Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-06
Message of the President
OF THE
n->-IrI,IcIA 81,
TO THE TWO HOUSES or CONGRESS AT THE CON-
MENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF
THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Fellorr- Citizens of the Senate and House Of Re
,f5

THE
Fellolr- Citizens of the Senate and House Of Re
personalities.
To express gratitude to God, in the name of the
PeoDle for the preservation OF the United States,
my first duty in addressing you. Our thoughts neXl
revert to the death of the late President by an act OF
parTicdal treason. The grief OF the nation Is sun
fresh. il finds some soace in the consideration that
be lived TO enjoy the highest proof OF us confidence
| nv entering on the renewed term of the Chief Ma
! gistracy TO which he had been elected; that he
| brought the civil wal substantially to cose that
his loss was deplored in all parts OF the Union; and
that foreign nations have rendered justice 10 his
memory His removal cast upon me heavier
weight of cares than devolved upon any one oil
his predecessors To fulfil my trust need the sup
mort and confidence OF all who are associated with
me in the various departments of Government and
the support and confidence of the people. There Is
but one way in which | can hope TO gain their ne
cessary aid il is, 10 state with frankness the prin
cples which guide my conduct and their appica-
ton To the present state of affairs well aware that
the efficiency of my labOrs will in 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 Confederation. " 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 Divine Providence
was never IlOle pldluiN NlSibic III dhhlH va
than in the framing and the adopting of that in
strument IL is, beyond comparison, the greatest
event in American history and indeed is 1t not, OF
all events in modern times, the most pregnant with
consequences for every people o. the earth Inc
members of the Convention which prepared It,,
brought to their work the experience OF the Con-
federation of their several States and of other Re-
publican Governments, old and new; but they
needed and they obtained wisdom superior to cN-
perence. And when for its validity it required the
approval of people that occupied large part of
continent and acted separately in many distinct con
yentions what is more wonderful than that, after
earnest contention and long discussion all feelings
and all opinions were ultimately drawn in one way
to its support
The Constitution TO which life was thus impaired
contains within itself ample resources for its own
preservation 1t has power to enforce the laws, pun
jsh treason. and ensure domestic tranquility. In
case of tue usupation of the Government Of state
by one man, or an Oligarchy it becomes the duty OF
the United States to make good tile guarantee 10
that State of republican form OF government, and
so to maintain the hOmOgeneOusnesS OF all. Does
the lapse of time reveal defects simple mode Of
amendment is provided in the Constitution ITSELF so
that its conditions can always be made to conform
to the requirements of advancing civilization. No
room is allowed even for the thought of possibility
of its coming to an end. And these powers OF self
preservation have always been asserted in their
pete integrity by every patriotic Chief Magstrate-
by Jefferson and Jackson not less than by Washing
ton and Madison. The parting advice OF the Father
of his Country, while yet President, to the people
of the United States was, that the free ConStltn-
tion, which was the work of their hands, might be
sacredly maintained" and the inaugural words OF
President Jefferson held up the preservation OF the
General Government, in its constitutional vgOr, as
the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety
abroad" The Constitution is the work of " the Pco-
pie of the United States and 1t should be as indie
structible as the people.
Ii is not strange that the trainers of the Constltu-
ton which had no model in the past, should not
have fully cOmprehended the excellence OF their own
work Fresh from a struggle against arbitrary power,
many patriots suffered from harrassng fears of an
absorption of the State Governments by the General
Government and many from dread that the States
would break away from their orbits But The very
greatness of our country should aay the appfehen-
sion of encrOachments by the General Government.
The subjects that come unquestlonaDy WITHIN ITS
jurisdiction numerous that 1t must ever hatu-
rally refuse To be embarrassed by questions that lie
hevOnd IT, Were it otherwise the Executive would
sink beneath the burden; the channels OF justice
would be choked; legislation would beObstrncted
bv excess: so that there is greater temptation 10
exercise some of the functions of the General Gov
eminent through the States than to trespass on their
riphtful sphere. 1.-The absolute acqulescence IN the
decisions of the majority was, at the beginning of
the century, enforced by Jefferson las the vital pin
chile of republics" and the events OF the last four
wears have established, will hope forever, that
there lies no appeal TO force.
The maintenance of the Union brings with il "the
support of the State governments in all their rights
but it is not one of the rights of any State govern
ment to renounce its own place in the Union, to
nullify the laws of the Union. The largest liberty
is to be maintained in the discussion OF the acts OF
the Federal Government; but there is no appeal
from its laws, except TO the various branches OF
that Government itself or to the people who grant
to the members of the Legislative and OF the In
ecutve Departments no tenure but limited one,
and in that manner always retain the powers OF re-
dress
1.-THE sovereignty of the States is the language
of the Coniederacy, and not the language OF the
Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic
words; The Constitution, and the laws OF the
United States which shall be made in pursuance
thereof and all treaties made or which shall be
made under the authority OF the United States, shall
be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in
every State shall be bound thereby anything IN the
constitution or laws of any State to the contrary
Notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government of the United States is
a limited government and so is every State gov
ernment limited government. With us, this idea
of limitation spreads through every form OF admin
istraOn general, State and municipal, and rests on
the great distinguishing principle OF the recognition
of the rights of man. The ancient republics an
serbed the individual in the State prescribed his re-
ligion, and controlled his activity. The American
system rests on the assertion of the equal right OF
every man to life liberty and the pursuit of happ
ness TO freedom of conscience, to the culture and
exercise of all his faculties AS consequence, tie
State Government is limited, As to the General Gov
eminent in the interest of Union, as to the indivd
ua citizen in the interest OF freedom.
States with proper limitations OF power are eS-
sental 10 the existence of the Constitution OF the
United States AT the very commencement when
we assumed place among the Powers OF the earth
the Declaration of independence was adopted lay
States; so also were the Articles OF Considerations
and when 1.-The People of the United States ordLn-
-I,I th.. tnn.fi INT NOs ~ a
sent of the.Sates one by one, which gave 1t vital-
ty. In the event. too, OF any amendment to the
Constitutions the proposition of Congress needs the
confirmation OF States. Without States one great
branch of the legislative government would be want
ing And if we look beyond the letter OF the Con-
stituton to the characterof our country its capacity
for cOmprehending within its jurisdiction vast CON
tinenta empire is due TO the system OF States The
best security for the perpetual existence OF the
States is the supreme authority OF the Constltu-
ton of the United States. The perpetuty OF the
Constitution brings with it the perpetuty OF the
States their mutual relation makes Us what we are,
and in our political system their conneXiOn Is lhdiS
soluble. The whole cannot exist without the parts
nor the parts without the whole 80 long as the 'on-
sttutiOn of the United States endures the states Will
endure; the destruction of the one is the destruc
ton of the other the preservation oil the one - the
preservation of the other.
have thus explained my views OF the mutual re-.
lations of the Constitution and the States because
they unfold the principles on which have sought to
solve the mOmentous questions and overcome the APP
palling difficulties that met me at the very COM
mencement of my administration. 1t has been my
steadfast object 10 escape from the sway of mOnen
tarv passions and 10 derive n healing policy from
the fundamental and mchanging principles OF the
Constitution.
\ found the States suffering from the effects of
Ia civil war; Resistance to the General Government
appeared TO have exhausted itself The United
States had recovered possession of their forts and
arsenalS; and their armies were in the occupation
of every State which had attempted to secede.-
Whether the territory within the limits OF those
States should be held as conquered territory, under
military authority emanating from the President as
the head of the army, was the first question that pre-
sented itself for decision.
Now military governments, established for an in
definite period would have offered no security Tor
the early suppression of discomfort; would have d.
vided the people into the vanquishers and the van
quished; and would have envenomed hatred, rather
than have restored affection. Once established, no
precise limit 10 their continuance conceivable.
They would have OccasOned an incaculable and
eXhausting expense. Peaceful emigration TO and
from that portion of the country is one of the best
means that can he thought of for the restoration oil
harmony; and that emigration would have been
prevented; for what emigrant from abroad, what
industrious citizen at home would place himself
willingly under military rule The chief persons
who would have followed in the train OF the army