Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
To the Two Houses Sf Congress, sf the
Commencement OF the Thirty Ninth
Congress-.


To the Two Houses Sf Congress, a1 tn
commencement OF the Thirty-NIns
Congress-.
Fellow Citizens oftbe senate.
And II luse Of Represen taflves
To express gratitude % God, IN ia,
name Of the people, for the preservation
of the United States, is my first duty il
addressing YOU. Our thoughts next re
vert to the death Of the late President by
an act Of parricidaI treason. The grief @
the nation is still fresh; IL finds some so
lace in the consideration that he lived tC
enjoy the highest proof Of its confidenc,
by entering ON the renewed term Of the
Chief Maei5tracy, 10 which be had beer
elected that he brought the civil wal
substantially 10 a close thar his loss was
deplOred in all parts Of the Union and
that foreign nations have rendered justice
10 his memory. His removal east upon
me a heavier weight Of cares than evel
devoived upon any one Of his predecessors
To fulfil my trust Ineed the support anO
confidence of all who are associated witt
me in the various departments of Govern
ment, and the support and confidence o1
the people. There Is but one way in
which I can hope 10 gain their necessary
aid IL is, 70 state with frankness the
principles which guide my conduct, and
their application 10 the present state OF
affairs, wei aware that the efficiency OF
my labOrs viii. IN a great measure, de-
pend on you and their undivided appr0-
baton
PERPETCTTT OF THE UNION.
The Union of the United States of
America was intended by It's authors %
last as long a. the STATES themselves shall
last The Union shall be perpetual -
are the words OF the Confederation. '-ro
form a more perfect Union, by an ordi-
nance OF the people Of the United States.
is tie declared purpose Of the COnstiUu-
riOu. The hand of Divine Providence
was never more plainly visible in the af-
fairs ~ men than in the framing and the
adopting Of that instrument. II is, be-
yOnd comparison, the greatest event ln
American history; and indeed Is IC not,
of al events in modern times. the most
pregnant with consequences for every
people Of the earth The members Of the
Convention which prepared it, brought
70 their work the experience Of the Con-
federation, Of their several States, and Of
other Republican Governments, old and
new. buI they needed and they obtained
a wisdom superior 70 experience And
when for ITS validity it required the ap-
a.
lart Of a continent and acted separately
I'm many distinct conventions, what is
more wonderful than that, after earnest
contention and long discussion, all feel
ings and all opinions were ultimately
drawn in Jns way To its support
sEIF-PREsERvING POWERS OF THE CON-
sTITUTI0N.
The Constitution % which life was thus
impaired contains within itself ample re-
sources for it's own Preservation. II has
power % enforce the laws, punish treason,
and insure domestic tranquility. IN case
Of the usUrpati0n of the Government OF
state by one man. or an OligarchY, 10 be-
comes a duty Of the United STATES o.
make good the guarantvi % that Sta.e Of
a republican form Of government, and ~
% maintain the homogena0usness Of all.
Doe the lapse Of time reveal defects' A
simple mode ofamendment is provided IN
the Constitution itself. 50 that its cOndi-
ti0ns can always he made % conform 70
the requirements OF advancing civilian
ton. No room is allowed even for the
thought Of a possibility Of its coming 10
an end. And these powers Of self-pres-
ervatiOn have always been asserted in
their complete integrity by every patri-
otic Chief Magistrate-by Jefferson and
Jackson. not less than by Washington
aud Madison. The parting advice Of the
Father Of his Country. while yet Presi-
dent. 70 the people Of the United States,
was. that the free Constitution, which
was the work Of their hands, might be
sacredly maintained p and the inaugural
words Of President jefieescn held up the
preservation Of the General Government,
in its Constitutional vigor, as the sheet
anchor o. our peace at home and safety
abroad The Constitution Is the WORK
of % the people of the Jni.Sd states aild
it should be az indestrucu0lea as .'+F pe'i'le'
40 APPEAL TO FORCE.
II fsDot strange tnat the trainers of
the Constitution. which had no model In
the past. should not have fully compre-
bended the excellency Of their own work
Fresh from q struggle against arbitrary
t0H er. many patriots suffered rom liiI-
Ta=sing fears of an absorption oi me
State Governments by the General Gov
eminent. and many from dread lhal
the States would break away from their
orbits. But the very greatness oI our
country should allay the apprehension Of
eucroach1neuts by the General Govern
ment. The subjects that come unque7-
tionablv within it, jurisdiction are 80
numerous. mat il must ever naturally
refuse 10 be enl 9afEassed by questions
that lie beyond IT, Wen 10 otherwise
the Executive would sink beneath the
burden; the channels Of justice would pe
choked legislation would be Obsiructed
bv excess: so that there Is q greater
temutatiOu to exercise some OF the iune-
tious Of the General Government through
the states than to trespass on their right
ful sphere. "Ihe absolute acquiescence
iu the decisions OF The majority, was, at
the beginning VI the century, enforced ~
Jefferson rs the vitsl principle Of repuD-
Hcs1 and the events Of the last four
wears have established, we viii hope for
ever that there lies no appeal 10 force.
NrLrrFrcArIoy-sT aovEREIGNTY.
The maintenance Of the Union brings
with I'd "the support Of the state Govern
rueuts in an their rights 3" but 10 is not
one II the rights Of any State GOyefh-
u1eut to reDOunce its 0gn place n The
Union. or % auliify the laws oI Jhe
Union. The laTgesi liberty Is tyOe mann
tanned in The discussions ct the acts ol
the Federal Government but tnete ls no
appeal from iIs laws, except 70 me NaLl-
Gus branches Of that Government ll7ei'
81 fo M, people. who grant 10 the mem
E.a-a N me I Iegislative and Executive
DEPARTMENTS Ho teBure but limited one,
powers of redress.
The sovereignty of the states" Is the
language Of the C0nfederacy, and not the
language 0f the Constitution llls laiiei
contains the emphatic words: Inc
Constitution and tie laws Of the United
state. which shall De made in pursuance
thereof, and ah treaties made 0f when
shall le made under the authority Oi the
United States shall be the supreme law
0f Ile land and the Judges in every
State shall be bound thereby, anything
In the constitution 0E laws Of any state
~ the contrary, notwithstanding
L1HITATIgS OF GOyERNMENTAL Pow
ERs.
Certainly thc Government Of the Uni
ted States IS q limited Government; and
80 Is every State Government "a limited
Government. Win us, this idea Of lin
ftatiOn spUe.ds through every form Of ad-
mjnistratiOn, general, State and muHiGi-
fsl. and rests on the great Distinguishing
i,rinciDle Of the recognition Of the rights
Ef,,a1 The ancient Republic absorbed
- iadividHai 81 the state, prescribed
M relioiOn, ana eOEUoilpi his activity.
mr. A Arserican system resls Oh tl- ssser-
',r.g ~ file egual KiEht Of every ulan u
- liberty aDd the ggrssil OF happiness
i. fraadorf Of conscience, - tle culture
s,F evercise OF All his faculties. - d
r@n-eouenee, the State t5OEeriiiileii J.
jimitad. as % the General '5o'sL,'ii,,ii' ,i.
ig the iaterest u ugion as 70 so5d,,, slle Anu,
gidual citizen IN the interest," % l.ee,,U,,- ~
states, with proper lin italloiss q ~ ~ 81, &,
are essential 10 the existence o. 1' II,
sfitution Of the United states, = ~
verv com uaeIlcement, when We assuiisg' !,
3 place among the powers OF the q ~ "a
lie Declaration Of Independence We W:
adopted By STATES ~ also we're llle - . y. y
cIes Of Confederation aiid NFeA "a
People Of the United States . Qrdalhs'
and established the Constitution, y wa
the assent Of the States, one py ohe
which gave 1t vitality. IL the event 100
Of any amendment 10 the ConstitH non
lbe proposition Of Congress needs IN
confirmation Of States. Without States
one great branch Of tlta legislative gov
ernment would be waiting. AMI u "
look beyond the letter Of the Consit tutloi
10 the character Of our country, II ca
pacity for eomprehending within lls Jl
IisdictiOn a vast continental empire
due to the system Of States. Inc pc
security for the perpetual existence OF y
States is the /" supreme authority" Of ~
Constitution Of the United States. IN
perpetuity Of the Constitution bring
a 80