Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-12-09

Fsi'rc Csfisens " the Senate
and Honss Of Re,resenfafiues.

name OF The people, Tor the preservation oi
the Uui,ed States, Is my first duty in sd.
dressing you. Our thoughts next revert
10 the death Of the late President by an
act Of parricidal treason. The grief Of the
nation is still fresh; It 6nds son solsce in
the consideration that he lived 10 enjoy
the highest proof Of its confidence by en-
,eriug on the renewed term Of the Chief
Magis,racy, TO which be had been elected;
that he brought the civil war substantially
to close; that bis loss was deplored in oil
parts OF the Uuion; and that foreign ne.
tiens have rendered justice TO his memory.
His removla cast upon me heavier
weight Of cares than ever devolved upon
any one Of bis predecessor. To fulfil nv
trust need the support aud confidence OF
al Who are associated with me In the vari-
Gus departments OF Government, and the
support and confidence OF the people
There is but one way in which can hope
TO gain their necessary aid; II Is, TO state
with frsnkness the principles which guide
my corduct. and their application to the
present state Of affairs. well aware that the
efficiency OF my lsbors will. In great meas
ure, depend on your aud their undiv ided
appreciation. m
THE CON rIrurIoN
The Union of the u. States OF America
was intended by its authors to last asiong ss
the States themselves shall last. The
Union shall be perpetual are the words of
the Confederation. "ro form more per-
feet Unicu," by an ordinance Of the people
Of the United Sta'es. is the declared pur'
pose Of the Constitution. The hand Of Di.
vine Providence ives never more plainly
visible 10 the affairs Of men than in the
framing and the adopting Of that instru.
meut. 1t is, beyond comparison, ibe
greatest event in American history; aud
Indeed is il not, Of all oil events in modern
times, the most pregnant Nth consequen'
ces for every people Of the earth? The
members of the Convention which pre-
pared it, brough, to their work the expert
euce of the Confederation, Of their several
States, and Of other Republican Govern.
ments, old and new; but they needed, and
they obtained wisdom superior TO ex.
peri,uce. Aud when for its validity II re-.
quired the approval Of people that occu
pied large part Of q continent and acted
separately in many distinct conventions,
wi q: Is more wonderful then that, afer
earnest contention aud long discussion, al
feelings aud all opinio.s ware ultimately
drawn in one way TO its su2po-,l IL.
The Constitution 10 which life was thus
impair cd contains within itself ample re
sources for its own preservation. 1t has
powe er 10 enforce the laws, punish treason.
and ensure domestic tranquility. la case
of the usurpa,ion of the Government OF a
Safe by one man, or an obligarchy. il be
comes duly of the Uni'ed States TO make
good the guarantee TO that State OF re-
publican form of government. and so tt
maintain the homogeneousness Of oil. Does
the lapse of time reveal defecisl A simple
mode of amendment is provided in lht
Constitution itself, SO that its conditions
can always be made to conform TO the re
quirements of Advancing civiliz alton. NJ
room is allowed even for the thought OF ,
possibility Of its coming 10 On end. Aut
these powers OF self preservation hav'
always been asserted in their complete 10
tegriiy by every patriotic Chief Magistrate
by Jefferson aud jackson, not less thar
by Washington and Madison. The part
Ing advice Of the Father of his Country
while yet President, to the people OF The
United States, was, that "tbe free COns'i
tuition, which was the work of their hands
might be sacredy mainta ned;" and the
inaugural words of President ] ff;.rson
held up The preservation If the General
Government, in its constitutional vigor, as
the sheet anchor Of our peace ct home and
safety abroad The Constitution is the
work of the people OF the Uuited States,
aHd it should be us ipdestructible as The
people. "-
THE RELATION OF TEE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
| TO THE STATES.
II Is not strange that the trainers Of the
Constitution, which had no model In The
past, should not have folly comprehendeG
Ibe excellence Of their own work. Ffesf
from struggle against arbitrary power
many patriots suffe ed from hsrrassiDg fear
of on absorption of the Stale Governmenti
by the General Government, and many
from dread that the States would break
away from their orbits. But tho very
greatness of our country should sllay the
apprehension Of encrOachments by The
General Government. The suij'c,s that
. come unqnestiouably within its jurisdiction
are so numerous, that il must ever nsturslly
= refuse to be embarrassed BY questions tha
!. lie beyond it. Were it otherwise, th,
Executive would sink beneath the burden
the channels Of justice would be ehoked
legislation would be obstructed by excess
: 80 that there is g eater temptation to ex
! ercise some Of tbe functions Of the Geaeru
e Government through the States than I
} trespass on their rightful sphere. ''Th
absolute scquiescence 10 the decisions OF ID
msjnrity was, at the beginning u th
: century, enforced by j. 6.rson "ss Wits
principle Of republics, aud the events OF lh
four years have established, We will bop
forever, that there lies no appeal TO force
Q The maintenance Of the Union bring
. with il ''the support Of the Safe Govern
2 ment 10 all their rights; bat it is not oa
!, Of the rights Of any State Government .
renonnce its own place in the Uuion, or I
: nuliify the laws Of the Union. The large'
liberty Is to be maintained in the discnssio
Of the acts Of the Federal Government: bt
there is no appeal from It's laws, except :
? 4 lha vayi.ua hr nehes cf that Gover nuef