The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-06
Presidents Message
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of tbs United States of Americd


of the United States of america
To express gratitude to God, IN the
name of the people, for the preservation
of the United States, is my first duty IN
addressing YOU. Our thoughts next re
vert to the death of the late President
by the hand of parricidal treason. The
grief of the nation is still fresh; it finds
some solace in the consideration that ne
lived to ENJOY the highest proof of its
confidence by entering on the renewed
term of the Chief Magistrscy, to which
he had Just been elected; that he brought
the civil war substantially to close;
that his loss was deplored in all parts Of
the Union, and that foreign nations have
rendered jnstic. 20 his memory. His re-
moval cast upon me heavier weight %
cares than ever devolved upon any one
of his predecessors To fulfil my trust
need the support and confidence OF ali
who are associated with me III tee var,
Gus departments of the government, anu
the support and confidence OF the Peo-
ME. There is but one way IN winch L
can hope to gain their necessary aid; IL is
70 state with frankness the principles
which guide my conduct, and their APP
plicatien to the present state OF affairs.
we'll aware that the efficiency OF my la
bors will, in great measure, depend on
YOUR aid and undivided appreciation
The Union of the United States OF
America was intended 10y its authors to
last as long as the States themselves
shall last. "Tbe Union shall be perpetu-
al" are the words of the Confederation
To form more perfect Union" by an
ordinance of the United States, is the
declared purpose of the Constitution
The hand OF Divine providence was new
er more plainly visible i'll the affairs OF
men than in the framing aud adopting
of that instrument: II is, beyond COM
paIison, the greatest event in American
history; and indeed, is it not, OF all
events in modern times, the most preg-
nant with consequences tor every people
of the earth2 The members of the Con-
ventiOn which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience of the Conted-
GRAFTON, of their several States, and OF
other Republican Governments, old and
new; but they needed and they obtain
ed wisdom superior To experience. And
when for its validity it required the APP
prevail of people that occupied large
part of continent and acted separately
in many distinct conventions, what IS
more wonderful than that, after
earnest contention and long discussion,
all feelings aud all opinions were uitl-
mately drawn 10 one way to its support
The Constitution TO which life was
thus impaired contains within itself am
pie resources for it's own preservation
1t has power TO enforce the laws, punish
treason, and insure domestic tranquility.
In case of the usurpatiOn of the Govern
ment of State by one man, or an oil
garchy, it becomes q duty of the United
States to make good the guarantee to
that State Of republican fern ofgov-
ernment, and so to maintain the homo
geneousuess of all Does the lapse OF
time reveal defectsi A simple mode OF
amendment is provided in the Constitu'
ton itself so that its conditions can al
ways be made TO conform to the require
ments of advancing civilization. No
room is allowed even for the thought Of
a possibility of its coming to IN end
And these powers of self preservation
have always been asserted in their com-
plete integrity by every patriotic Chief
Magistrate-by Jefferson and Jackson,
not less than by Washington and Madi-
son. The parting advice of the Father
of his Country, while yet President, to
the people OF the United States, WAS. that
1.-THE free Constitution which was the
work Of their hands, might be sacredly
maintained and the inaugural words OF
President Jefferson held up 1.-THE preser-
walton of the General Government i'll its
constitutional vigor as the sheet anchor
ofour 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 rs the PEG
pie.
1t is not strange that the trainers OF the
Constitution, which had no model in the
past, should not have fully comprehend
ed the excellence OF their own work
Fresh from a struggle against arbitrary
power, many patriots suffered from har
assing 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
shorld allay the apprehension ofencroach-
ments by tie General Government -
The subjects that come unqucstionably
Nllulll It's tiO ~
that il must ever naturally refuse To bo
embarrassed by questions that lie beyond
it. Were it otherwise, the Executive
would sink beneath the burden. The
channels of Justice would &c choked;
legislation would be INSTRUCTED by eY-
cess; So that there is a greater tempta-
ton 10 exercise some of the functions of
the General Government through the
States than to trespass on their righttul
sphere. THE absolute acQuiesence in the
decision of the majority" was, at the be-
2innl ne of tho century, enforcediby Jeffcr-
son las 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 it 1.-The support of 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 theUnion.
The largest liberty is to be maintained in
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 PEG
pie, who grant TO the members of the
Legislature and Executive Departments
no tenure but limited one, and in that
he Z.