White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-14

10 express Rr3tituue 10 U0Q, in the
name of the People. for the preservation
of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing You. Our thoughts next re
vert 10 the death of the late President by
an act Of parricidal treason. The grief
of the Nation is still fresh: it finds
some solace il the consideration that be
lived to enjoy the highest proof of its
confdence by entering on the renewed
term of the Chief Magistracy, to which
he had been elected tha. he brought the
civil war substantially to a close; that
his loss was deplored in all parts of the
Union; and that foreign nations have
rendered justice to his memory. His re,
moval cast upon me heavier weight OF
cares than ever deyolved upon any one Of
his predecessors. To fulfill my trust l
need the support and confidence Of all who
are associated with me in the various de-
pertments of Government, and the sup.
port and confidence of the people. There
is bat one way in which l can hope to
gain their necessary aid; it is. to state
with frahkness 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 great
measure. depend on your and their hndi-
vided appreciation. ''.0 z77'
The Union of the United States OF
America was intended by its authors to
last as long as the States themselves shall
last. "The Union shall be Perpetual" !"
are the words of the Confederation. ITO
form more perfect Union." by an ordi-
nance of the people Of the United States,
is the declared purpose of the Consti,u-
ton. The hand of Divine Providence
was never more plainly visible in the af-
fairs of men than in the framing and
the adopting of that instrument. 1t is,
beyond comparison, the greatest event in
American history; and indeed, is it not,
of all events in modern times, the most
pregusnt with consequences for every peo-
pie of the earth ? The members of the
Convention which prepared it,. brought
to their work the experience of the Con.
federation. of their several States, and OF
other Republican Governments, old and
new; but they needed and they obtained
wisdom superior to experience And
when for its validity it required the ap-
prevail of people that occupied large
part of continent and acted separately
in many distinct Conventions. what is
more wonderful than that, after oarnes;
contention and long discussion, all feel
ings and all opinions were ultimately
drawn in one way to its support ? ne
The Constitution to which life was
thus impaired contains within itself am
pie resources for its own preservation. 1t
has power to enforce the laws, punish
treason, and ensure domestic tranquility.
In case of the usurpation of the Govern
ment of State BY one man, or5n oil
garchy. it becomes duty of the United
States to make good the guarantee to that
State of Republican form of Govern.
ment, nnd so to maintain the homogene-
onsness Of oil. Does the lapse of time
reveal defects A simple mode of amend
ment is provided in the Constitution it.
self. so that its conditions can always be
made to conform to tie requirements of
civilization. No room is allowed even
for the thought of possibility of IFS
coming to an end. And these powers of
seIf-preservation have always been assert
ed in their complete integrity by every
patriotic Chief Msgistrste-by Jefferson
and jackson. not less than by Washing
ton and Madison. The parting advice Of
the Father of his Country, while vet
President. to the people of the United
States, was, that "the free Constitution,
which was the work of their hands, might
be sacredly maintainsd;" and the inaugu-
raj words of President Jefferson held up
"the preservation of the General Govern
ment, in its constitutional vigor. as the
sheet anchor Of our peace at home and
safety abroad" The Constitution is the
work of 'fhe People of the United States"
and it should be as indestructibls as the
psople.
1t Is not strange that the trainers of the
Constitution, which had no model in the
past. should not have fully omprehended
the excellence of their own work. Fresh
from struggle against arbitrary power,
many patriots suffered from harassing
fears of the absorption of the State Gov
ernments by the General Government,
and many from dread that the States
would break away from their orbits. But
the very greatness of our country should
allay the apprehension Of encroachments
by the General Government. The sub.
jects that come unquestionably within its
jurisdiction are SO numerous, that it must
ever naturally refuse to be embarrassed
BY questions that lie beyond it. Were it
otherwise. the Executive would sink be-
meath the burden; the channels of Justice
would be choked; legislation wonld be
obstructed by excess; SO that there is a
greater temptation to exercise some of the
functions of the General Government
through the States than to trespass on
their rightful sphere. 1.-THE absolute &C.
quiescence in the decisions of ths majori-
ty" was. at the beginning Of the century.
enforced By Jefferson ''as the vital princi-
pie Of Republics" and the events of The
last fonr years have established. We will
hope forever, that there lies no appeal to
force
TIE maintenance Of the Union brings
with it the support Of the State Govern.
ments in all their rights; but it is not the
right Of any State Government to re.
nounce its own place in the Union, or to
annul any of the laws Of the Union. The !
lsrgest liberty is to be maintained in the |
discussion of the acts OF the Federal Gov