The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-13
Presidents Message.

name or the Peopie, IoF tHe PTcserVdtlon
of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you. Our thoughts next re-
vert to the death ofthe late President by
the. hands of paracidal 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 entering on the renewed
term of the Chief Magistry, to which he
had just beenseleeted; that he brought the
civil war substantially to close; that his
loss was sdeplored in all parts of the
Union, and that foreign nations have rem
dered justice to his memory. His re-
noval deyolved upon me a heavier weight
of cares than ever devolSed upon any one
sof his predecessors To fulfil my trust
i 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 gain their necessary aid; tits 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 my labers, will, in a
great measure, depend on your aid and
undivided appreciation.
The Union of the United State was in
tended by its authors to last as long as
the States themselves shall last. "The
Union shall be perpetual" are the words
sof the Confederation. ssTo form a more
perfect Union, by; an ordinance of the
United States, is the declared purpose OF
the Constitution, The hand of Dlyine
providence was never. more visible In the
affairs of men than in the framing and
adopting of that instrument. 1t is, be-
yond comparison, the greatest event in
American history; and indeed, is it not,
of all events in modern times, the most
pregnant with consequences for every
people ON the earth !? The members OF
the Convention which prepared it, brought
to their work the experience of the Con-
federation, of their several States, and of
other. Republican Governments, old and
new; but they needed and they obtained
a wisdom superior to experience. And
when for its'Talidity it required the ap-
proralof people that occupied large
part of continent and acted separately
In many distinct conventions, what is
more wonderful than that, after earnest
contention and long discussion, all feel
ings and all opinions were ultima tely
drawn in one way to its support?
The Constitution to which life was thus
impaired contains within itself ample re-
sources for its own preservation. 1t has
power to enforce the laws, punish treason
and insure domestictranqaility. In case
of the usurpation of the Government o
"a State by one man, or an oligarchy, it
becomes a duty ef the United States tc
make good the guarantee to that State o.
republican form Of government, and Sc
to. maintain the homogenousness of all
Does the time reveal defects? A simple
mode of amendment is provided in the
Constitution itself, so that its condition!
can always be made to conform to the
requirements of advancing civilization
fof possibility of its coming to an end
And these powers of self-preseryatior
have always been asserted in their com
plete .integrity by every patriotic Chic
sMagistrate--by Jefferson and jackson
mot less than by Washington and Madi
son. The parting advice of the Father
sof his Country, while yet President, te
= the people of the United States, was, that
:, the free Constitution which was the
work of their hands, might be sacredly
maintained; and the inaugural words O
President Jefferson held up ''the preser
vationg of the General Government in it
constitutional yigor as the sheet anchor
of our peace at home nd.safety abroad.
The Constitution is the work of 9Th,
People of the United States, and i
should be as sindestructable as the peo
pie. Is lasts
It's not strange that the trainers o
the Constitution, which had no model il
the past, should not have fully compre
hended the excellence oftheir own work
Fresh from struggle against arbitrar,
power, many, patriots suffered from har
raising fears of an absorbtion of tn,
State Goyernments by the General Gov
eminent, and many from dread that th'
States, would break away from their or
bits. But the very greatness of ou
country should allay the apprehension
of encroachments by the General Gov
erHment. The subjects that come un
7questionably within its jurisdiction arr
so numerous, that 1t must ever naturall,
refuse to be embarrassed by question
that lie beyond it, Were it otherwise
the Executive would sink beneath tn
burden; the channels of justice would b.
,choked; legislation would be obstructe,
by excess; SO that there is greater temp
gtation to exercise some of the function
of the General Government through tn
States than to trespass on their rightfu
sphere. The absolute acquiesccnce in tn
decision of the majority was at the be
ginning of the century, enforced by JET
ferson .as the vital principle of republic,
and the events of the last four years hav
established, We will hope forever, tha
there lies no appeal to force. e
.ga The maintainance of the Union bring
with it ssthe support of the State Gov
ernmentsin all their rights" butt is nc
one of the rights of any State Govern
ment to renounce its own place in tn
Union, or to nullify the laws Of the Unior
The largest liberty is to be maintaine
in the discussion OF the acts of the Fed
eral Government; but there is no appes
from its laws, except to the yariou
branches of that Government itself, or t
the people, who grant to the members G