The Placer herald., 1865-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Although the Presidents Message was de-
livered to Congress some days ago. the CAS-
socaed Press" have only furnished the fol
lowing synopsis, which will give readers but
imperfect information as to the character Of
the document. The message opens as fol.
lows:
To express gratitude to God in the name
of the people for the preservation of the
United States, is my fist duty ip addressing
you. Our thoughts next revert to the death
Of the late President by the act Of parcidal
treason. The grief of the nation is still
fresh, but it finds some solace in the consd-
GRAFTON that he lived to enjoy the highest
proof of its confidence hy entering on re
newed term of the Chief Magislracy which
be had been elected to; that he brought civil
war substantially to a close; that his loss
was deplored in all parts Of the Union, and
that foreign nations have rendered justice to
his memory. His removal cas-. upon me a
heavier weight of care than ever devolved
upon any Of my predecessors. To fulfill my
trust, need the support and confidence of
all who are associated with me in the various
departments Of the Government, and the
support and confidence of the people,
There is but one way in which can hope to
receive from them that necessary aid. It. is.
to staFe with frankness the principles which
will guide my conduct and their application
to the present state of affairs.
The Message then discusses the powers Of
the Constitution of the United States, and
bo oe II g ,k TT,;o 7,
is not the right of State Government to
renounce its own place in the Union, or to
nullify the laws of the Union. The largest
liberty is to be maintained in the discussion
of the acts Of the Federal Government, but
there is no appea! from its laws, except to the
various branches Of the Government itself,
or to the people. The sovereignty OF the
States is the language of the Confederacy
and not the language Of the Constitution.
Again he says: "The true theory is that
all the pretended acts of secession were from
the beginning. null and void The States
cannot commit treason nor screen individual
citizens who may have committed treason
The States attempting to secede placed them
selves in condition where their vitality was
impaired, but not exiinguished Their func
lions were suspended. but not destroyed; but
it any State neglecls or refuses to perform
its offices, there is more need that the Gen.
eral Gov ernment should maintain all its
authority, and as soon as practicable, re-
sumo the exercise OF all its functions. On
this principle, have acted, and have sought
to restore the rightiu energy of the General
Government as we'll as that Of the States.
TO that end, Provisional Governors have
been appointed for the rebellous States,
Conventions have been called, Governors
elected Legislatures assembled, and Repre-
sentatives and Senators chosen to the Con
gress Of the United States know very
well this policy is attended with some risk,
and that for its success it requires the acqun
escence of the States which il concerns-that
it implies an invitation to those States, 10y
renewing allegiance to the United States, to
resume their functions as States of the Union;
but il is risk that must be taken. No State
can throw defense over treason. The pow
er Of pardon is Executive, vested in The Ex'
ecutive Government of The United States.
In exercising that power have taken every
precauion to connect with it the clearesr
recognition of the binding force Of The laws
Of the United Staes, and the unqualified
acknowledging of the great change Of the
condition in regard to slavery which has
grown out Of the war;"
Again he says: "AIl parties in the late
terrible conflict must work together in harl
mony. 1t is not too much to ask, IN the
name OF the whole people, that on one side
the plan OF restoration shall proceed in con
k'rmty with a willingness TO cast the dsor.
ders Of the past into oblivion, and on the
other, the evidence of sincerty-lhe future
maintenance Of the Union-shal be put be.
yond any doubt by "A ratification of the pro
posed amendment to the Constitution, which
provides for the abolition of slavery forever
within the limits of our country. The adop,
lion of the amendment untes the United
States beyond all power Of disruption again.
1t is manifest that treason, the most hagrant
in character, has been committed, but per
sons who are charged with its commission
should have fair and impartial trials in the
highest tribunals in the country, in order
that the Constitution and laws may he fully
vindicated, the truth clearly established and
affirmed, that traitors should be punished
and the otfense made infamous; whilst, n,
the same time, The question may be judicial.
| ly settled, finally and forever. that no State
of its own accord has the right to renou nee
its place in the Union"
The relations of the General Government
towards the four million of inhabilals whom
the war has called into freedom, has engaged
the serious attention Of the President more
especially on the propriety of attempting to
make the freedmen electors. In The procla
NATION of the Executive, he took for his
counsel the Constitution itself, the interpre
ta,ions Of that instrument by its authors and
contemporaries and the more recent egisIa-
tlon by Congress. The President thinks the
granting of the elective franchise to the
freedmen would have been an assumption Of
power which neither the Constitution MOI
the laws of the United States would have