Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-07
Presidents Message.

Fcioc citizens of The Senate and House 0 f
Representatives
TO express gratitude to God, in the name
Of the people for the preservation of the
United States is my first duty in address,
ing you. Our thoughts next revert to the
death of the late President by an act of
parricidaI treason. The grief of the Ma
tiJn is still fresh it finds some Soacc in
the consideration that he lived to enjoy the
highest proof Of its confidence by entering
uu the renewed term of the Chief Magstra-
,.y. to which he had been elected that he
brought the civil war substantially to a
close that his loss was deplored in all
parts oi the Union and that foreign ma
tions have rendered justice to his memory.
His removal cast upon me a heavier weight
Of cares than ever dcvolved upon any one
ui his predecessors To fulfill my trust
need the support and confidence of all who
are associated with me in the various de-
pHrtmcnts of government, and the support
and confidence Of the people. There is but
one way in which / can hope to gain their
necessary aid it Is, 10 state with frank
ness the principles which guide my conduct
and their application to the present state of
my Iabors will, in Il great measure, depend
ON your and their undivided appreciation.
THE NATURE OF OUR UNIoN-ITs POWERS, DUTIES
AND LIMITS
the Union OF the united States of Amer
lea was intended by its authors to last as
long as tine States themselves shall last
IuE UNION SHALL BE PERPETUAL" are the
words OF the Confederation "To FORM A
MORE rERFECT UMoS," by an ordinance OF
the United States, is tine declared purpose
OF the constitution The hand OF Divine
Providence was never more plainly visible
III the affairs of men than in the iramiA o
and the adopting of that instrument ItIs
beyond Comparlsou the greatest event in
American history and indeed Is ii not, OF
ali events in modern times, the most preg-
naut with consequences for every people ol
the earth! The mcmbcrS Ui the CUuYen-
tion which prepared - brought to their
work the experience ut the Confederation,
Of their several States, and of other repub-
lican governments, old and new; but they
needed and they obtained a wisdom supcrl-
OF to experience And when tor its validi-
ty it required the approval Of people that
occupied a large part OF a continent and
acted separately III many distinct conven-
tiuns, what is more wonderful than that,
after earnest contentious and long discus
siou>, all feelings and all opinions were ul-
timately 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. Ii has
power to enforce the laws, punish treason,
and insure domestic tranquility In case
of the usurpatlon of the government Of a
state by one man, or an oligarchy. ii be-
comes the duty Of the United States to
make good the guarantee to that State of
republican form of government, and to
SO maintain the homOgeneousness of all -
Does the lapse OF time reveal defects 4
simple mode of amendment is provided ia
the constitution itself, so that It's conditions
can always be made TO conform to the re-
quircmcnts Of advancing civilization. No
room is allowed even for the thought of a
possibility OF It's coming to an end And
these powers of self-preservation have al
ways been asserted in their complete inter.
by every patriotic Chief Magistrate-6y
JEFFERSON and JACKSON not less than by
WASHINGTON and MADISON. The parting ad-
vice of the Father OF 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 >acredly maintained :" and the naugur-
al words Of President JEFFERSON held
up the preservation Of the General Gov
ernment IN It's constitutional vigor, as the
shectahchuf OF our peace at home and safe
ty abroad" The constitution is tbr WORK
Of % the People Of the United States - and
it should be as indestructibIc as the Poo.
pie.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the
constitution which had ~ model in tho