Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-12-15
The Presidents Messag e.


The first Message of President johnson
sent into both Houses Of Congress on the
18th instant, elicits praises from almost all
quarters. With the Republican Union
party it is document which gives uualloy-
ed pleasure. The New York Tribune. a
journal independent enough to find Iauit
when'and where i. pleases.and which scat
tiers its praises in the same free manner.
endorses it warmly, save the manner OF
handling the question of negro suffrage.
I The reasoning on this point, is not. so
thinks the Tribune, correct and satisfacto-
nv. But npon the whole, President John
son has been singularly fortunate in having
opinions upon the diverse questions Of the
day, so nearly in harmony with those OF
the whole country. This strange coinci-
politics of this nation does not arise from
studied attempt of the President to please
all, by having no opinions of his own. and
hence filling his first message to hepcople
and to Congress. with meaningless plati
tndcs. Not atall. President johnson has
opinions. aud has the iirmness to express
them. He does not like the "Old Public
Functionary" utter such nonsense as to
declare that a STAT has no right to Sc
ecde and yet the Constitution confcrs no
power on Congress or the Executive, te
prevent State from going out of the
Union at its pleasure" Or to quote a
paragraph from Mr.. Buchanan December
Message of 1850;
E" The question fairly stated is: Has the
Constitution delegated to Congress the
power to cocrce n State into submission
which is attempting to withdraw, or has
actually Withdrawn from the Contederacy'
If answered in the affirmative, il must be
on the principle that the power has been
conferred upon Congress to declare and
make war against State. After much
serious reflection have arrived at the con
elnsion that 10 such power has been dele
gated 10 Congress. or to any other depart
ment of the Federal Government
Not 50 talks Andrew johnson, in his
Message Of the other day. He is not
guilty of hesi;ancy. when INDIGESTION in
wolves the ruin Of thousands. and the dis
order Of the Whole political fabric, No
uncertain sound issues from his Presiden
tial trumpet, Int on the contrary lie finds
ample power i'll the Constitution to insure
its preservation. Let US quote \ paragraph
from this State paper, 50 that cur readers
can notice the fundamental differences cx
is;ins brtween the views of both these
men. One was President at the inception
Of treason. and the other holding the same
high position at its death and during its
burial
The Constitution SAYS President
/ johnson. ITO which life was inpartPd con
+ tains within itself GuEfe resources for It's
own preservation. lihas pawer to enforce
+ the laws, punish treason, aud to insure do
nestle tranquility. In ease Of the uSGTpa-
ton of the government Of a State lay one
man. or an oligarchy it becomes duty OF
/ the United States 10 make good the guar
antce to that State Of a republican form OF
government, aud so to maintain the homo
renousncss of all. And
these powers of self-preservation have al
ways been asserted III their complete in
tcgrity by every pdirloi'c CAiei MaSis-
tratc.
1t is difficult to understand how those
presses that approved Mr.. Buchanan
doctrine of no poorer IN he Constitution for
self-prcservation. can equally endorse
President Johnson's better and more patri-
otto doctrine of "Gmple resources" only
on the hypothesis OF ''ehange of base
But our fast Democratic journals. those
that have been such swift friends of An
DIV Johnson" must see that the two meH
hold to views Numerically the opposite
But we earcnot by what processes Of reas
oniug, nor by the discarding of little o.
) nuch of old opinions and prcjudices, that
such common ground is now reached, So
that all are equally honest and true in thcil
estimate of the new doctrine and also o
the man. The Union. i. must and il
r siih'i w PlCfSiNt G' l. d s'itt"icHt WHICH
has received new force, and which by til,
events Of the past few years has becomc
the ruling principle of all right thinkn.
people. But we took up our pen only e
,yite our readers to read. and to re-perust
| this able state paper. No words of GU
own in its favor will suffice, for its careful
study is a duty which no one should thinl
of putting off.
We append some of the notices of TIN
press
No document discussing so many di
verse questions Of grave moment and seri
onsly affecting so many vital interests a
tie first Annual Message of Presiden
johnson could reasonably he expected Il
accord in every respect with the eonyic
, tions or prepossessions of a majority of it
/ readers vet We doubt whether any forme
: Message has, on the whole, contained 81
/ much that Will he generally and Justly ap
| proved. with so little that will or SHOULD
4 provoke dissent. 1t il State paper o
: signal ability and of unusual frankness
, dealing unreseryedly With every grea
question of internal or international poll
, cy. and calculated to increase the hold o
; it author on the regard and confidence o
, the American People Tr1bUae.
The first official communication mad
by President johnson to Congress and thu
country is concise, plain and intelligcn
exposition OF the affairs of the nation.
is practical in Its character to an adnira