Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-07
SYNOPSIS or THE pRu,ID rNT,s
MESSAGE.

The President Of the United States sent
his message to Congress on Tuesday. The
pressure incident to Thanksgiving Day pre-
cudes the possibility of our giving more
than the following synopsis
After declaring that it is his first duty 10
express gratitude to God for the preservation
of the United States, The President alhdes
to the assassination of President Lincoln.
and to the heavy burlhen which his removal
cast upon his successor. In fulfilling the
trust he asks the support and confidence of
the various departments OF the Government
and of the people. He next enters into n
consideration OF the principles upon which
the Union was founded and of the perpetuiiv
of its tenure. He contends that the Consti-
tution to which life was then impaired. con.
tains within itself ample resources for its
own preservation; that it has power To en-
force the laws, punish treason and restore
domestic tranquility, If the lapse of time
reveal defects they can he rcmcdied by the
simple mode of an amendment, and these
powers OF seli-prescrvution, he saws, have
always been asserted in their complete in
tcgrity by every patriotic Chief Magistrate.
by Jefferson and jackson, moi less than hy
Washington and Madison. The very grcni
ness of the country and the numhcrless sub
lects that come within the jurisdiction OF the
General Government should allay, he saws
the apprehonsions of cncronChmenis by ihc
latter on the rights OF the States, there being
a greater temptation 10 exercise some ftmc.
tions Of the General Government through
the States than TO tresspass on their rghiul
sphere. The maintenance of the Union
brings with il the support of the State Coy.
ernmenis in all their rights; but no State has
the right to rcnouncc its own place in ihc
Union, or nuliiiy the laws Of Tie Union
The largest liberty is to be maintained in
discussing the acts of the Federal Govern
ment, but there is no appeal from lis laws
except to the various branches Of tnc GOV
crnment, or to the people, who always retain
in their hands the power OF redress. The
Government OF the United States is IL limited
| Government, and so also is the Government
of each Of the States, and this idea of lmi
tation spreads through every form Of admin
istration, General, Slate and Municipal.
1t is next argued that States with plopci
limitation of power are essential 10 the eXis.
tence of the Constitution OF the United
States. The Declaration Of independence
| and the articles OF Confederation were adopt-
cd BY States, and it was the assent of indi.
vidual States that gave vitality To the Con.
sttulon. Every Amendment 10 the Consti
tuition must be confirmed by the States, s.
one great branch of the Legislative Govern.
ment would be wanting and the hest secu
rity for the existence of the States is the ,u.
preme authority of the Constitution. the
perpetuity OF the latter bringing with II The
! perpetuity of the Union; their mutual rcln.
ton makes us what we are, and their con
necion is indissoluble Neither can exist
without the other, and the preservation u
the one is the preservation of the ether
After having thus explained his views @,
the mutual relations OF the Constitution and
the States, the President declares that il La.
been his seadiast object to escape from the
sway Of momentary passions, and to adhere
TO the fundamental and unchangng princi
! pies Of the Constitution. AZ the close of the
| var the first question TO be solved VA.
whether the territory within the insurrec
tionary States should be held as conquered
territory, by military authority rmanating
from the President. Military government
established for an indefinite period would
| he contends, have euYenomed hatred rather
than restore affection. Once established. nc
limit could have been put to their continu
ance. They would have proved an exhaust
ing expense, and would have prevented
peaceful immigration. The Executive pnt
ronage in the appointment Of innumcrabl,
Federal agents, who desired to profit from
the miseries of their erring fellow citizens
would have been too vast TO be safely en-
trusted TO any one man, and such as he-tht
President-wonld never consent to exercis,
except on an occasion Of great emergency
whilst the wilful use of such powers throusl
period of years would have endangered lh,
purity of the general administration and tn,
liberties Of the States which remained loyal
Besides this States cannot commit irea
son, nor shield the individual citizens Mh,
may have done so. l.: attempting TO socedc
the vital functions Of the Sni- were slls
pended; but not destroyed Butifany Stat,
refuses or neglects to perform its office. il i.
then the duty Of tha General Government n
maintain all its authority, and, rs soon n,
practicable, cause il to resume the exercise