Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-15
Presidents s Message.

Of Reprsssatatives i:
To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the People, for the preservation
of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you. Our thoughts next re-
vert to the death of the late President by
an act of parricidal treason. The grief
of the nation is still fresh; it finds some
solace in the consideration that he lived
to enjoy the highest proof of its con-
fdence by entering on the renewed term
of the Chief Magistracy, to which be 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 devolved upon any one of his pred
ecessors. To fulfil my trust ], need the
support and confidence of all who are as
sociated with me in the various depart
ments of Government, and the support
and confidence OF the people. There is
but one way in which I can hope to gain
their necessary aid; it is, TO state with
frankness the principles which guide my
conduct, and their application to the pres
ent state Of affairs, well aware that the
efficiency of my labors will, in great
measure, depend on your and their un'
divided 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 Confedera-
ton. ITO FORM A MORE PERFECT UN>
ION" by an ordinance of the people Of
the United States, is the declared pur-
pose of the Constitution. The hand OF
Divine Providence was never more
plainIy visible 10 the affairs of men than
in the framing and the adopting OF that
instrument. 1t is, beyond comparison, the
greatest event in American history; and
indeed is ii not, of all events in modern
times, the most pregnant with conse-
quences for every people Of the earth
The members OF the Convention which
prepared it brough, to their work the ex-
perieuce Of the Confederation, OF their
several States, and of other Republican
Governments, old and new; but they
needed and they obtained a wisdom supe- |
rior to experience. And when tor It's
validity it required the approval oil
people that occupied large part OF
continent and acted separately in many
distinct conventions, what is more wonder
full than that, after earnest contention ana
long discussion, all feelings aud all opin-
ions were ultimately drawn in one way
to its support?
The Constitution to which life was thus
;u,orted contains within itself ample re-
sources for its own preservation. 1t mas
mower to enforce the laws, punish urea
son. and ensure domestic tranquility In
casa of the usurpation of the Government
oco S,o,o nv one man, or an oligarchy, |
it becomes a duty of the United States 10
make good the guaranty to that State OF
a republican form Of government, and so
to maintain the homogeneousness Oh ah'
Does the elapse of time reveal defects
A simple mode of amendment Is proVid-
ad in the Constitution itself. so that Its
conditions can always be made to con-
form to the requirements OF advancing
o;v;l;zot;on. No room is allowed even
for the thought of possibility OF its com
inc to an end. And these powers OF sell
preservation have always been asserted
in their complete integrity by every pa
triotic Chief Magistrate-by JEFFERSON
and jackson, mot less than BY Washington
and Madison. The parting advice OF the
Father of his Country, while yet Presld-
ept. to the people of the United States
was, that "the Constitution, which was the
work of their hands, might be sacrediy
maintained !" aBd the inaugural words
Of President Jefferson held up the pres"
ervation of the General Government, IN
its constitutional vigor, as the 81 eet
anchor of our peace at home and safety
abroad" The Constitution is the work
of the People of the United States" and
:, .bopld be az indestructible as the peo-
pie.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the
Constitution. which had no model in the
mast. should not have fully comprehended
the excellence of their own work. Fresh
from struggle against arbitrary power,
manv patriots suffered from harassing
fears of an absorption of the State Gov
ernments by the General Government,
ond uany from dread that the States
would break away from their orbits.