Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-16
sNTELLIGENCE.
MBS9AGE
President Of the United States
Two Houses OF Congress at the Commence
ment Of the First Session Of the
ThirIy-Rinih Congress.

flOl oil the Nt0lItu lDiitltTs AhHN
duty in addressing You. Our thoughts
next revert tn tn death of the late
President by an act of parrlcIddl treason.
The grief of the nation is still fresh 4; 1t
finds some solace in the consideration
that he lived to enjoy The highest proof
of its confidence by entering on the re
Moved 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
Darts of the Union and that foreign
nations have rendered Justice to his
memory. His removal cast upon me a
heavier weight of cares than ever de
yolved npOn any one of his predeces-
sors. To fulfil my trust | need the
sunnort and confidence ofall who are
associated with me in the various de-
Dartments of Government, and the sup
mort and confidence of the people.
There is but one way IN which l can
hope to gain their necessary aid u rs,
tn state with Granknees the principles
which guide my conduct. and their APP
q. pIicatiOn To the present state OF affairs,
well aware that the efficiency al my Ia
bOrS will, In a great measure, depend on
your and their undivided appreciation.
The Union of the United States of
America was intended by its authors to
last as long as the States themselves
shall last. ''THE UNION SHALL BE PER-
PETUAL." are the words of the Confeder-
ALTON. s"ro PORN MORE PERFECT
UNION Ivy an ordinance of the people
of the United States, is the declared pur-
nose of the Constitution. The hand OF
Divine Providence was never more
MAINLY visible I'm the affairs of men than
in the framing and adopting OF that in
strument. It is, beyond comparison,
the greatest event in American history;
and indeed is il not, of all events in
modern times, the most pregnant with
consequences for every people of the
esrth2 The members of the Conven-
ton which prepared it. brought to their
work the experience of the COnfedrra-
ton. Of their several States, and of 9th
or Republican Governments, old and
new: but they needed and they obtain
ed wisdom superior 10 experience.
And when for it's validity it required
the approval of the people that occupied
n larre part nf Il continent and acted
separately In many distinct conventions,
what is more wonderful than that, alter
earnest contention and long discussion.
all feelings and all opinions were nlil-
matelv drawn In one way TO It's sup
port.
The Constitution to which life was
thus impaired contains within itself am
DIe resources for as own preservation.
1t has power to enforce the laws. punish
treason, and ensure domestic tranquil
ty. In case OF the usuTpation of the
Government of a State 10y one man, oi
an oIiCarchy, it becomes n duty of the
United States to make good the guar
antee To that State of Republican form
OF Government, and so To maintain the
homoceneousnes of all Does the lapse
of time reveal defects? A simple mode
OF amendment is provided IN the Con
stitution itself, SO that its condition can
ALWAYS be made to conform tn the re-
auirements of advancing civilization.
No room is allowed even for the Thought
of a possibility of its coming to an end.
And all the powers OF eli-preservatiOn
have always been asserted IN their com
pIete integrity by every patriotic Chief
Enthusiastically jefferson and jackson,
not less than by Washington and Madi-
son. The parting advice of the Father
of his Country, while yet President, Ia
the pe,Sple of the United States, was
that ssthe free Constitution, which was
the work of their hands, might be sa-
credIy maintained" and the inaugural
words Of President jefferson held mp
ssthc preservation of the General Gov
eminent. In its constitutional vIgor, as
the sheet anchor of orr peace at home
and safaty abroad" The Constitution
Is the FORK of ':the people of the United
State. > aud it should be rs ndestruct-
able rs the people.
It Is not strange that the trainers of
the Constitution, which had no model
in the past, should not have fully com
pretended the excellence of their own
work. Fresh from a struggle against
arlitrary power, many patriots suffered
from harT.lssing fears of an absorption
of the State Governments by the Cen
eral Government, and many from a
dread that the States wonld break away
from their orbits. But the very great
ness of our country should allay the APP
prehensiOn of encroachments by the
General Government. The subjects
that come unquestiOnably within ITS
Jurisdiction are SD numerous, that 1T
must ever naturally refuse To be en-
barrassed 10y questions that lie beyond
it. Were it otherwise, the Executive
would sink beneath the BURDEN; the
channels of Justice wouid be choked;
legislation wonl,l he obstructed 10y ex-
cess; so that there Is "A greater tempta-
ton to exercise some of the functions
of the General Government through the
States than To tFespass on their right
ful sDhere. ''rhe absolute acqtiesence
I'm the decisions of the majority was,
Mt the beginning of the century, EN-
forced by Jefferson ''as the vital prin-
ciple of republics. and tine events of
the last four years have established, we
hone forever, that there lies no appeal
to force.
The maintenance of the Union brings
with it '.the support OF the State Gov
ernments in all their rights" but 1t is
not one OF the rights of any State Gov
eminent To renounce its own place III
the Union, or 60 nulify the laws of the
Union. The largest liberty is to he
maintained in the discussion of the acts
of the Federal Government; but there
is no appeal from it's laws, exceptto the
various branches of that Government
itself, or TO the people, who grant to
the members of the Legislative and of
the Executive Departments no Tenure
but limited one, and in that man
ner always retain the powers of re-
dress.
sSPbo Cox,nyeiontv Of the STATES % Ia