The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. ---
Fe,,owCaisens ofths Senate
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 address
ing you. Our thoughts next revert to the
death of the late President, by an act OF
paricidal 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 confidence, by en-
tering upon the renewed terrfi of the Chief
Magistracy, to which he had been elected;
that he brought the civil war substantial
| ly to q close; that his loss was deplored in
all parts of the Union, and that foreign ma
tions have rendered justice to his memory.
| weight Of cares than ever devolved upon
any one of his predecessors. To fulfill my
trust need the support and confidence Of
all who are associated with me in the va
rious departments of Government, and the
support anu confidence of the people.
There is but one way in which i can hoEe
to gain their necessary aid--it is to state
with franknes the principles which guide
my conduct, ana Uneir or~f,l;eaties. =, tavv-
present state of affairs. well aware that the
efficiency of my lsbors will jim. a. great
measure depend oh your and their undivi-
The Union of the United States of Amer
lea was intended by its authors to remain
as long as the States themselves shall last.
The Union shall be perpetual" are the
words of the confederation; to forf! a more
perfect Union by an ordinance of the peo-
pie oftne United States is the declared
purpose Of the Constitution. The hand of
Providence was never more plainly. visi-
bic in the affairs Of men than in the franz
ing and adoption Of that instrument. 1t
1t beyond comparison the greatest event iii
American history, and indeed is it not of
all events in modern times, the most preg-
nant with consequences for every people
OF the earth, The members of the Con-
vention which prepared II brought to their
work the experience Of the Confederation
Of their several States, and ofother Repub-
lican Governments, old and new. but they
needed and they obtained a wisdom supe-
rior to experience; and when, for its valid
ity. il required the approval of a people
that occupied large part Of a continent,
and acted separately in many distinct Con-
ventions. which is more wonderful. that
after earnest and long discussion all feel
ings and all opinions were ultimately
drawn in one way to its support. The
Constitution To which life was TINS impart-
ed, contains within itself ample resources
for its own preservation. II has power to
enforce the laws, punish treason and in
cure domestic tranquility. In ease OF the
usurpation of the Government of a State
by one man or an Oligarchy. il becomes n
duty ofthe United States to make good the
guarantees to that State cf q Republican
form OF Government. and 80 to MAINTAIN
the ehomogeneousness OF all, Does the
lapse of time reveal defects?
A simple mode Of amendments is pro
vided in the constitution i:eslf SO that
its conditions can always be made to
conform to the requirements of ad-
vancing civilization. No room is al.
lowed even for the thought of a pos
sibi!ity Of its coming to an end, and
thess powers of self preservation have
always been asserted in their complete
integrity by every patriotic magistrate
by jefferson and Jackson, not less
Tneparting 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 must be sacredly
maintained, and the inaugural words
Of President J.fferson held up the
preservation Of the general govern
ment in it's constitutional vigor, as
the sheet xnshor Of oar peace at home
and safety abroad. The constitution
is the Work Of the psopis Of the Uni~
ted States, and It should be as indie
structible as the people.
The mslntainance Of tire Union brings
with 1t the Support of the State governments
in sll their rights, but il is not enc Of the
rights of any of the States to renounce it's
place in the Union. Pie hrgest liberty is
to be maintained in the discussion Of the acts
Of the federal government, but there n nc
appeal from its laws, except to the 'a'ious
branches Of the government itself, or to the
people, who grant to the members OF the
legislative and Of the executive departments
no tenure but . limited enc, Vnd in that
manner always retain the powers Of redress.
The sovereignty oil the states is the language
Of the confcderacy and not the language Of
the constitution. The latter contains the
emphatic words, "the Constitution and laws
Of the United States, which shall be made in
pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or
which shall be made, under the authority of
the United States, shall be the supreme law
Of the land. and the judges in every state
shall be bonnd thereby, anything in the con-
stitution or laws Of any state to the contrary
Notwithstanding" Certainly, the govern
uent of the United States is . limited gov
ernment, and so is every state government
q limited government. With us this idea OF
Limitation spreads through every form of ad-
ninistration; general, state and municipal,
and rests on the great distinguishing princi-
ple Of the rights OF man. The ancient repub-
lies absorbed the individual in the state, pre-.
scribed his religion, and controlled his &C
tivity: the American system rests on the
assertion of the equal right OF every man to
hfe liberty and the pursuit Of happiness, to
freedom Of conscience; to the culture and ex.
srcise of all his faculties As consequence
the state government is limited as to the
general government, in the inteerst Of the
Union, a. to the individual citizen in the in
tsrrst Of freedom. States with proper linn
isations Of power are essential to the exist
stice Of the constitution of the United States
At the commencement when we assumed q
place among the powers of the earth, the
decIaratian Of Independence was adopted
by states; so also, were the articles of con
| federation; and when the people Of the Uni
| ted States ordained and established the con
stitution, it was the assent Of states which
gave it vitality. In the event too, Of any
amendment to the constitution, the PROPOSE
tion OF Congress needs the confirm alton o
states. Without states one great branch, o
the legislative government would be wanting
and If we look beyond the letter OF the con
stitution to the character OF our country, Its
capacity for comprehending within its jn
| risdiction vast continental empire, is due
to the system Of states. The best security
for the perpetual existence OF the states Is