The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-20
4resioent goBnsol's 1flessaqe.


revert to the death of the late president by an act
parricdal treason. The grief of the nation is sti
resh but It hnds some soace in consideration that
lived to ENJOY tie highest proof of its confidence
entering on the renewed term of the chief magstrac7
to which be had been elected that he brought the
war substantially to close; that his loss was depore
III all parts OF the Union and that foreign nations hay
rendered justice to his memory His removal cast upo
\ me heavier weight of cares than ever deyolyed o
any one OF his predecessors To fulfill nv trust nee
tne support and confidence of all who are associate
with me in the various departments of the government
and the support and confidence Of the people Their
IS out one way in which hope to gain their neces
saIy aid. 1t Is to state with frankness the principle
which guide my conduct and their application to tht
present state of affairs, well that the efieenc
OF my labors will, in great measure, depend on YOU
and their undivided appreciation
The Union of the United States of America wa
intended by its authors to last long as the State
themselves should last "Tbe Union shall be perpet
ua /" are the words of the constitution. To form {
perfect union by ordinance of the people Of the
United States is the declared purpose Of the constitu
tion The hand Of Divine Providence was never more
plainly visible in the affairs Of men than in the fanine
and the adopting of that instrument It is havonf
comparison, the greatest event in American history
and indeed is OF all events in modern times the mos
pregnant with consequences for every peope of the
earth. The members of the convention which nrn
pared brought to their work the experience of the
consideration of their several States and of other re-
publican governments, old and new; but they needed
and they obtained a wisdom superior to experience.
and when for its validity it required the approval of
people that occupied large part of a continent and
acted separately in many distinct conventions
What il more wonderful than that after earnest
continuation and long DURATION all feelings and all
opinion 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 pre-
scryaton 1t has power to enforce laws punish treason
and insure domestic tranquility In case of the usur-
patton OF the government Of State bv one man or an
oligarchy it becomes duty of the United States to
make good the guarantee to that State of republican
form OF government, and so to maintain the homogene-
BUSINESS OF all Does the lapse of time reveal defects
simple mode of amendment is provided in the consti
uon ITSELF so that its condition can always be made to
conform to the requirements Of advancing civilization
NO room is allowed even for the thought of posi-
DY OF It's coming to an end and these powers Of self
preservation have always been asserted in their com
pete integrity by every patriotic chief magistrate by
jefferson and jackson, not less than by WASHINGTON
and Madison The parting advice of the father of his
country while yet president to the people of the Uni
ted States was that the free constitution which was the
work of their hands might be sacredly n1aintainea
ind the inaugural words of president Jefferson held up
hc preservation Of the general government in its con
titutiona ygor the sheet anchor of our peace at
iome and safety abroad. The constitution is the work
IF the people Of the United States and it should be as
as the people
1t is not strange that the trainers of the constitution
which had no model in the past should not have ful7
the excellence of their own work Fresh
rom struggle against arbitrary power many patriots
suffered from haraSsing fears of absorption of the
State governments by the general government, and
many from dread that the States would break away
rom their orbits but the greatness of our country
should alay the apprehension of encroachments by the
general government. Matters within its jurisdiction
re numerous that il must naturally refuse to
'e embarrassed by questions that lie beyond it, Eero
otherwise, The executive would sink beneath the
burden; the channels of justice would be choked legs-
alton would be obstructed by excess so that there is
temptation to exercise some of the functions of
he general government through the States, than to
respaSs their rightfu sphere. The absolute acqu
sceuCe in the decisions of the majority was at the
egnning Of the century, enforced by Jefferson as the
ital principle OF republics and the of the last
our years have established, will hope forever that
here lies appeal to force The maintenance of the
Jnion brings with it the support of the State govern
lens in all their rights but it is not of the rights
any State government to renounce its own place in
he Union, or to nullify the laws of the Union The
irgest liberty is be maintained in the discussion Of
he acts of the federal government but there is no
ppea from its laws except to the various branches of
bat government ITSELF the people who grant to the
lembers of the legislature and of the executive de-
artments no tenure but limited one, and in that
manner always retain the powers of redress. The
overegnty OF the States is the language of the con-
ederacy, and not the language of the constitution.
he latter contains emphatic word-the constitution of
he laws of the United States; which shall be made in
ursuRnce thereof and all treaties made which shall
made under the authority Of the United States, shall
G the supreme law of the land, and the Judges in
very State shall be bound thereby anything in the
onstuton Of any State to the contrary notwithstand
~. Certainly the government Of the United States is
limited government, and so is every sort of govern
ent a limited government with US. This idea of
imitation speaks through every form of administration
dera State and municipal, and rests on the great
stinguishing principle of the recognition of the rights
man. The ancient republics absorbed authority. 4
OF the constitution Of the United States and the PERI
etuity Of the States Their mutual relation makes US
hat We are, and in political system their connec-
III il indissoluble. The whole cannot exist without
parts, the parts without the whole So long as
e constitution of the United States endures, the
mercan system rests the assertion Of the equal
yht pf every to life liberty and the pursuit of
ppihess to freedom Of conscience to the culture and
erclse of all his faculties As a consequence the
ate government is limited to the general govern
ent in the interest," of union, to the individual
zen in the interests of freedom States witHproper
ntaon of power, are essential to the existence of
e constitution of the United States. At the very
luencemcnt, when we assumed place among the r
weTs of the earth, the declaration of independence
Is adopted by the States all the articles Of
and when the people Of the United c
aes ordained and established the constitution
& assent of the States one by one, which gave it
ality in the event Of any amendment to the consttu
m, The proposition of congress needs the confrma t
IN Of States Without States, one great branch of t
G legislative government would be wanting, and if il
look beyond the letter of the constitution to the e
aracter of our country its capacity for comprehend
within its jurisdiction most continental empire, is d
I'd the system of the States the best security for
perpetual existence of the States is the supreme
thorty of the constitution of the United States The
rpetuity of the constitution brings with it the pepe
ty of the States Their mutual relation makes US t.
at we are, and in political system their connec-
n is indissolube The whole cannot exist without e
parts nor parts without the whole. So long the e
Institution Of the United States endures the States
L endure The destruction of the is the des- Il
ction of the oher and the preservation of the one