Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
FtlOw- Citisens Of tie Senate and m

Houss Of Representatives:
To express gratitude to God, in the name Of the
People, for the preservation Of the United States Is
my frst duty In addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert to the death Of the late President by
act Of parricidal treason. The grief Of the nation
is still fresh it finds some solace in the consdera-
ton that he lived TO enjoy the highest proof Of its
onsdence by entering on the renewed term Of the
Chief Aagistraey to which he had been elected I;
that he brought the civil war substantially to a
close that his loss deplored in all parts 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 devolved upon
any one OF his predecessors. To fulfil my trust
need the support and confidence Of all who are as
sociated with in the various departments Of Gov
ernment and the support and confidence OF the peo-
ple There is but one way in which can hope to gain
their necessary aid It is TO state with fraukness
the principles which guide my conduct and their
application To the present state Of affairs well aware
that the efficiency of my labors will, in great
measure, depend on your and their undivided ap~
probation.
The Union Of the United States Of America was
intended by its authors TO last long the States
themselves shall last. "THE UsioS SHALL BE PER-
PETUAL," are the words of the Confederation. sTo
FORM MORE PERFECT USIos," by an ordinance Of
the people of the United States, is the declared
purpose Of the Constitution. The hand Of Divine
Providence was never more plainly visible in 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 preg
nant with consequences TO every people on earth
The members Of the Convention which prepared it,
brought to their work the experience Of the Con-
federation, of their several States, and Of other
Republican Governments, old and new; but they
needed aud they obtained wisdom superior TO en-
pefience. And when for its validity it required the
approval Of people that occupied large part Of a
continent and acted separately in many distinct
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? o.
The Constitution to which life was thus impaired
contains within itself ample resources for its own
preservation. 1t has the power 20 enforce the
laws, punish treason, and ensure domestic tranquil
ty. In case of the usurpatiou Of the Government
of State by one man, or I'm oligarchy, it becomes
duty Of the United States to make good the giar-
antee 10 that State of republican form Of govern
neut, and to maintain the bomogeneousness of all.
Does the lapse of time reveal defects7 A simple
mode Of amendment is provided in the Constitution
ITSELF that its conditions always be made TO
conform to the requirements of advancing cviZa-
ton No room is allowed even for the thought of a
possibility OF its coming to an end And these
powcrs Of selfpreservation have always been
ted in their complete integrity by every patriotic
Chief Magistrate-by Jefferson and jackson, not
less than by Washington and Madison. The part
ing advice Of the Father of his Country, while yet
President to the people of the United States was,
that the "free Constitution, which was the WORK OF
their hands, might te sacredly maintained; !" and
the inaugural words Of President jefferson held up
"the preservation of the General Government, in
its constitutional vigor, the sheet anchor of our
peace at home and safety abroad" The Constitu-
tion is the work of 'the People of the United
ssates," and it should be as indestructible as the
people.
1t is not strange that the trainers of the Consti-
tuition, which had no model in the past, should not
have fully conprehended the excellence of their
own work. Fresh from a struggle against arbi-
tray power, many patriots suffered from harassng
fears of 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 alay
the apprehension of encroachments by the General
Government. The subjects that come unqueston,
ably within its jurisdiction are numerous, that il
must ever naturally refuse to be embarrassed by
questions that lie beyond IT, We're it otherwise
the Executive would sink beneath the burden; the
channels of justice would be choked; Legislation
would he obstructed by excess; so that there is
gvcates temptation TO exercise some Of the functions
ofthe General Government through the States thar
trespass their rightful sphere "The absolute
acquiescence in the decisions Of the majority" was
at the beginning Of the century, enforced by JET
ferson "as the vital principle Of republics" are
the events Of the last four years have established
we will hope forever that there lies no appeal Il
force.
The maintenance of the Union brings with i
''the support of the State Governments in all the
rights" but j: is not of the rights Of an
SNaNA a.. IL. :.
the Union, or to nullify the laws Of the Union.-
The largest liberty is TO be maintained in the dis
cussiOn of the acts Of the Federal Government; bu
u ere is appeal from its laws except to the vari
Gus branches Of the Government itself, or to tn
people who grant 10 the members of the Legisla
tive and Of the Executive Departments no tenur,
but limited one, and in that manner always re
tain the powers Of redress
"Ths sovereignty of the States" is the languag
of the Confederacy, and not the language Of th
! Constitution. This latter contains the emphati
words; 'The Constitution, and the laws of tn
United States which shall be made in pursuanc
thereof, and all treaties made or which shall b
made under the authority of the United States
shall be the supreme law of the land and th
judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any
thing in the constitution laws of any state to th
contrary notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government Of the United State
is limited government; and sosis every Stat
government limited government. With US, thi
idea Of Limitation spreads through every form {
administration, general, State, and municipal, An
rests on the great distinguishing principle of tn
recognition Of the rights of man. The ancient n
publcs absorbed the individual in the State, pr,
scribcd his religion, and controlled his activity
The American system rests on the assertion Of n
equal right Of every man TO life, liberty, and ii
pursuit of happiness; to freedom of conscience,