The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-12-13
M Il = - a G. IL
or the President of the United
States, to the Two Houses
of Congress-, ut the Conn
mcnccmcut of the
First Session OF the
:}9th Congress.

ftuow.cit.rn, Of the Senate and Nous' 9f Rrp-
reientdGres:
To express gratitude to God, in the name oil
! the People, for the preservation Of the United
States, is my first duty in addressing YOU
Our thoughts next revert TO the death OF the
! ln,c President by an act Of pnrricidal treason.
The grief Of the nation is still fresh; 1t finds
! scmc solncc in the consideration that nc lived
| 10 enjoy the highest proof Of its confidence by
entering on the renewed term Of the Chict
! Muristracy, to which he had been elected that
! he brought the civil war substantially TO
! close; that his loss was deplorcd in all parts
Of the Union; and that foreign nations have
rendered justice to his memory. His removal
| cnst upon me \ heavier weight Of cares than
ever devolvel upon any one Of his predeces-
sor,. TO fulfil my trust need the surpor,
and confidence OF all who arc associated with
me in the various departments Of fGovcrnment,
md the support md confidence Of the people.
There is but one way in WHICH can hope to
, gain their necessary aid; Il is, 20 s'nte with
frank ness the principles which guide my con-
duct. and their application 10 the present state
of affairs, well aware that the efficiency ofmy
lahors will. in n great measure, depend upon
your and their undivided appreciation.
The Union Of the United States Of America
! wns intended by its authors to last ns long as
the States themselves shall last. "Tn& UNION
! SHALL EE PERPETUAL. nre the words OF the
Confederation. "To FORM 4 MORE PERFECT
UNION" bv nm ordinance Of the people Of The
| United States, is the declared purpose OF the
! Constitution. The hand Of Divine Providence
uas never moro plainly visible in the affairs
Of mon than in the framing and the adopting
| I. -. 1onn M 1n
rho creotcst event in American history; nnc.
indeed, is it not, Of all events in modern times,
the most pregnant with consequences Tor every
pcople Of the earth? The members OF the Con-
Yention which prepared it brought 10 their work
Fthc experience Of tho Confederation. ot their
several States, and Of other Republican gov
crnmcnts, old and new; hu, they needed and
! thcy obtainedn wisdom superior to experience.
And when for its validity it required the ap'
proyal Of n people thu, occupied large part
! Of continent and acted separately IN many
distinct conventions, whnt is more wonder.
sul than TINT, after earnest contention ana
long discussion, all feelings and all opinions
were ultimately drawn in one way 10 Its sup
port?
The Constitution To which life was thus inn
nar,cd contains within itself ample resources
/ for its own preservation. 1t has power to en-
for &C the laws, punish treason, anu ensure
domestic tranquility. In case OF the n'nrra'
! ton Of the Government Of State by one man,
or nm oligarchy. it becomes duty OF the un''
ted States to make good the guarantee to 'hat
State Of republican form Of government ami
80 10 maintain the homoccneousness OF ALL
Docs the lapse Of time reveal defects? sim.
pie mode Of amendment is provided in tho
| ,i,o u On n
AWAY. be made 10 conform 10 the require
ments Of advancing civilization. No room IS
allowed even for the thought OF possibility
Of it's coming to an end. And these powers Of
self.prescrvation have always heen asserted
! in their complete integrity by every ph'rloic
Chief Mari.tratc-by jefferson and Jackson,
not less than by Washington and Madison
Tho parting advice Of the Father OF his (oun'
try, while yet President, TO the people Of the
! United States. was. that "the free Con'tlsu-
; ton, which was the work Of their hands,
mich, be sacrcdly maintaincd, and The inah'
rural words Of President Jefferson held up
:. the preservation Of the General Government
in it's constitutional viGor, NJ the sheet anchor
of our peace at home and safety abroad. The
Constitution is the work Of the people Of the
United States" and it should be as iudeStruc-
,ible MS the people.
I, is not strange that tho trainers Of the
Constitution, which had no model in the PAST,
! should not have fully comprchcnded the ex'
cellencc Of their own work. Fresh from
struggle against arbitrary power, many pat
riots suffered from hnrrassing fears OF nm ao'
.orntion of the State Governments by the
General Government, and many from dread
tbot the States would break away from their
orbits, Bu, the very greatness OF our country
sbould allay the apprehension OF encro"ch'
m.nts BIZ the General Government. The sub
;ccts M Tint come unqucstionaby within its j"'
r;sd;ctiou arc so numerous ,hat it must even
no,uro,ly refuse to be embarrassed by qnes'
,;on, @ thu. lie beyond'it. We're it otherwise
w. E,ecu,ive would sink beneath the burden;
The channels Of justice would be choked; leg
;S,ot;on "s t would be obs.ruc.ed BY excess; no
,ba, ',I there is greater temptation to exercise
some soU Of Of tho functions Of the General Govern
men, through the States than to tresp"ss on
their rich,ful sphere. "The absolute aeqh-
e,eence in the decisions Of the majority was
At the beginning Of the century, enforced Sy
Jefferson "as the vital principle Of rePuo-
lies" md the events Of the last four years
have established, we will hope, forever 'tn"'
,b.,. lie. no apreal to force.