The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-16
presiden Is M ssag sag e. J.
Fsllo,gs6stiz uf tae Senate wa

SFello,0s Citizens Of the Senate ea waE a
aa and House of Representatives.
Tolexpress gratitude TO God in the
name of the people for the apreserya-
tion of the United States, is my first
duty in addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert to the death of theaalatt
President by an act of parricidal trea-
son. The grief Of the nation is still
fresh, but it finds some solace in con
sideration that he lived to enjoy the
highest proof of itsJconfdence by en-.
tering on the renewed term of the
Chief Magistracy, to which he had
been elected; that he brought the civil
war substantially to close; that his
loss was deplored in all parts of the
Union, and that foreign nations have
rendered justice to his memory; His
removal cast upon me heavier weight
of cares than ever deYolyed on any
one of his predecessors. TO fulfil my
trust need thesupport and confidence
of all who are associated with me in
the various departments of the Gov
ernment, and the support and conf
denee Of the people. There shut one
way in whichiI can hope 10 gain their
necessary aid: It is to state with frank
ness the principles which guide my
conduct and Etheir application to the
present state Of affairs, well aware
that the efficiency Of my labors will,
in a great measure, depend on your
and their undivided appreciation A'-
The Union Of the United States of
America was intended by its authors
to last as longas'the States themselves
should last, 'iThe Union shall be per-
petual, are the words of the Constitu-
ton. To form more perfect union
by 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 plain
ly visible in The affairs Of men than IN
the framing and the adopting Of that
instrument. It is, beyond compare
son, the greatest event in American
history, and, indeed, is of all events in
modern times the'most pregnant with
consequences for every people OF the
earth. The members of the eonven-
ton which prepared it brought to
their work the experience Of the con-
federation of their several States, and
of other republican, governments, old
and new; but they needed and obtain
edla wisdom superior. 20 experience,
and when for its validity it required
the approval of people that occupied
a large part of a. continent and acted
separately in many distinct conven-
tons
What is more wonderful than that,
after earnest continuation and long du-
ration, all feelings and all opinions
were ultimately drawn in one way to
its snppertslsat1g .fsss3 hnaza
The Constitution to which life was
thus impaired, contains within itself
ample resources for its own preserYa
ton. 1t has power to enforce laws,
punish treason and insure domestic
tranquility. In case of the usurpa-
ton of the government of State by
one man or an oligarchy, it becomes a
duty of the United States to .laake
good the guarantee of that State of a
republican forn Of government, and
SO to maintain the homogeneousness
of all Does the lapse of time reveal
defects, . simple mode Of. amendmsnt
is Sprovided in the Constitution itself,
SO that its condition can always be
made to conform to the requirements
of advancing civilization. y =
No room is allowed even for. the
thought of possibility of its coming
to an'vend, - and these powers of self
preservation have always been asserted
IN their complete integrity by every
patriotic Chief Magistrate, by Jefer1
son and Jackson not less than by
Washington and Madison: The part
ing advice Of the Father Of his Coun-
Try, 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 main
tanned; and the inaugIii'ssl words Of
President jefferson held UP the preser-
,vatiep of thes GenefabG Government, in
its constitutional vigor, as the sheet
anchor, Of our peace at home and safe
:tysabroad. THE Constitution is the
work of the people Of the United
States. and it should be as indistruct-
lble as the people. S Z
9 1t not strange that the trainers of
the Constitution. which had no model