Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-12-14

tnlte0 STATES I'D tne wv % HOUSES
Of Congress, at the Commence
ment Of the First Session Of the
Thirty-ninth Congress.
FELLOW CITIZENS es THE SENATE AND HOUSE or
RErRKsrSrArIyEs:
To express. gratitude 10 God, in the name of the
people. for the preservation of the United States
is nv first duty in addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert to the death of the late President bv an
act of parricida treason The grief of the m ton
is still fresh; it finds solacc in the consider
alton that he lived 10 enjoy the highest proof Of its
confidence by entering on the renew ed term OF the
Chief Magstracy. to which he had been elected;
that he brought the civil war substantially to a
close; that his loss dcporcd in all parts Of the
Union; and that foreign nations have rendered JUS.
tice to his memory. His removal cast upon me p
heavier weight of cares than ever devolved upon
anv one Of his predecessors. To fulfill nv trust l
need the support aud confidence of all who are as.
sociated with me in the various departments of
Government, and the support and confidence of the
people. There is but one way in which can bope
gain their necessary aid; it Is, to state with frank
ness 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 undivid-
ed appreciation.
The Union of the United States Of America was
intended by its authors to remain long as the
States themselves shall last. 1.-THE Union shall
be perpetual" the words of the Confeder
''To form a more perfect Union," by an ordinance
Of the people of the United States, is the declared
purpose of the Constitution. The hand Of Divine
Providence never more plainly visible in the
affairs Of men, than in the framing and The adop.
ton Of that instrument. II is, beyond comparison,
the greatest event in American history, and indeed
is it not, OF all events in modern times, the most
pregnant with consequences for every people OF the
earth7 The members of the Convention which
prepared it brought to their work the experience
OF the Confederation, Of their several States, and
Of other Republican Governments, old and W.
But they needed and they obtained n wisdom
perier to experience. And when for ts validity it
required the approval Of people that occupied a
large part OF continent, and acted separately in
many distinct Conventions, what is more wonder
ful than that, after earnest contention and long
discussion. all feelings and all opinions ult
m3tely drawn IL one way to its support!
The Constitution 10 which life was thus impart
cd contains within itself ample resources for its own
preservation. 1t has power to enforce the laws,
punish treason. and insure domestic tranquility
In of the usurpation Of the Government OF
State by ono man, or an oliSarchy, it becomes a
duty Of the United States to make good the guar
snee to that State of republican form of govern
ment, and So to maintain the homoSencousncss OF
all. Docs the lapse Of time reveal dcfectsf A
simple mode of amendment is provided in the Con
s,iution ITSELF that its conditions can always be
made TO conform TO the requirements of advancing
civilization. No room is allowed even for the
thought Of possibility Of its coming to end
And these powers of self prcscrv alton have always
been asserted in their complete integrity by every
patriotic Chief Magistrate-.y Jefferson and Jack
son, not less than by Washington and Madison
The parting advice OF the Father of his Country,
while yet President. to the people of the United
States was, that "thc free Constitution, which
the work Of their hands, might be sacredy -r-an
tained;" and the inaugural words of Presdc.!l JEFF
ferson held up "thc preservation Of the General
Government, in its constitutional vigor, rs the
sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety
abroad" The Constitution is the work of "the
People of the United Statcs,' and il should be as
indesiructible as the people.
IL is not strange that the trainers OF the Con-
sttution, which had no model in the past. should
not have fully comprchenned the excellence of
their own work. Fresh from struggle against
arbitrary power. many patriots suffered from har
asspg fears of an absorption of the State Govern
mcnts BY the general Government, land many from
the dread that the States would break away from
their orbits. But the very greatness Of our coun
try should allay the apprehension oi encroachmrnts
10y the general Government. The subjects that
come unquestionably within it's jurisdiction SO
numerous, that it must ever naturally refuse to be
embarrassed BY questions that lie beyond it
Were il otherwise, the Executive would sink be-
rsath the burden; the channels Of justice would be
choked; legislation would be obstructed by excess;
90 that there is greater temptation to exercise
some of the functions Of the general Government
through the States than to tresPass their right
full sphere. Tho absolute acquicsencc in the de-
csions OF the majority" was, at the beginning OF
the century, enforced by Jefferson "as the vital
principle of Republics" and the events Of the last
four years have established, viii hope forev
that there lies no appeal to force.
The maintenance Of the Union brings with it
"the support Of the State Governments in all their
rights" but is not one Of the rights OF any State
Government to renouncc its swn place in the
Union, or to nulfy the laws of the Union. The
largest liberty is to be maintained in the discussion
Of the acts OF the Federal Governments; but there
is no appeal from its laws, except to the various
branches of tha. Government itself. or to the peo
pie, who grant the members OF the Legislative and
Of the Executive Departments no tenure but a linn
tied one, and in that manner alwaJs retain the
powers OF redress.
The sovereignty OF the States" Is tho language
OF the Confedcracy, and not tho language of the
Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic
words: "Thc Constitution, and the laws of the
United States which shall be made in pursuance
thereof, and all treaties made or which shall be
made under the authority of the United States,
es in every State shall be bound thereby, anything
in the constitution or laws OF any State TO the con-
trary notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government Of the United States is
a limited government; and so IS every State gov
crnment a limited government With us, this
idea Of limitation spreads through everv form OF
administration, general, state and municipal, and
rests on the great distinguishing principle of the
recognition ofthe right. of man. The ancient re-
pubcs absorbed the individual in the State, pres
cribcd his religion, and controlled his activity
The American system rests on the assertion Of the
equal rights OF every man to life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness; to freedom Of conscience, to
the culture and exercise OF all his faculties As n
consequence, the State government 10 limited, as
to the general Government in the interest of
Union, as to the Individual citizen in the interest
Of freedom.
States, with proper limitations Of power, are es
sontial to the existence Of the Constitution OF tho
United States. At the very commencement, when
We assumed place among the Powers OF the earth,
the Declaration Of Independence was adopted by
States; so also were the Articles OF Confederation;
and when "the People Of the United States" Or
dained and established the Constitution it the
assent Of the States, one by one, which gave it vi
tality In the event, too. of any amendment to
the Constitution, the propo; ion OF Congress needs
the confirmation of the States. Without States,
one great branch Of the legislative Government
would be wanting. And, il we look beyond the
letter of the Constitution, to the character of our
couatry its capacity for comprehending within its
jurisdiction vast continental empire is due to the
system OF States. The best security Tor the per.
petual existence of the States, is the supreme au-
thority" Of the Constitution of the United States
The DerDetuity of the Constitution brings with il