The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09

Fezlo,c-C Citizens of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatices To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the people, for the preservation OF the
United States, is my first duty,i addressing you
Our thoughts next revert to the death OF the late
President by an act of parricEAl treason. Ihe
grief of the nation is still fresh it finds some so
Ice in the consideration that he liyedto enjoy the
nest proofs of its confidence by entering on the
renewed term of the Chief Magistracy, to which
he had been elected; that he brought the clv
war substantially to close that his loss was de-
plored in all parts of the Union 4; and that foreign
aatione have rendered justice 10 his memory;
His removal cast upou me heavier welght OF
cares than evey devclved upon any one OF his
predecessors To fulfil my trust need the sup
port and confidence OF all who are associated with
me IN the various departments OF governments
and the support and confidence oi tue PevPi.e.
p There Is but one way in which can nope 10 gam
their necessary aid it is, to state with trankness
the principles which guide my conduct, and their
application to the present state OF ana>rS' wen
aware that the efficiency of my labors VIII, IN a
great measure, depend on your ahu lAe4i uhui'i
ded appreciation.
The 0nion of the United States of America was
Intended by its authors to last as long as the States
themselves shall last THE UNION SHALL BE PER
PETUAL" are the yords OF the Confederation. %
FORM A MORE PERI ECT UNION" by an ordinance OF
the people OF the nited States, is the declared
; PURPOSE of the Constitution. The hand Of DIVINE
Providence was pever more plainly visible IN the
affairs Of men than in the framing and accepting
OF That instruments. IL Is, DCNplu
greatest event in American history and indeed Is
It not, Of all events in modern times, the most
pregnant with consequences for every people Oh
the earth2 The members ofthe Convention wDich
prepared it. brought to their work the experience
of the Confederation, of their several States, ana
Of other Republican Governments, old and new; but
fbey needed and they obtained wisdom superior
TO experience. And when FOR It's validity II requir-
ed the approval of people that occupied large
part of a continent and acted separately IN many
tvna ~ 10
that after earnest contention and long discussion,
all feelings and al opinions were ultimately drawn
in one way to its support?
The Constitution TO which life was thus impart-
ed contains within itself ample resources for It's
own preservation. 1t has power to enforce the
laws, punish treason, and ensure domestic TRAM
guilty. In case of the usurpation OF the Govern
ment OF o State by one man, or'an oISarchy, II
becomes duty of the United States to make good
the guarantee OF that State OF o republican form
eff government and so to maintain the hoInoSene-
business OF all. Does the lapse of time reveal de-
fects? simple mode Of amendment is provided
in the Constitution ITSELF so that its conditions 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-preseryatlon
have always been asserted in their complete lnteS
rity by every patriotic Chief Maglstrate-p Jener
son and Jackson, not less thon 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 sa.
President Jefferson held up "the H1sSSor:aion ct
the General Government, ii its flsttutional
yigor, as the sheet anchor oE ouf ect at home
and safety abyoei.y Ise cOnstitu: mis- the work
Of 'the PeoplS Ol the Unsted STATE aIi itshouia
be q ;pdssHa s.s iAIs as4 = ses ft psoq Z.
tuition, which had no model in thSpast, should not
rave full comprehended the excellence of their
own work. Fresh from struggle against arbl-
.rary power, many patriots suffered from harass-
ing fears Of an absorption OF thc3S'ate Govern
III .nts by the General Government, az many trorl
dread that the States would breaS away from
their orbits. But the very greatness Of our coun-
:rv should allay the apprehension of encroach-
ments by the General Government. The subjects
that come uuquestionably within its jurisdiction
are go numerous, that it must ever naturally refuse
to be embarrassed by questions that lie beyond It,
Were it otherwise the Executive would sink be-
meath the burden; the channels of justice would
be choked; len Station would be obstructcd by eX-
cess so that there is a greater temptation to
exercise some OF the functions OF the General Gov
ernment through the States than to trespass on
their rightful sphere. '"The absolute acquiescencc
III the decisions of the majority" was at the begin
ming of the century, enforced by Jefferson las the
vital principle OF republics and the events OF the
lastf0uE years have established, we will hope for
ever, that there hes no appeal to force.
The maintenance OF the Union brings with II
rights" but it is not of the rights OF any State
Government to renounce its own place In the
Union, or to nullify the laws of the Union. The
largest lbertys to be maintained IL the discussion
ofIfhe acts Of the Federal Government but there
isno appeal from its laws, except to the various
branches ofthaS Government itself or to the people,
who grant to the members of the Legislative and
Of the Executive Departments no tenure but Inn
tied one, and in that manner always retain the
powers Of redress.
"The sovereignty of the States" is the language
of the Confederacy, and not the language Of the
Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic
words 1.-THE Constitution, and the 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 bound thereby, any
thing in the constitution or laws of any State to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Certainly the Government of the United States
is limited government; and so Is every state
government a limited governments With us, this
idea of limitation spreads through every form OF
administration, general, State, and mumclpal,
and rests Oh the great distinguishing principle OF
the recognition of the rights OF man. Inc ancient
republics absorbed the individual IN the State
prescribed his religion, and controlled his activity
The American system rests on the assertion OF
the equal right of every man to life liberty, and
the pursuit OF happiness; 70 freedom Of conscience
to the culture and exercise of all his faculties. As
consequence, the State Government is dmited
as to the General Government in the interest OF
Union as to the individual citizen in the interest
of freedom
Stat IS, Will proper limitations of power, are es-
sential 70 the existence of the Constitution OF the
United States. At the very commencement, when
~ .rA H.,