The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-06
NJ ESSAGE
OFT
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
To THE
Two Houses of Congress at the Com
mencement Of the First SrS-
sion of the Thirty
ninth Congress,

Fellow-citi1ens of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
To express gratitude to God, in the name
of the people, fox the presel Walton of the Uo.
ted States, Is my first duty In addressing
YOU Oar thoughts next rever. to the death
of the late president by an act of parricldal
treason. The grief of the nation is still!
fresh it fiods some soIace In the considera.
ton that ne lived to enjoy the highest proof
OF it's confidence by entering on the renewed
term of the chief magistracy, TO which he
had been elected that be brought the civil
war Substantially to close; that his loss
was deplored 10 all parts of the Unloa and
that foreign nations have rendered justice to
his memory. His removal cast upon me a
heavier weight OF cares than ever deyolyed
upon any one of his predecessors. 20 fulfill
my trust | need the support and confidence
of all who are associated with me In the var
ious departments Of government, aud the
suppors and confidence of the people. There
is but one way In which | can hope TO gain
their necessary aid 1t is to state with frank
ness the principles which guide my conduct,
and their application to the present state Of
affairs, we'll aware that the efficiency of my
labors will, in great measure, depend on
your and their undivided appreciation.
The Union of the United States Of Ameri-
ca was intended by it's authors to last as long
as the states themselves shall last. The
UNION SHALL BE PERPETUAL" are the words
of tie confederation. ITO FORM MORE PER-
Feet UNION" by an ordinance of the people
OF the United States, is the declared purpose
of the constitution, The baud of Divine
Providence was never more plainly visible
In the affairs of men than in the framing and
the adopting of that instrument ft Is, be-
vond comparison, the greatest event In Am
erican history and indeed is 1t "Ot, of all
events In modern times, the most pregnant
with consequences for every people Of the
earth? The members of the convention
which prepared it, brought To their work the
experience of the Confederation, oil their sev-
eral states, and of other republican govern-
ments, old and new; but they needed aud
they obtained a wisdom superior to expar
fence. And when for its validity is required
the approval OF people that occupied a
large part of a continent and acted separate.
iy in many distinct conyentlons, what is
more wonderful than that. after earnest con-
tention and loag discoss ion, all feelings aud
ali opinions were ultimately drawn In one
way to it's 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 ensure domestic tranquility. 10 case
of the usurpation of the government of u
state By one man, or an ollgerchy, !. be-
comes a duty of the Uaited States to make
good the guarantee TO that state of I repu BIZ
can forn of govern nent, and 50 10 muiataia
the humogeueousness of all. Does the lapse
of time reveal defects? A simple mode OF
amendment is provided il the constitution
Itself, 81 that its conditions can always be
made to inform to the require rents OF al
Nm oil 4
even for the thought of possibility of Its
co uing to en end. And these powers Of self
preservation have always been asserted In
their complete integrity by every patriotic
chief magstrate-by Jefferson and jackson
not less than by Washington and Madison.
The parting advice of the father of his coun-
try, while yet president, to the people of the
United States, was, that "the free constitu.
tion which was the work of their hands,
might bs sacredly maintained; :" aud the in
augural words of President Jefferson held ~
1.-The preservation of the general government,
in it's Constitutional vigor, as the sheet
Choir of our peace at home and safety
abroad" The institution Is the work of
"the people Of the United States" and
it should be- as indestructible as the peo-
Pile.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the
constitution, which had no model In the past,
should not nave July compromised the eX-
cellence of their own work. Fresh from a
struggle against arbitrary power. many pa.
triots suffered from harrassing fears of an
absorption of the state governments by the
general government, and many from dread
that the states would break away from their
orbits. But the very greatness of our coun.
try should allsy the apprehension of en-.
croachments by the general government
The subjects that came unquestionably with
in its Jurisdiction are numerous, that il
must ever naturally refuse to be embarrassed
by questions that lie beyond it. Were il
otherwise, the executive would sink beneath
the burden the channels of justice would be-
choked; legislation would be obstructed by
excess so that there is a greater temptation
to exercise some of the functions of the gen
eral govern ment through the states than t
trespass on their rightfu sphere. 1.-The alb
solute acauiesence in the decisions of the ma
jority" was, ct the beginning of the century
enforced by Jefferson "ss the vital principl,
of republics" and tire events of the last fou
years have established, we will hope forever
that there lies no appeal to force.
The maintenance of the Union brings with
the support OF the state governments il
all their rights but it is not one of tn,
rights OF any state government to reuouncs
Hs own place in the Union or to nullify tn,
avs OF the Union. The largest liberty is to b
sintained in the discussion of the aets of tbs
&sEal governmenf but there ia No onnaal