The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-09
by Special Erpress to The Phenir. I
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the people, for the preserva-
tion 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 parri-
cldal treason. The grief of the nation
is still fresh; it finds some solace in
the consideration that he lived to
enjoy the highest proof of its conf
dence 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 devolved upon any one of
his predecessors. To fulfil my trust
L need the support and confidence of
all who are associated with me in the
various departments of Government,
and the support and confidence of
the people. There is but one way in
which I can hope to gain their neces-
sary aid; it is, to state with frankness
the principles which guide my con-
duct, and their application to the
present state of affairs, well aware
that the efficiency of my labors will,
IN great measure, depend on your
and their undivided appreciation.
The Union of the United States of
America was intended by its authors
to last as long as the States them
selves shall 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
declar Il 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 instrument.
1t is, beyond comparison, the greatest
event in American history; and, in
deed, is it not, Of all events in modern
times, the most pregnant with con-
sequences for every people of the
earth? The members of the Conven-
ton which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience of the Con-
federation, of their several States,
and of other Republican Govern
ments, old and new; but they needed
and they obtained wisdom superior
to experience. And when, for its
validity, it required the approval of
people that occupied large part Of n
continent and acted separately in
many distinct conventions, what is
more wonderful than that, after earn
est contention and long discussion,
all feelings and all opinions were ulti-
mateiy drawn in one way to It's sup
port?
The Constitution, to which life was
thus impaired, contains within itself
ample resources for its own preserva-
ton. 1t has power to enforce the
laws, punish treason and insure do
mestic tranquility. In case of the
usurpation Of the Government of O
State by one man, or an oligarchy, it
becomes a duty Of the United States
to make good the guarantee to that
State Of q Republican form of govern
ment, and so to maintain the homo
geneousness of all. Does the lapse of
time reveal defects? A simple mode
OF amendment is provided in the
Constitution itself, so that its condi-
tons can always be made to conform
to the requirements of advancing
civilization. No room is allowed
even for the thought of possibility
OF Its coming to an end. And these
powers OF self-preservation have
always been asserted in their complete
integrity by every patriotic Chief
Mag1strate-by Jefferson and Jack
son, 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 free