Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1873 — Governor Oglesby on National Affairs. [ARTICLE]

Governor Oglesby on National Affairs.

In his inaugural address, Governor Oglesby, of Illinois, spoke as follows concerning the National Government : “Although your attention will .be chiefly directed to the consideration of matters of purely State concern, it is not "to be forgotten ibat our State fills her appropriate place in the National Union, and that our people take a deep interest in National affairs. '.We may therefore give them a passing notice, and violate no propriety in doing bo. If I may venture for a moment to call your attention to the results of the recent National election, I shall say no more than that it again vindicated the just and intelligent expectation of the friends of the present Administration, that the wise and humane measures of the party in power wonld commend themselves to the approval of the American people. Thus sanctioned and indorsed by an unusually largs majority, substantially freed from the usual bitterness of party strife, and to an unusual extent enjoyiog the confidence of the-whole peopi>-, the party in power must go forward calmly, prudently, but firmly, in its great duty to administer the affairs of the nation on the basis of the prosperity of the whole country and the substantial and enduring happiness of all its people. It is pleasant to witness the urbanity of our political opponents, and the good cheer with which they accept the result; ft good exa>np!e 4 . whoee .wholes«)me lesson we may sincerely hope will always hereafter be imitated by minorities. "We hold that the National Union is Wramount in the exercise of its granted power*! that It is absolutely a govem-

ment with certain clearly defined powers granted in the charter or Its creation, and that between it and the Stale governments there is* and of necessity can be, no conflict of authority or jurisdiction; or, if in any event such a conflict may from any. cause seem to arise, the means for the peaceful and proper settlement of it will be found in the judicial authority or finally in a resort peaceably to the tribunal of the people. That our character of citizen of the United States is at least equal to our character as citizen of a State, and that in all fair minds there can rest no just ground of suspicion that the citizens of the United Slates will seek at any time to circumvent or centralize any right or power of the citizen of the State, so long at least as the same human nature enjoy s* the two citizenships in one person. Tnat National government, State government and municipal government are but emanations from the people; that at last all power will be found there; from them it comes, to them it must return; and he who is thoroughly imbued with respect for, and confidence in, their patriotism, intelligence and good sense, need take no special uneasiness to himself as to whether this or that grant of political power will trench upon, eat up or devour all others in the common country. “ If this devouring process should ever make any alarming or perceptible headway, this American people will take the aggressive spirit in hand and effectually thwart it. Laying aside all apprehension as to any purpose or design to assume or invade the rights of the States or the people, wisely reserved to them, one may naturally have solicitude as to the wise and expedient exercise of those known and acknowledged powers which the National Congress is constantly called upon to put into practical operation, in meeting the demands of ever growing and expanding interests, of increasing wealth, population and intelligence, and the diversified enterprises of an active people, never at rest and never desiring to be. Ido not so much dread the reaching after forbidden power as possibly the reaching after enterprises, or the inaugurating of measures probably within the grant of power but which it may be unwise for the nation to emhark in ‘‘ln our land and by our people it is held to be the wiser course to rely upon individual enterprise in all projects where capital and labor are to be the chief instruments of operation, not necessary for the national defense or the national welfare. 1 would, therefore, restrain rather than encourage enterprises by the Govemmeatwhick,would flourish most efficiently in the hands of the people. After all, who eatr forsee that the -proper exercise of powers which many affects to regard with disgiist may not hereafter, at no remote day, prove the means of the greatest blessings to our people, should the future develop the unpleasant fact that, through the indiscreet exercise of State legislation, very dear and valuable interests have been sacrificed under the excitements of past years, or the too eager desire for local advantages in the development of coveted wealth. For my own part, free from the anxieties of those who seem to live in dread of the complex nature of our government and the possible betrayal of its proper and well-defined purposes, I take it to be a great advantage we hayeitaait is, and now and here renew my acknowledgments before this honorable body and the people of the State, to the great wisdom, the exalted patriotism, and the sublime courage of the Fathers of the Republic, for the priceless heritage,”