The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-12-08
The aluiuu 4 auaraal.
BIDDEF0RD, Me-, DEC. 8, 1865.
PRESIDENTS, MESSAGE.
FsiioD C,iissa, q the Senate, and House
Rsprtssssattpss: ..,'..

Fsiiop Ciiissss q the Senate, and House o
Representatives,: '.
ID To express gratitude to God. in the name of tn
People, for the preservation VI the Unite'l States
Is my first duty in addressing you. Our thought
next revert to the death " the late President, b,
nm act Of parricilal treason. The grief of th,
nation Is stl fresh. IL finds some soiace In IN.
consideration that he lived to enjoy the hghes
proof Of Its confidence by entering on the renew
oil term Of the Chief N,gistracy. 10 which he had
been elected that he brought the civil war saib
stantially Ia close that his loss was deplorel
In all parts VI the Union; and that foreign na-
tons have rendered justice to his memO~y. His
removal cast upon me n heavier weight OF cares
than ever dsvclved upon any one Of his prcieces
sors To falsli my trust nee'l the support and
confidence OF all who are associated with me in
the various departments Of Government, and the
support and confidence of the people. There is
but Que way Ia which can hope to gain their
necessary aid II is, to state with frankness the
principles which guide my conduct, and their ap-
pcation TO the presentstste OF affairs, well aware
that the efficiency Of my labors wil, in great
measure. depend on your and their undivided ap-
probation. sF ".. ..
nxLxrross or THE CONSTITUTION AND ritE STATES.
The Union Of the United States OF Americ. was
intended by its authors. to last as long rs the
States themselves shall last. "Ths URioa shall
"To form a more perfect URion," by an ordin.
ance OF the people OF the United States. is the de-
clarel purpose OF the Constitution. The hand q!
Divine Providence Was never more plainly visible
In the affairs OF men than In the trimming and the
adopting Of that instrument. IL is. beyond eom
parison, the greatest event in American history
and, iudcea,,i is Ii not, OF all events in modern
times, the most pregnant Of consequences for. ey-
cry people OF the ear,hl The members of the
Convention which prepared Il, brought to their
work the experience Of the Confederation of their
several States, and OF other republican govern.
usnts, old and new but they needed and they
ob,ainel . wisdom superior to experience. And
when for its validity Il required the approval Of
a people that occupied q large part Of u contin-
cnt and acted separately in many distinct csnyen-
tions, what u more wonderful than that, after
earnest contention and long discussion, all feel
ings and all opinions were ultimately drawn in
one way to its supporti
. The Consultation tn which lie was thus inpart-
ell contains within itself ample RESOURCES for its
own preservation. IL has power to enforce the
laws, punish treason, and ensure domestic tran I.
guilty. la. case of usurpation Of the govern i
nient OF q State by one man, or an Oligarchy, il
becomes duty Of the United States TO make good
the guarantee 10 that State of q republican form
of government and So IN maintain the hOmogc-
,icousness of all. Does the lapse Of time reveal
defects, A simple mode of amendment Is pro
yhlei in the Constitution ITSELF that its cOndi
tlOuS eau always De mhlc VI COutOrin tO The re-
quiremcuts OF advancing civilization, No room
Is allowed even for the thought of possibility Of
Its coming to On end. And these powers OF self.
preservation have always been asserted in their
complete integrity by every patriotic Chief Mag
.istrate-by Jefferson and jackson. not less than
by Washington AMI Madison. The parting al
vice Of the Father OF his Country, whileyet Pres
ident, ~ the people of the Unitc States, was tha,
"the free Constitution which Was the work Of
their hands, might be sacre,lly maintained" anil
the inaugural worls OF President jefferson held
up ''the preservation Ut the General Government,
In its Constitutional vyor, as the sheet anchor OF
our peace. at home anil safety abroad.' The Con-
stitu,on is the work Of "the people Of the United
States" and il should be as indestruetible us the
people Ia ~ *. Unr
tuition, which had no model in the past should
mot have fully comprehended the excellence Of
their own work. Fresh from q struggle of arbit-
rary power, many patriots suffered from hsrass-
log fears OF an absorption Of the State Govern
ments 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
meats By the General Government. The subjects
that cone unquesnonnety within Its jurisdiction
are 80 numerous, that u must ever naturally re.
fuse 10 be embarrassed by questions that lie beyond
Il. Were IL otherwise, the Executive would sink
beneath the burden; the channels of iustce would
be choked; the legislation would be o5structed
byexeess; 50 that there Is greater temptation
10 exercise some OF the functions of the General
Government through the States than TO trespass
on their rightiul sphere. "rhe absolute acauies-
ence In the decisions Of the majority !" was AZ the
beginning Of the century, enforced by Jefferson
"a q the vital principle OF Republics" and the
events Of the last four years have established, we
hone forever, that there lies no appealt TO force
The maintanance OF the Union brings with il
"the support Of the State Governments in all
thar rishts'' but 10 Is not one Of the rights OF
ANY St.tc Government to renouncc It's own place
In the Union or 10 nullify the laws OF the Union.
The largest liberty Is to be maintained in the dis.
cussion of the acts Of the Federal Government;
but there is appeal from its laws except To the
various branches Of that Government itself. or to
the people, who grant to the members Of the Le-
rislature and Of the Executive Departments no
tenure but limited one. aud in that manner al
ways retain the powers Of redress.s ..' 3ut
"rhe sovereignty Of the States isthe language
OF the Cunseieracy. and not the language Of the
Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic
words: "rhe Constitution and the laws Of the
United States which shall be made in pursuance
thereof, and all treaties made or which shall be
male under the authority Of the United States,
shall be bound thereby, anything In the Consti-
tuition or laws OF any State to the contrary not
withstandiug," -. 1905. "a. e.
Certainly the Government Of the United States
Is q limited Government; and sois every State
Government limited Government. With us.
this idea Of Limitation spreads through every
form Of administration, general, State and mum.
cpal. and rests on the great distingushipe min
cipls NJ the recognition Of the right OF man The
ancient republics ABSORBED the indiyiduaI In ,hs
State. prescribed hIs religion. and controlled nj.
activity. The American system rests on the as
sertion OF the equal right OF every man 10 lie,
of conscience. 10 the culture aud exercise OF aIl
his faculties. As q consequence, the Stats CIV
ernment Il limited. a. tothe General Coyernnasn,
jo the interest Of the OF the Union. rs u the in.
diyidgA citiIen 10 the interest u fresdon.
..ssntisi 20 the existence VI the Constitution %
the United States. AT the very commencement,
h.n've assumed place among the Powers Of
shs sarth, the Declaration OF Independence VA
s.lopssi by the States; 80 also were the Article
OF Confederation; and when the fsople OF th'
Unissd states. ordained and established the Con
stita.ou. A vus the assent VI the States, one b!
ons vhjch gave il vitality. In the event, too. o
.srv Amendment 20 the Constitution, the propos,
s;c. NJ Conrress media the confirmation of States
Without States, one great branch ofthe legisntiy
government would be wanting Ana, " We 1901
Spyond the letter of TIE Constitution ~ sne ehas
esssr ofour eoun!ry, espae sor,;nspt.i EN-
ojre, 4 due 70 the system ofthe States. The hes
sssurisy fdr the perpetual existence Of the State
Il the ..supremc auiharity" Of the Constitution
the United states The perpetuify OF the States
-tkeif mutssl relstioa makes us what We are, an
In COR political systsm, their connection Is indis
soluble, The whole sAnnot exist without the part
nor the parts without the whole. Soloug a. the
Coustitution Of the United States endures. III,
STATES sill endure; the destruction OF the one Is
ths dsstructiou Of the other; the preservation oil
ths oos \ the preservation. ot tbs other.
have thas explained my views OF the mutua
relations Of the Coustitutioa and the state. DO
srsu~p they unfold The principles on which have