The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-07

Presidents Message.

F.llosO-citise1s OF ne Se"a.e and House
Of Representatives
To express gratitude to God in the name
of the People for the preservation OF the
United States is my frat duty in addressing
ynu. Onr thoughts next rev, IT T. The death
of the late President by an act Of phrrIcidaI
TREASON. The grI,f # the nation is still
fresh: it hinis some solaco iu tue cunsldera-
tiou that he lived to enjoy the highest proof
of its confidence by entering TN the renewed
term of the Chief .iagistracy- to winch ne
had been elected that he brought the ciVii
war substantially to close that las loss
was depiored III all parts Ut the Union snu
that foreig nations have rendered justice 10
bis memory His removal cast upon me a
heavier weight of CARES than ever deVolved
upon anv one of his predecessors To tnl'
fi my trust need the support and conh-
dence of all who re associated With me III
the various departments OF Government
and the support and confidence of the PEG
pie. There is but one way III which cali
hope to gain their necessary aid; it il. to
state with frankness the principles which
guide my conduct, and their application t.
the present state of affairs, aware that the Of
6cieDcy of my lahOrs will, ina great meas
ure, depenc on your aud their undivided APP
probation.
The Union Of the United States of Amer
lea was intend by IFS authors to last at
long az the States Themselves SHALL last -
''THR UNION SHALL BE PERPETUAL, are the
words of the Confederation. ITO FORM A
MoEE PERFECT Union" by an ordinance of
the people Of the United States, il the de-
cllred purpose Of the Constitution The
hand of Divine Providence was never more
plainly visible in the affairs of men than H.
the framing aud the adopting Of that instrn
ment, Ii is, beyond comparison, the great
est event in American history; and indeed
is it not, Of all events in modern times the
most pregnant with consequences for every
people Of the earth? The members Of the
Convention which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience Of the Confedera-
ton, of their several States aud Of other Re
publican Governments, old and new; but
they needed and they obtaiped wisdom
superior to experience. And when for its
validity it required the approval Of a people
that occupied large part of continent
and acted separately in many distinct con
ventions, what is more wonderful than that.
all feelings and all opinions were ultimately
drawn in one way to its support?
The Constitution to which life was thus
impaired contains within itself ample re-
sources for its own preservation. 1t has
power to enforce the laws, punish treason
and ensure domestic tranquility. In case
of the usurpation of the Government of a
State by one man, or an oligarchy, it be-
comes duty If the United States to make
good the guarantee to that State of a Re
publican form IF Government. aud so to
maintain the h0mogeueousness Of all -
Does the lapse of time reveal defects? A
simple mode of amendment IL provided III
the Constitution itself. so that its conditions
can always bo made to confrm To the TT
quireincIIts OF advancing civilization No
room is allowed even for the thought of y
possibility OF it's coming to All end And
these powers Of self pr, servatinD have al
ways been asserted III their complete iuteg
rity 10y every patriotic Chief Magistrate
by Jefferson and jackson. not legs than by
Washington and Madison The parting
advice of the Father If his Country, bile
yet President to the people of tue United
States wss; that 1.-THE free Constitution.
be sacredy maintained - and the inaugural
words of President Jefferson held up THE
preservation OF the General Government, in
it's constitutional vigor as the street anchor
Of our peace at home and safety abroad -
The Constitution is the work Of the people
OF the United States and il should be as
indestructihle as the people
1t is not strange that the Trainers of the
Constitution, which had no model i'll the
past, should not have fully comprehended
the excellence of their own work. Fresh
from a struggle against arbitrary power
many patriots suffered from Harvesting
fears of 81 absorption OF the State Govern
ments by the General Government, and
many from dread that the States would
break away from their orbits But the
very greatness of our country shonld allay
the apprehension of encroachments by the
General Government. The subjects that
come unquestionably within its jurisdiction
ere so numerous, that it must ever natural
Iy refuse to be embarrassed by questions
that lie beyond it. Were it otherwise. the
Executive would sink beneath the burden;
the channels of justice would be- chOked
legislation would berobstructej by excess;
NO that there is a greater temptation to ex
ercise come Of the functions of the Gener-
al Government through the States than to
trespass on their righttul sphere ''1'he alb
solute acquiescence in tue DECISIONS Of the
majority was. at The beginning Of the cen
tury, enforced by Jefferson 'as the vital
principle OF republics" and the events of
the last four years have established, we
Will hope forever, that there lies no appeal
TO forcs,
The maintenance of the Union brings
with it the support of the State Govern
ments in all their rights" bot it is not one
OF the rights Of any State Government to
renounce its own place in the Union, or to
nullity the laws IF the Union. The largest
liberty IL to be maintained in the discussion
of the acts Of the Federal Government but
there is no appeal from its laws. except to-
the various branches of that Government
itself, or to the people, who grant to the
members of the Legislative and of the Exc
cutlVe departments no tenure but a limited
one. aud in that manner always retain the
powers of redress.
''The sovereignty of the States" is the
language Of the Confederacy, aud not the
language of the Constitution The latter
contains the emphatic words The Con
stltutlon, and the laws Of the United States
which shall be nade IN pursuance thereof,
and all treaties made or which shall I've
made under the authority Of the United
States shall be the supreme law of tile
land, and the Judges III every State shall
he bound thereby, any thing in the Constl-
tuition or laws of any State to the contrary
notwithstanding
Certainly tue Government Of the United
States is a iiu,iicd Government ami so is
every State tioucrunent limited Govern
meut With us thus idea ii Limitation
spreads ti.rohgn every form Of administers
ton, general. State aud municipal and
rests on the great Distinguishing principle
OF the ,e.,gi'ition Ut tie nights OF man =
The ancient republics absorbed the indi-
viduaI III the State prescribed his religion
and controlled his activity The American
system Tests on the assertion Of the equal
= t,f, LII, II