 fundamental law, should be fostered and promoted to 

 the extent of legislative ability, with like care and 

 attention. In this way we shall be able to promote 

 and add to the honor and glory and renown of our 

 good old Commonwealth. 



As to general measures in practical legislation, I 

 have nothing further to offer than my past public 

 record, in a long and not uneventful life. This is the 

 only guarantee as to the character of my acts in the 

 future. 



As to those general political principles by which 

 my administration, Providence permitting ? "shall be 

 governed, I can but repeat what was said in my ac- 

 ceptance of the nomination tendered me for the office. 



I repeat these on this more solemn occasion with an 

 emphasis, and especially because of an evident and 

 growing disposition in many quarters of the country 

 to neglect and ignore them. 



These are those essential principles of republican 

 government which lie at the foundation of our whole 

 system of free institutions, and which can be main- 

 tained only by being deeply impressed upon the minds 

 of legislators, and all other officials of whatever grade 

 or character, as Well as upon the masses of the people, 

 and especially the rising generation. 



These are the principles announced by Thomas 

 Jefferson, and adopted by the fathers of the republic 

 early after our complicated system of government was 

 instituted. 



These principles apply as well to our Federal sys- 

 tem as to the several State governments, and by their 

 maintenance the harmony and success of the system 

 can only be preserved ana perpetuated. They are as 

 follows : 



" Equal and exact justice to all men of whatever 

 state or persuasion, religious or political. " 



" The support of the State governments in all their 

 rights, as the most competent administrators of our 

 domestic concerns, and the surest bulwark against 

 anti-republican tendencies ; the preservation of the 

 General Government in its whole constitutional vig^or, 

 as the sheet-anchor of our peace at home and safety 

 abroad." 



" A jealous care of the right of election by the 

 people." 



" Absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the ma- 

 jority, the vital principle of republics, from which 

 there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and 

 immediate parent of despotism." 



" The supremacy of the civil over the military au- 

 thority." 



" Economy in the public expense, that labor may be 

 lightly burdened." 



" Encouragement of agriculture, and commerce its 

 handmaid." 



" Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom 

 of person, under the protection of habeas corpus^ and 

 trial by juries impartially selected." 



" These are some of the principles.*' said Jefferson, 

 " which constitute the creed of our political faith, the 

 text of civil instruction, the touchstone by which to 

 try the services of those we trust ; and should," said 

 he, " we wander from them in moments of error or 

 alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain 

 the road which alone leads to liberty and safety." 



These are what constitute the essentials of the creed 

 of Jeffersonian Democracy. They were proclaimed 





