The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-07
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
FetLoss> Citizens of The Senate
and House of Representatives. i:
OF THE

To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the people, for the preservation
OF the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you.
Our thoughts next revert to the death
of the late President by an act of parrl
cidal treason. The grief of the Nation is
still fresh. 1t finds some solace in the
consideration that he lived to enjoy the
highest proof of its confidence by enter
ing on the renewed term of the Chief
Magistracy, to which he had been elected
that he brought the civil War substan-
TALLY to close; that his loss was de
plored IN all parts of the Union; and that
foreign nations have rendered justice 10
his memory. His removal cast upon me
heavier weight of cares than ever de-
volved on any one of his predecessors.
To fulfill my trust, | need the support
and confidence of all who are associated
with me in the various departments OF
the Government, and the support and
confidence of the people. There is but
one way in which 1 can hope to gain
their necessary aid. 1t is to stale with
frankness the principles which guide my
conduct, and their application to the
present state of affairs, well aware that
the efficiency of my labors will, in a great
vided appreciation.
The reunion of the United States of
America was intended by its authors to
last as long as the States themselves last.
The Union shall be perpetual are the
words of the Confederation. To form a
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 adoption OF
that instrument. 1t is beyond Compari
son the greatest event In American his
tory, and indeed is all events IN modern
times the most pregnant with conse-
quences for every people OF the earth.
The members of the Convention which
prepared it, broug 1T to their work the
experience of the Confederation OF their
several States and OF other Republican
governments, old and new, but they
needed and they obtained wisdom su-
perior to experience, and when Tor It's
validity it required the approval OF
people that occupied large part OF con-
tinent, and acted separately In many dis
trict conventions, what is more wonder>
full than that, after earnest contention
and long discussion, all feelings and all
opinions were ultimately drawn IN one
way IL its support.
The Constitution, to which life was thus
Unmarried, contains with itself ample re-
sources for its own preservation, 1t has
power to enforce laws, punish treason
and insure domestic tranquility, In case
of the usurpation of the Government OF
State by one man or an olgarchy, 1t
becomes a duty of the United states 10
make good the guarantee TO that 6late OF
q re, ublican form of government aud SO
To maintain the homogeneousness OF all
Does the lapse OF time reveal defects,
simple mode of amendment Is provided
in the Constitution itself, so that It's con-
dition can always be made to conform 10
the requirements of advancing civilization.
No room is allowed even for the thought
of a possibility of its coming to an end,
and these powers of Misrepresentation have
ALWAYS been asserted in their complete
Integrity oy every patriotic Chief Magls-
trate-by Jefferson and jackson not less
than by Washington and Madison. The
narting advice of the Father OF his coun-
try. while yet President. to the people OF
the United States, was that the tree Con-
| stitution, which was the work OF their
hands. might be sacredly maintained,
and the inaugural words OF PRESIDENT
Jefferson held up the preservation OF the
! General Government In It's constituted
vipor as the sheet-anchor of our peace at
home and safety abroad, The Constltu-
ton is the work OF the people OF the
United States, and it should be as lnde-
structible as the people.
It's not strange that the trainers OF the
Constitution, which had no model in the
past, should not have fully comprehended
/ of fhoIp work. Fr6SD
from a struggle against arbitrary power,
| poapv natriOts suffered from harIassIng
fears of absorption of State governments
hv the General Government, and many
from a dread that the States would break
! awav from their orbits but the very
| Greatness of our country should allay the
| Snnrehension OF encroachments by the
General Government. Within its Jurls
diction are questions so numerous that i
must ever naturally refuse to be emoar
rassed by questions that lie oeyono II
Were it otherwise, the Executive woulc
| sinh beneath the burden, the channels
;ust;ce would be checked, Legislation
could be INSTRUCTED by excess; so tina
there ia a greater temptation to exercls'
come of the functions of the General Gov
eminent through the States than to tres
PASS in their rightiul sphere.
The absolute acquiescence IN the De
cisions of the majority was, at the oe
ginning of the century, enforced o.
Jefferson as the vital principle OF Repun
lies. and the events of the last four year
have established-we will hope forever
that there lies no appeal to force. In
a maintenance of the Union brings with
3 the support of the State governments i
. ali their rights, but it is not one OF an
: State government to reuounce It's o"l
place in the Union, or to nulllty the la"
of the Union. The largest liberty Is
8 he maintained in the discussion OF tn
acts of the Federal Government bu
: there is no appeal from its laws except
: the various branches ofthat GovernmeI
itself, or the people, who grant to 70
members of the Legislature and OF tn
Executive Departments no tenure put
= limited one, and in that manner AWAY
retain the power of redress. The SOY
ereiRnty of the States is the language
ID the Confederation and not the languas
az the Constitution. The latter contain
n the emphatic words. 1.-The Constitute
N and laws of the. United States WhlC
shall be made in pursuance thereof, an
n. ali treaties made or which shall be MAJ
q under the authority of the United State
n. shall be the supreme law of the Ian
u and the Judges in every State sna4