The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

r.llowci,nsrs of the senae and House Of Representa-
tNe>-
To express gratitude to God, in the name
,f the People, for the preservation OF the
United States, is nv first duty in addressing
YOU. Our thoughts next revert to the death
of the LATE President by an act of parricIdal
treason. The grief of the nation IS still
fresh; it finds some solace in the consldera-
ton that he lived to enjoy the highest proof
of its confidence by entering on the renewed
term of the Chief Magistracy, to which he
had been elected that he brought the civil
war substantially to close; that his loss
was deplored in all parts Of the Union and
that foreign nations have rendered justice to
his memory. His removal cast upon me
heavier weight of cares than ever devoived
upon any one of his predecessors 10 iuihli
my trust | need the support and confidence
Of all who are associated with me III the
various departments of Government, and the
support anu confidence OF the people there
is but one wav in which l can hope to gain
their necessary aid it is, to state with frank
ness the principles which guide my conduct
and their application to the present state of
affairs, we'll aware that the efficiency of my
labors will. in q great measure, depend on
your and their undivided appreciation.
The Union of the United States of Amer
lea was intended by its authors to last rs
long As the Ststes themselves shall! last
"THE UNION SHALL BE- PERPErUAL are the
words Of the Confederation. $40 FORM
MORE PERFECT UNION" BY An ordinance OF
the people of the United States, is the de-
clared purpose of the Constitution. The
hand of Divine Providence was never more
plainly visible in the affairs Of men than in
the framing and the adopting OF that lnstru>
ment. 1t is, beyond compari on, the greatest
event in American his Dry and indeed Is 1t
not, of all events in modern times, the most
pregnant with consequences for every people
of the earth? The members of the Conven-
ton which prepared it, brought to their worl.
the experience of the confederation of their
several States, and Of other Republican Gov
eruments, old and new but they needed and
they obtained a wisdom superior TO eSpe-
rience. And when for its validity 1t required
the approval of a people that occupied
large part of continent and acted separate
" in many distinct conventions, what Is
more wonderful than that, after earnest con
tantlon aud long discussion, all feelings and
all opinions were ultimately drawn i'll one
way 10 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 al oligarchy, it be
comes a duty of the United States to make
good the guarantee to that State of n Repub-
lican form of Government, ma 30 to main
tain the hOmogeneousness OF all Does the
lapse of time reveal defects2 A simple
mode of amendment is provided ia the Con
stitution itself, SO that its conditions can
always be made to conform to the require
ments of advancing civilization. No room
is allowed even for the thought Of a possihlI-
ity of It's coming to an end. And these
powers of sclf.preservation have always been
asserted in their complete integrity By every
patriotic Chief Magistrate-by Jefferson and
Jackson, not less than by Washington and
Madison. The parting advice of the Father
of his Country, while yet President, to the
people of the United States. was, that 1.-The
free Constitution. which the work oi
their hands, might be sacredly maintained =
and the inaugural word, of President Jefitr
son held up the preservation Of the General
Government, in its constitutional vigor, a.
the sheet anchor Of our peace at home and
safety abroad" The Constitution is the
work Of ''the people of the United States.
and it should be as iniestructible rs the
people.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the
Constitution, which had no model in the
the excellence OF their own work. Fresh
from a struggle against arbitrary power
many patriots suffered from the harrassine
fta-s Of An absorption of the State Govern
ments by the General Government, and many
from dread that the States wos,d break
away from their orbits. But the very great
ness of our country should allay the apprc-
hension of entertainments by the General
Government The subjects that come
uuquestionably within its jurisdiction Are 81
numerous, that it must ever naturally refuse
TO be embarrassed by questions that lie
bevond it. Were it otherwise, the Executive
would sink beneath the burden the channels
of Justice would be chokeG; Legislation
would be obstructed By excess; so that there
Isl greater temptation to exercise some o
the functions OF the General Goyernmen
through the States than to trespas, on theil
rghtful sphere. "The absolute acGuiessnc.
in the decisions of the majority was, a, tn,
beginning of the century, enforced by Jefer
son .'as the vital pr nciple of republics" an'
the events of the last four years hav.
established, we will hope forever, that there
lies appeal to force.
The maintenance of the Union brings will
It ''the support of the State Governments il
all their rights but it IS net one OF th'
rights of any State Government to renOunc,
its own place in the Union, or to nullity thu
laws of the Union. The largest liberty IL Il
be maintained in the discussion of The act
of the Federal Government; but there Is N
appeal firm its laws, except to the varoU
branches OF that Government itself, or to thu
people, who grant to the members of th'
Legislative and of the Executive Depart
ments no tenure bat limited one, and il
that manner always retain the powers o
relress.
The sovereignty of the States is th'
language of the Confederacy, ard not tbs
language Of the Constitution. The latte
contains the emphatic words The Con
sti,ution. and the laws OF the United State
which shall be made in pursuance thereof
and all treaties made or which shall be mad,
uuder the authority of the United State.
shall be the supreme law of the land; an
.he Judges in every State shall be b,un'
thereby. anything in the Constitution o
Jaws of any State to the contrary notwith
standing"
Certainly the Government Of the Unite
States is n limited Government and SD /
every State Government a limited Govern
ment. With US, this idea of Limitation
spresds through every form of admnistra
ton. general, State and municipal, ard est
on the great distinguishing principle of tn
recognition of the rights of man. Tn
ancient republics absorbed the individual ii
the State. prescribed his religion, and con
trolled his actiSity. The American system
rests on the assertion of the eq.aI right o
every man to life, liberty and the pursuit o
happiness to freedom Of conscience, TO tn
culture and exercise of all his faculties. a
= consequence. the State Government. il
limited, az to the General Government in tn
interest Of Union, as to the individual either
In the interest of freedom.
STATES with nrnner limitations OF rnMnr