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personal feelings merely, I should not hesitate to resign the honor conferred upon me; that their chair might be filled by some one better qualified than myself to discharge its important duties. But to shrink from personal responsibility is no part of duty and notwithstanding the difficulties which I anticipate, and which in my own strength I am sure would be insurmountable, still I look with confidence to your candor, your experience and your wisdom to prevent the evils, which otherwise would result to the public from my own inexperience, and to aid my efforts in the discharge of duty. In these hopes and expectations, I am confident, I shall not be disappointed. They are warranted by that general disposition, which has thus far prevailed among the people, not only to effect our State Independence; but to bring into existence and operation a government upon principles, and in a manner most honorable and interesting to the community. It is this disposition and these efforts which under the blessing of God, have associated us with the other States in the Union, and given us a Constitution, which, I am proud to say, will not suffer in comparison with any other State Constitution under our national compact. By the authority of this Constitution we are this day assembled; and I am both sanguine and happy in the hope, that the same spirit which animated the framers of it, will also influence and direct your deliberations - Then will the labors of each individual member be rendered pleasant and useful by the combined energies of the whole body, and the measures adopted, be presented to the people under the imposing consideration, that they are the result of united efforts, exerted in the spirit of free discussion aiming only at the good of the whole. Thus gentlemen shielding myself under your readiness to excuse the errors I shall doubtless