The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-12-14
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
Delivered TO Congress Tuesday After
noon, December s, 1866.

OF ICeDFcSc1tt HttCCS
TO express gratitude to God, in the
name Of the people, for the preservation
of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you. Our thoughts next re.
vert to the death of the late President by
sn act of parricidal treason. The grief
of the nation is still fresh it finds some
solace in the consideration that he lived
long enough to enjoy the highest proof
of its confidence by entering upon the
renewed term Of his Chief Magistracy, TO
which he had been elected that he
brought the civil war substantially to a
close that his loss was depored in all
parts of the Union and that foreign na-
tions have done justice to his memory
His removal has east upon me a hearicr
weight of cares than ever dcyUiyei upon
any of his predecessors. To iulGU my
trust | need the support and confidence
Of the people There is but one way IN
which | can hope to obtain their ueceSsa-
ry aid, aud that is to state with fraukness
the principles which guide my conduct,
aud their application to the present state
of affairs, being we'll aware that the cftl-
cheney of my labors will, in great meas
ure, depend on your and their undivided
appreciation.
The Union Of the United States Of A.
merica was intended by It's authors to last
as long as the States themselves shall
last "Thc LnioR shaU BE perpetual are
the words of the Confederation "Io
form q morc perfect Gaioa," by an ordi
nance of the people of the United States,
is the declared purpose Of the Constitution.
The hand Of Divine Providence was new
er more plainly visible in the affairs Of
men than in the framing and the adopt
ing of that instrument. 1t is, beyond
comparison, the greatest event in Ameri-
can history; and indeed is it not, Of all
events in modern history, the most preg-
nant with the consequences for every pco-
rle of the earth ? The members of the
Convention which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience Of the Confed-
alton, of their several States, and of 9TH
er Republican Governments, old and new,
but they needed aud obtained wisdom
superior to experience. And when for
its validity it required the approval Of
people that occupied large part OF the
continent and acted separately in many
distinct conventions, what Is more Won
derful than that, after earnest contention
and ionS discussion, all feelings and all
opinions were ultimately drawn IN one
way to its support.
The Constitution to which lie vas ;hus
impaired coutaius within itself ample re-
sou: . :. n, for - =. ,?cserv%..i.1 /. rs row
er 10 en:orce un .~uo, puu,r" =" :,
su,! ensure jUUesti: tranquility. IN c@se
Of the usurpation Of the government {.
State by Que man. or an oligaIchy, il be
comes duty of the United States to make
good the guarantee to that State OF re-
rublicau form of government, and 50
maintain the houcecneousncs ofall. Does
the lapse of time reveal defects A SIM
rle mode of amendment is provided III
the Constitution itself, 50 that its condl-
tions 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-preserration
have always been asserted in their COM
pletc integrity by every patriotic Chief
Magistrate-by Jefferson and jackson,
not less than by Washington aud Madl-
son. 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 sacredly
maintained :" and the inaugural words OF
President Jefferson held up "the preser-
walton of the General Government, IN ITS
constitutional vigor, as the sheet snchor
of our peace at home aud safety abroad.
The Constitution is the work OF 1.-THE Peo-
pie of the United States" and 1T should
be as indescribable as the people.
1t is not strange that the trainers OF
the Constitution, which had no model 10
the past. should not have fully conlpre-
hended the excellence Of their own work.
Fresh from struggle against arbitrary
power, many patriots suffered from mar
RAISING 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 country
should allay the apprehension of encroach-
ments by the General Government The
subjects that come unquestionably within
Its Jurisdiction are so numerous, that IL
must ever naturally refuse to be embar-
rassed by questions that line beyond 1t
Were it otherwise, the Executive wonid
sink beneath the burden the channels
of justice would be choked Legislation
would be obstructed by excess; so tha
there is a greater temptation to exercise
some of the functions of the General Gov
ernment through the States than to tres