The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15
PRESEDENT J0HNSON'S FIRST ANNU.
AL MESSAGE.
FettoW- Citizens Of the Scaate and House
Of Representatives.:

y
Of Representatives:
To express gratitude to God, in the
name OF the people, for the preserva-
/ tlon Of the United States, is my first
! duty in addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert TO the death of the Presi-
| dent 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 confidence by entering on the re-
! newed term of the Chief Magistracy to
| which he had been elected; that he
| brought the civil war substantially TO a
close; that his loss was deplOred in all
| parts OF the Union, and that foreign ma
| tlonS have rendered justice to mis- mem
| Ory. His removal cast upon me Il hea-
Vier weight Of cares than ever devOlVed
| upon any one Of his predecessors.
To fulfil my trust / need the support
| and confidence of all who are associated
| with me in the various departments of
Government, and the support and con-
tidence of the people. There is but one
way in which | can hope to gain their
necessary aid; it is, To state with frank
ness the principles which guide my con-
duct, and their application to the pres
ent state Of affairs, well aware that the
efficiency of my labOrs will, in great
measure, depend upon 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 perpet-
ual, are the words of the Confederation
u mi
ordinance of the people of the United
| States, is the declared purpose of the
Constitution. The hand OF Divine Prov
idence was never more plainly visible
in the affairs Of men than in the franz
lngand theadOptingOf that instrument.
1t l., beyond comparison, the greatest
| event in American history; and indeed
Is it not, of all events inm0dern times,
the most pregnant with consequences
| for every part Of the earth?
The members Of the convention which
prepared it brought to their work the
experience Of the confederation, of their
| several States, and Of other republican
governments, Old and new; but they
needed and obtained wisdom superior
to experience. And when for its valid
ity it required the approval OF a people
that occupied large part Of a continent,
| and acted separately in many distinct
/ conventions, what is more wonderful
| than that, after long contention ana ear
nest discussion, all feelings and all opin-
ions 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 preserva-
ton. 1t has power TO enforce the laws,
punish treason, and ensure domestic
tranquility. In case Of usurpatiOn of
| the government of State by one man,
| or an oligarChy, it becomesa Il duty Of the
United States to make good the guar
| antee to that State of republican form
of government, and 50 to maintain the
hOmOgeneOusness Of all. Does the lapse
Of time reveal defects? \ simple mode
of amendment is provided in the Con-
stitutiOn itself, 50 that its conditions
can always be made to conform to the
requirements of advancing civilization.
No room Is allowed even for the
thought of a possibility Of its coming
to an end. And these powers of self
preservation have always been asserted
in their complete integrity by every
patriotic Chief Magistrate-by Jefferson
and Jackson, not less than by Washing
ton and Madison. The parting advice
Of the Father of his country, while vet
President, to the people Of the United
States, was that ''the free Constitution,
which was the work Of their hands,
might be sacredly maintained" and
the inaugural words Of President JEFF
fersOn held up ''the preservation Of the
General Government, in its Constitu-
tional vigor, as the sheet anchor of our
peace at home and safety abroad" The
Constitution is the work of 1.-The people
of the United States,' and it should be
as indeStructible as the people.
1t 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
| arbitrary power, many patriots suffered
| from harassing 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 allay the apprehen-
sion of encroachments by the General
Government. The subjects that come
unquesti0nably within its jurisdiction
| are so numerous, that it must ever nat
urally refuse TO be embarrassed by ques-
tions that lie beyond it. Were ii other
wise, the Executive would sink beneath
the burden; the channels of justice
| would be chOked; legislation would be
obstructed by excess; so that there is Il
greater temptation to exercise some of
the functions of the General Govern
ment through the States than to tres
pass on their rightful sphere. 'The alb
solute acquiescence in the decisions of
| the majority" was. at the beginning of
| the century, enforced by Jefferson "as
the vital principle Of republics" and
the events Of the last four years have
established, we will hope forever, that
there lies no appeal to force.
The maintenance of the Union brings
With thesupport of 1.-THE State govern
ments 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, or to nullify the laws of the L.
ni0n. The largest liberty is to be main
| tanned i'm 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
! Executive Departments no tenure but
| a limited one, and in that manner al
ways retain the powers of redress.
"The sovereignty of theStates' is the
! language of the COnfederacy, and not
| the language of the Constitution. The