North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-12-13
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF
ANDREW JOHNSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Fsllou- Citizens of MssSenate and House OF
Representatives.
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 parrici-
dal treason. The griefof the nation is still
fresh it finds some solace in the consider
alton that he lived to enjoy the highest
proof of its confidence 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 rem
dered justice to his memory. His removal
has cast upon me a heavier weight of cares
than ever devolved upon any one of his
predecessors. To fulfil my trust | need
the support and confidence of all who are
associated with me in the various depart
ments of Government, and the support and
confidence Of the people. There is but
one way in which I can hope to gain their
necessary aid, it is to state with frankness
the principles which guide my conduct,
and their application to the present state OF
affairs, we'll aware that the efficiency
of nv labors will, in great measure,
depend on your and their undivided ap.
probation.
The Union of the United States of Amer
lea 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. "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 Divine Providence was never moro
plainly visible in the affairs of men than in
the framing and the adopting of that instru-
ment. 1t is beyond comparison, the great
est event in American history and indeed
is II not of all evclts in modern times the
most pregnant with consequences for every
neonle of the earth The members of the
Convention which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience OF the contedera-
tion. of their several States, and of other
Renublican Governments, old and new; but
thew needed and obtained a wisdom superi-
or to experience. And when for this val
iditv it required the approval of people
that occupied large part OF continent
and acted separately in many district con-
ventions what is more wonderful than that
after earnest contention and long discussion
all feelings and ali opinions were ultimately
drawn in one way to its support?
The Constitution to which life was thus
Unmarried contain. within itself ample re-
| sonrces for its own preservation. 1t has
mower to enforce the laws, punish treason
and ensure domestic tranquility. In case
Of the usurpation of the Government OF a
State by one man, or an oligarchy, it be-
comes duty of the United States to make
GOOD the guarantee 70 that State OF re-
nubIican form of government and so to
maintain the homogeneous ofall. Does the
loss Of time reveal defects ? A simple node
of amendment is provided in the constitu-
ton itself so that its conditions can always
be made to conform to the requirements of
advancing civilization No room is allow
ed even for the thought of a possibility of
~---:-ee +n an end. And these powers
of self preservation have always been III
serted in their complete integrity by every
patriotic Chief Magistrate--by Jefferson
and Jackson, not less than by Washington
and Madison. The parting advice of the
Father of his Country while yet President,
TO the people of the United States, was
that ''the free Constitution, which was the
work of their hands, might be sacredIy
maintained; :" and the inaugural words OF
President jefferson held up ''the preserva-
ton of the General Government, in its con-
stitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor of our
peace at home and safety abroad" The
Constitution is the work of "the people of
the United States" and it should be as in
destructible as the people.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the
Constitution, which had no model in the
past, should not have fully comprehended
the excellence of their own work. Fresh
from the struggle against arbitrary power,
many patriots suffered from harassing fears
of all absorption of the State Governments
by the General Government. And many
from dread that the States would break
from their orbits But the very greatness
of our country should alIay apprehension
of encroachments by the General Govern
ment The subjects that come unquestion-
ably within its jurisdiction are so numerous
that it must ever naturally refuse to be en-
barrassed by questions that lie beyond it.
Were it otherwise the Executive would
sink beneath the burden the channels of
Justice would be choked-lcgislation would
be obstructed by excess; so that there is
greater temptation to exercise some ofthe
functions of the General Government
through the States than to trespass on their
rightful sphere. 'The absolute acquies-
cence in the decisions of the majority was,
at the beginning Of this century enforced
by Jefferson ''as the vital principle of re-
publics," and the events of the last four
years have established, we will hope forever,
that there lies no appeal to force.