Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-08
ME 3 8 A GE
OF TIE
Presid ent of the u. ,.
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

10 express gratitude TO God, in the name |
Of the People, for the preservation of tie |
United States Is ny FIRST duty N addressing !
you. Our thoughts next resert 20 the death 1
OF the late President By an act Of parricidal
treason. Tic grief of the nation IL still |
fresh: il finds some solace in the conslderi
lion that he lived to enjoy the highest proof
of its confidence By entering on the renewed
tern OF tee Chief Magi,tracy, to which he
had been eli cited that he brought the civil
war substantially to close that his loss
was deplored in all parts of the Union /; and
that foreign IA ions have rendered justice to
lbs memory. His removal cast upon me a
heavier weight OF cares than ever devolyed
UPON any one of his predecessors. To fulfil
my trust need the support and confidence
of all who are associated with me IN the Va
ri0us departments of Government, and the
support and confidence of the people. There
is hut one way in which | can hope to gain
their necessary aid 1t is. 10 state with
frankness the principles which guide nv
conduct, and their application to the present
state of affairs, well aware that the efficiency
OF my labors will, in a great measure. de-
pend ON your and their undivided approba-
tiOn
The Union CT the United States of Amer
lea WAS intended by its authors to last as
long as the States themselves shall last.
Tue UNIoS SHALL BE PERPETUAL" are the
I words of the Coniede. alton. To PORN A
| PEKEEcr USIoN," by all ordinance of the
| people OF he United States, Is the declared
| purpose OF the Constitution. The hand OF
Divine Providence was never more plainly
visible IN the affairs of men than in the
! fraf md ND Of In
/ IL is, beyond conn arisen, the greatest event
in American history; and indeed Is 1t not,
Ol all events in modern times, the most prCg-
nant with consequences for every people OF
tie earth? The members OF the Convention
which prepared it brought to their work the
experience OF the Confederation, Of their
several States, and Of other Republican Gov
eminent old and new; but they needed
and they obtained "A wisd jm superior To ex-
pernnce. And when Tor its validity 1t It
qaired the approval Oi a people ttat coupled
n Large Lart Oi continent and acted sepa-
Iately IN many distinct Conventions, v at Is
m jre wonderful than that, after earneS con-
ten;ion aud long discussion, all feelings aud
all opinions were ultimately drawn IN one
way to it, support?
Tie Constitution to which life was thus
sources for its own preservation Ii has
power 10 enforce the laws, punish treason,
and ensure domestic tranquility. ln case OF
the usurpaIion of the Government of a State
by one man, or an oligarchy, it becomes II
duty OF the United States TO make good tie
guaranty 10 that State of a repu blican form
Of government, and So t. maintain the ho-
mOgcn,ousntss Of all. Does the lapse OF
time reveal defects? A simple mode oil
amendment is provided in the Constitution
itselI. - that It's conditions can always be-
made to conform to the requirements OF ad-
yancing civilization. No room is allowed
even Tor the thought OF a possibility Of its
coming TO an end. And these powers vi
sell-preservation have always been asserted
IN their complete integrity ty every patri-
otie Chief Magistrate by Jefferson and
jackson, not less than by Washington and
Madison. The parting advice OF the Father
OF his Country, while vet President, to the
people of the United States, was, that " the
tree Constitution, which was the wO:k Oi
their hands, might be sacredly maintained =
and the inaugural words OF President Jefer-
son held up 1.-THE preservation Of the Gene
raj Government, in Its constitutional vigor,
as the sheet anchor Of our peace at home
and safety abroad" The Constitution as
the work OF 81 the People Of the United
States" and it should be as indestructible as
the people
IL is not strange that the trainers OF the
Constitution, which had Do model IN the
past, should not have fully comTrchended
the excellence OF their own work. Fresh
from struggle against arbitrary power,
many patriots suffered from harrassing fears
D 6 - r 81 4
by the Gen, al Government. and many from
n Tread that the States would break away
from their orbits But the very greatness o;
our country should allhy the apprehension
Of encr0achments by the General Govern
ment. The sub, cts that come unqnestiona-
lily within It's Jurisdiction are 50 numerous,
that it must ever naturally refuse to he en-
barrslssed by questions that lie beyond It.
Were il otherwise, the Executive would sink
beneath the burden the channels %; justice
would be chokcd; legislation would be OBJ
structsd by excess so that there is great
, er temptation 20 exorcisc some ut the iunc-
tious OF the General Government through
tie States than TO treslass On their rignttul
, sphere. " The absolute aoquicscenee in the
decisions OF the msjnriy'' WIS. ut the ho-
ginning of tic CENTURY. enforced hy .lefcr.
: son - as the vital principle vf rvpu ihcs,
and tie events of the last tour years have cs
tiblishcd. w. will nope forever. that there
li>- nu sprcal 20 force
Tie u.siut-nAnc, ct the Uni n brings with
/ IL tee SUBJ prt of tie STATE Governments in
all t.ti. rIzh,>; but At l. nor one % tnr
rights ui All y ate tinycrumrnt to renuuI @
, is own place iu Ia Union. or to nullify tie
laws Of the UrIs The largest liberty is to
a rbs
ui tie Fed, raj Government but there u NJ
, I appeal from its laws. except to the yarIou'
branches Il that Guyrrnm, MT itsclf, or I,
rte I-ofl-, WHO grant &. tire msmhers OF IL,
h, Legislative aud ut the Executive Depart
iDeuts Ia, tenure but limited one. nnc ~
tlat manner always Il tain the powers of IT.
drcss
c =. TIE sovereignty of the States Is tb,
, language OF tbs ConicGcracy, and not the
l4rgLsge of the Constitution. Tie latter
cJBtiIu> tie cmpigtis words - The COn>ii-
: tuition, AID tie laws of tie Unit State.
+ which eIn,l he made in pursuance thc.co'
r aud ali treaties made under the authority oi
the United States snail lee the supreme Law
of tie lard and t,e Judges ia every Sta;t
shall De bound thereby, anything in tie con.
r'irution or laws &c any State 10 the contra.
~ notwiIi standing -
Ceri,iuly the G"yerIment Of tie United
: S-alts = limited government and Is
tvtry State government. With US. the idea
Of li'ni.a'Ui sprrats through every form OF
administration, general, State, and munich
pal, aud rests ON the great Distinguishing
pimcitle Of the recognition Of the rights Of
rusn Tic ancient republics absorbed ;ue
individual ia th, State. prescribed his rtli-
r giou. and controlled hIs activity. The Anc-
Z ric,n system rcsts On the assertion ui the
quail light ct ey' ~ man 60 lIe. Liberty. aud
fl'e pursui. of iIapiin, - to freedom u con
rel, nee. To the culture and ,Iercise Of all Ills
faculties. As consequence. the State Cow
rrueut is limited, a. 10 tho General Cow
. rrrmenr IN re interest OF Union. as to the
indIviIuli citizen in the interest If lret dom.
, S.ate:. with proper limitations OF power,
arc tssential " tir Existence Of the Consiitu-
ton of he United States. At the very CON-
uiciie, Dtni. when sc assumed place
! among tie Powers al tie earth. the Declara-
lion Of Indetendcpcc Was adopted hy States: