Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1877 — Gov. Williams' Inaugural Address. [ARTICLE]

Gov. Williams' Inaugural Address.

' Gentlemen of the Senate and Howe of HepriMritativet: .I have no. vyorde at mycommaud with which to expreas my thanks for the proof of confidence with which I have been honored in placing me In the highest position In the. gift of the people of our beloved Mate. The regular message enjoined by the otmatitntion having already been submitted to the prevent legislature bv my predecessor, it is at this time inappropriate for me to submit spec! fle recommendations. As the powers delegated to the executive are caleulatad to effect interests of vital import’ jmmw to the whole people, I may be permHt«d to give s brief view of some general priuclple-s which, In my judgment, lie aj the foundation of bur prosperity, should regulate the admhiistmtinn x>f our public affairs. Our Mate, inoonajnon with the rest *4 M»JJwia«,and esi*ecjally with the ; •**t#n» portion, is eapefiendiig the • distress* and < mbahttSsmenf consequent upon-a system of overtrading and deceptive speculation. Our con, auAWCinu tmving exceeded our income |lw ualanoamnst be restored by a corr»*p.mumg exeefa. of oar receipts over •air expend. We here been lured to 1! X uud<r the W »*2 hoc we can be <£?**** Mr the joint aid of Wdustry arui vwmoiny. We should I ,? w * k tke "»«**»>* land-marks of, "’Publhixn simplicity > have l» exchange the pr.-huv. of rhe <br those of pnotb«*r. njgnav qdyantageous as It is to a' wowb pf lato*>r, J« u

raceiit imjiem- i S.nd ’* ‘» , Jil n ß Uiou?d A?rv ** **''"' Thi “ <he «dvwatey vinojraiea aua « e i fiSfflSw v«ll Z 62? i , r a, “ l /p our qSef reliant for Jattinewslth M>d rvturiiUig pWMerlty, Thia #.•*«-

Ing should rank with us first In VSspeeUblilty, as It unquestionably is first In Importance. The principle, and, indeed, almost tbe only saalstahce which- can bo rendered to this vital interest, tbe removal of Indirect impositions, the more dangerous and Cppreosive because unseen and stealthy in tbelroperaUon, is beyond the reach of state legislation. It Is to be regreted that a growing distaste exists in 100 many quarters against this nursery of virtue, this surest guaranty of comfort and independence, this sheet anchor of our common prosperity, as is exhibited in the increasing it umbers of our youth who are crowding the othef professions to seek a livelihood ou the accidents of human life. Tire true principles of economy in 1 the administration of public affairs are essentially the same as those which obtain in individual transactions. NO expenditures should be Incurred for official services or otherwise unless found pecessary or useful, and then at the lowoal amount compatible with full intrinsic value and ample ability of performance. Tested by tills Aile, all unnecessary offices, if any are found to exist, should be abolished. Public officers should be held to the strictest accountability. Excessive legislation is an evil. The increased burden thereby imposed upon the treasury is but one of the evils growing out of it. The laws, by frequent changes, become complex, vague and uncertain. This unfits them in a great measure for being a known and safe rule of action in a community. It is of the greatest importance to the welfare of the people that the laws should l>e generally known hud well understood. For this purpose they should be maturely considered in their inception, and be fully tester! by time and experience. This would tend greally to insure harmony and certaintv in their execution, and check a fruitful source of litigation which tends to foment evil passions, to excite social discord, and operatesflsaheavytaxo.i community. Cheap transportation is a subject of great importance to the producing classes. Especially the local rates charged on railroads Is oppressive at all points, except where there is competition. It would lie as well to give it your earnest consideration. I cannot, on this occasion, suffer the subject iff .our common school system to pass without some notice. We have a fund equal, if not superior, to that of any other state.ln the Union. See that it is managed in the interest of the rising generation. Y6u should guard the right of suffrage and shield this inestimable privilege against all encroachments, whether exhibited in tbe shape of fraud, illegal voting, or lawless violence. Vain, indeed. Is the establishment of pur free government if such abuses are suffered to exist. The bal-lot-box would, in that case, cense to reflect the will of the majority, which is the essential privilege <>t a republiican government. Illegal voting and frauds in ejections should be severely nuntshefl.’ ’ ■ ’

Articled, section 5, of the constitution ofthe-atate, reads as follows: “The nauihor of senators ami lepresenfttflwfendiaH, at the session next I'dHowi tfg each periotf of making such enuindrattcfir, be fixed by law and apportioned'among the several counties, according to the number of white male Inhabitants above 21 years of age in <saeh.” On (he 16th day of Decemtie?, 1872, a bill passed by a strict party vote fixing the number of senators and ’ representatives to the general assembly Jor six vears. The same became a law by the lapse of time. Dec. 27, 1872. It failed to receive the approval of the then acting governor, although he was a member of the ’domiliaiit party. I would not recomnieud the passage of anentirely Dew law, but would recommend some amendments t*o ab to do equal justice to all sections add injustice to none. We have just passed, through oue of the moot excltlnghnd bitter campaigns I have eyer witnessed. . None have had more bitterness and unjustifiable scandal heaped upon (heir heads than myself. all this, I shall be pleased toco-operate with you in any measure calculated to make us a united, prosperous, and happy people.

Mr. Joseph A. Howland; of Fulton county, is teaching his 160th term <>f school. He is 63 years old, yet wields the berchen switch with a vigor that would have delighted King Holomon.