The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeIIolo citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representat


dutyin addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert to tho death of oul late
! President BY an act of parricidal trea-
son. The grief of the nation is still
fresh, it finds some soIace in the con-
sideration that he lived TO onioy the
highest proofof its confidence by enter.
ing on the renewed term of tho Chief
Magistracy, to which ho had been
elected; that he brought the civil war
substantially to a close; that his loss
was deplored in all parts ofthe Union;
and that foreign nations have rendered
Justice to his memory. His removal
cast upon me heavier weight of cares
than over deyolved upon any ono Of
his predecessors To fulfill my trust
need tho support and confidence of all
who are associated with me in tho va,
rious departments of Government, and
tho 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 frankness the prin.
ciplcs which guido my conduct. and
their application to the present state
of affairs, well aware that tho efficien-
cy Of my labors will, in great meas.
urc, depend on your and their undivi.
ded 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' arc the words OF the Confed-
GRAFTON. TO FORM A MORE PERFECT
UNION" by an ordinance ofthe people
OF tho United States, is the declared
purpose of the Constitution. The
hand of Divine Providence was never
moro plainly visible in the affairs of
mon than in the framing and adopting
Of that instrument. 1t is, beyond
comparison, the greatest event in
American history; and indeed is it
not, Of all events in modern times, the
most pregnant with fconsequnces for
every people Of tho earth? The mem.
bers OF tho Convention which prepared
it, brought to their work the expert.
ence OF tho Confederation, of their
several States, and of other Republi.
can Governments, old and new; but
they needed and they obtained wis.
dom superior to experience. And
when for its validity it required the
approval of people that occupied n
large part Of a continent and acted
separately in many distinct conven.
tions, what is moro wonderful than
that, after earnest contention and long
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 pre-.
sorvation. 1t has power to enforce
tho laws, punish treason, and en-.
sure domestic tranquility. In case
OF tho usurpation of the Govern
ment Of State by one man, or an
oligarchy, it becomes duty of the
United States to make good the guar
antco to that State of o republican
form OF government, and so to main.
tain the homogonoousness of ALL
Does tho lapse Of time reveal detectsY
A simple mode of amendment is pro.
vided in the Constitution itself so that
its conditions can always be made to
conform to the requirements of advan.
cling civilization. No room is allowed
even tor the thought OF q possibility
OF its coming to an end. And these
powers of sclf.presorvation have al.
ways been asserted in their complete
integrity by every patriotic Chct
Magistrate-by Jefferson and jackson,
not less than by Washington and Mad.
ison, The parting advice of the Fa.
thor of his Country, while yot Presi.
dent, to The people Of the United
States, was, that "the free Constltu.
tion, which was the work of their
hands, might be sacrcdIy maintained;"
and the inaugural words of President
Jefferson held up "tho preservation Of
tho General Government, in its con.
stltutional vigor, as tho sheet anchor
OF our peace at home and safety
abroad The Constitution is the
work of "tho People of tho United
States" and it should bo rs indistruct.
ablo as the people.
1t is not strange tina! the trainers
Of tho Constitution, which had no
model in tho past, should not have full.
Iy comprehcnded tho excellence Of
lhoir own work. Fresh IRON q strug.
slo against arbitrary power, r,any pa.
riots suffered from han RAISING fears of
IN absorption of the State Govern.
nonts by tho General Government,
md many from dread that the States
would break away from their orbits
hut tho very greatness of our country
should allay the apprehension of on.
'roachments by the General Govern.
mont. The subjects that como unques.
'ionably within its jurisdiction are so
humorous, that it must ever natural.
y refuse to be embarrassed by cues.
ions that lilo beyond II. Were it 9th.
'rwise, the Executive would sink be.
leath tho burden; tho channels of jus.
ice would be choked; Legislation
would be obstructed by excess; so that
here is greater temptation to exer.
,lso omeOfthe functions ofthe General
government through the States than to
resspass on their rightfhl sphere. "The
lbsolutc acquicsccnco in the decisions of
ho majority" was, at tho beginning of
he century, enforced by Jefferson "as
hO vital principle of republics" and
ho events Of the last four years have
,stablishod, wO will honn fornver TINT