The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-12-13
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
or
PREsIDENT JOHNSON.

10 the Senate and House Of Represen-
fatires:
To express gratitude 10 God, N the /
name of the people, Tor the preserVa-
iion Of the United States, ID my FIRST |
duty in address ing You. Our thoughts
next revert TO the death of The late
President by the hand of psri icidial |
treason. The grsf Of the nation is still |
frssh; il finds some solace in the con-
sideration that no lived to enjoy The |
hipbrst pfooi Of its confidence by en-
tering on the renewed term OF ths
Chief Magi,trasy, to which he had been
rust elected; that c brought the civil
war substantially to . elOss: that hlr
loss was drplcred in ell parts cf the
Union, ard that foreign nations have
rendered Justice 10 his memory. Ills
p SemoyaI east npon me heavier weight
Of care than ever deyolved upon a1y
one Of his predecessors. To fulfil my
trust need the support and confidence
Of all who are associated with me IN the
varions departments OF government,
and the support aud confidence OF the
people. There is but one way in which
can hope to gain their necessary aid;
il is, to state with fraukness the princi-
pies which guide my conduct, aud their
SPECIFICATION to the presrn, state of affairs
Well aware thai the efficiency of my la
bors viii, in a great measure, depend
on your and thur undivided approba-
lion. '.-'
81 THE UNION OF TIE STATES.
The Union OF the United States Of
America was intended by its authors
to last as long al the States themselves
shall last. ''rhe Union shall he per-
pstual" are the words Of the Coniedei-
atm. "To form more perfect Union"
ny an ordinance of the people OF the
United States, is the declared purpose
of the Constitution. The hand of Di-
vine Providence Was never more visible
IN the affhlrs OF men, than in the ira
ming and adopting of that instrument.
II IL, beyond comparison, the greatest
event in American hisr ory; and indeed,
iis it not, OF allcyehts in modern times,
The most pregnant with consequences
Tor every people Of the earth? lac
members of the Convention which pre-
pared il, brought to their work the ex-
periences OF the Confederation, of
their several States, and Of other Re
publican Governments, old and new
but they needed and obtained wis
dom superior to experience. And
when for its validity it'rtqnlrcd the APP
proval Of people that occupied large
part of continent and acted separately
10 many distinct conventions, what is
more wonderful than that, after earnest
contention and long discussion, all ieel
iags and MI opinions were ultimately
!. drawn iu one way to itssupport?7r
MEyNISa AEp POWER or THE coNsrI-
t.....,.- TUITION.
The Constitution 10 which lie was
thus impaired costains within itself am
pie resources for its own preservation.
1t has power 10 enforce the laws, pun
i.i treason, aad ensure social tranquil
..ty.7 In case Of the usurpatlon OF the
Government OF. Stale by one man. or
M oligarchy, it becomes . duty OF lhe
Uuitcd States to make good the guar
~sshtee 10 that s ate OF republican form
OF government, and 80 to MAINTAIN the
bomogeneouSness of all. Does the
lapse OF time reveal defects? A simple
mode of amendment is provided IN the
Constitution itself, so that conditions
car always be made to conform TO the
requirements of advancing civilization
No room is allowed even tor The
ethought ofa possibility OF its coming tc
an end. And these powers Of self-pre'
servation have always been asserted II
their complete integrity by every pat
riotic Chief Magistrate--by Jeffsrsou
and Jackson not less than by Washing
ton and Madison. The parting advice
IF the Father OF his Country, while ye
President, to the people Of the Umtet
States, was, that ''the free Constitution
which was the work Of their hands
might be sacredly maiatained;' and th
inaugural words Of President Jefferson
held up the preservation OF the Gen
erai Government, in its constitutions
lyigor, ais the sheet anchor OF our peac
at home, and safety abroad" Vh
Constitution is the work Of "the peopI
of the United States" and it should b
It's understandable as this people.
. AcQuIEsCENCK IN THE DECISION OF tn
" - Fs MAJORITY.
1t ii not strange that the trainers {
tho Constitution, which had no mod
iu the past, should not have fully con
pretended The excellence OF their ow
work. Fresh from a strrgg le against al
bitrary power,mapy patriotssufered froi
Iarassing foars OF on absorption OF th
State Governments by the General Go
crnment, and many from a dread th'
the States would break away from the
orbits. But the very greatness of oil
country should allay the apprehensio
of encroachments by the General Go,
ernment. The questions that come ur
questionably under its Jurisdiction al
no numerous, that il must ever natura
y. lv refuse to be embarrassed by question
that lie beyond it. Were it otherwis
The Executive would sink beneath II
burden; the channels of Justice woul
be choked; legislation would be obstru
ted by excess; so that there is q grea
or temptation to exercise some of Il
functions of the General Governmei
through the States than TO trcsspass {
their righiful sphere "The absolu
aeouiescense Ia the decision OF the M
iorlty' was, at the beginning of the ce
Jury, enforced by Jefferson '''as the '
ial principle of republics" aud Il
events of the last four years have G
tabhshed, we will hope forever, th
there lies no appeal TO force. ,er
RELATIONS or THE CONSTITUTION An