Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To express gratitude to God, in tho name oil
the People, for tle preservation Il the United
States Is my first duty in addressing ycu Oar
thoughts next revert 10 he death IT The late
President by an &c; Of parricidal treason. The
grsl Of the Nation is sill fresh it lin - some
to ace the consideration that be lived to enjoy
the hiGhesl proof Of is confidence BY entering
on the renewed term Of the Chief Magistracy, to
which he had been elected that he brought the
evil war substantially to a close that his loss
was deplored IN all parts Of the Union and
,uat foreign nations have rendered justice " his
memory. Ills removal cast upon me a heavier
weight of cares than ever dsyolycd upon any 0ne
VI bis predecessors. To fluff my rust ! need
The support and ini1ence Of all who are aasJcl-
atet wltn me 10 the various departmentg of Coy
eramen', and the support and confidence Of dc
people. There is tut ono way ia hicl J van
nope to gain th ir necessary aldj it's, TO state
with rAlknesa, The principles which guide my
cJDiuct,gud their application tl the prasCn, state
of anlrs, well a@a1e tia, The efficiency oi my la
bore vii, in lreat measure, depaad upon your
aad their uniIyiiei APPRECIATION.
The Union u the United States Of America
wl, intended Ny it4 authors to last as long as
tle States themselves shall las'. lHg UNION
SHALL BR rERPnUAL are the words Of the Con.
FED ration. " 10 TORN MORE PERFECT MON "
by an ordinance Of the people Of toe United
sAtes, Is the declared purpose Of the COnstilu-
ton. The band Of Divine Providence wa4 ucger
m9le plainly visible in the affairs OF men than
a 'he framing and adopting Of that instrument
j l- beyond comparison, the greatest ctent in
American hs.oiJ and indeed is 1t not, Of all
cYcrt- IN modern tlme-, the most pregnant with
consequences lOr every people Of tie earth The
members Of Che Cunyeutou which prepared il
brought to their NGrz the experience OF the Con
federation, Of their several States and OF other
Republican G0gemments old and new but
tley needed and obtained wisdom superior o.
tzf.i nee. And when iJT ;s validity itrCquifeI
the approval ol pop'e that occupied large
part ol O continent and acted separately in many
distlct convention, what d more wonderful
than that afttr earnest contention and long
discussion, all ie9Iiugs nd all opinions wtre ul-
tmately drawn 10 one way 70 rs sop port?
The Constitution 10 which life was thus im-
par Cd contains within itself ample resources for
isOxn preservation. Il has power to enforce
ta. lave, punish treason, and ensure domestic
tranquility. In case Of the usurCation Of the
Government OF State by one man, or an OH
garehy it becomes duty Of the United States
% Ike good the guaranty u that State OF
Republican form Of Government, aud 80 70 main.
I.Iu the hOmOgenelusne-s Of all. Does tie lapse
Of time reveal defects 4 simple mode OF amend.
men, is provided IN the Constitution itself, s1
that IT. conditions can always bs made to con-
i9rm 20 the Tfqulfments OF advancing cyilIz1-
tgu. No room Is allowed even lof the though;
ol a pocslbilty Of its coming to an end. And
there powers Of seltpreseTvau0n have alwa,s
been asserted IN their complete integrity by ev-
ery patriotic Chief MaglsTate-by jefferson
and Jackson, not less than by Washington aud
Madison. The parting advice Of the Fatler OF
bus Country, while yet President to the people
ui the United Sl..es, was, th4s" Il Tree C0nst-
tuuJu, when was th' work OF their hands,
might be sacred.y malutrned ana the iual-
gura words Of President Jefferson held up 80 the
preseryatOn OF thr General Government, IN i;s
constitutional ygor as the sheet anchor OF our
peace az home and safety abroad" The Const-
tuition II the work # - the People OF the Uni
ted states, and should BE- as lndestructable az
toe people.
II Is not strange that the trainers of the Con-
stituiion which had no model in the pas. should
not have fully cmprehended the excellence OF
their own WORK Fresh rom a struggle against
arbitrary power msny palriots suffered from
harasslng fears Of an absorption OF the States
Governments, by the general government aud
many from dread that the STATE would break
away from their orbits 81, the very greatness
OF olr country should nlsy the apprehension
OF ener1achmenIs by tho General Government
The su00c.s hat {, me eurquestiUnably within It's
Jurts1icuon are 60 numerous, That II mus, ever
nAtur rally refused TO be embarrassed by questions
e HN...H DID. H..H nd I'd a.
ecut.yo would sink beneath the burden, The chan.
nc.s OF justice would be checked; legislation
would be obslruc,ed by scess - that there s
greater temptation 20 exercise some OF the fun
cuons oil the General Government through the
States than to trespass On their righuul 81 here
q Ine absolute acqgltscCn5. ~ the decisions Of
Che majority was at the beginning Of the cen
tury, enforced by Jefferson as the vital pTiac-
pie o' republics, and th events OF the last four
ycars have established, We will hope forever, that
theto lee no appeal to force.
TIE maintenance Of the UuiOn brings with
it The support OF the State Governments in al
tHeir ishs, but 1t is not one oi the rights oi
any State Government 10 renouuoe MS own
place ~ the Union, cr to uuiiy the laws of the
l aion. The largest liberty is 10 be- maintained IN
the discussion OF lhe acis Of the Federal Govern.
ment ut there Is no sppeal from its laws, except
g. the various hrRuchcs ul that Government tso0i |
or 10 the people, who grant to the mcmb. Rs ui tLo
Legislative and oi the Executive Departments
no teuuro but a limited one, and in tha, manner |
always retain the powers OF redress.
The sovereignty OF the States Is the laueuag |
of ,he Coniederaoy, and not the language ul the |
Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic /
words The Constitution, and the laws OF tho |
| nlttd States which shall bo made 10 pur- /
suanoo thereof, and all treaties made CT
which shall be made under the authority OF tAe /
United States, shall bo the supreme law oil the
landi : aud The judges in every State shall
ao bound thereby, anything in the constitution
or laws OF any State to the contrary notwith.
standing
Certainly the Government OF the United States
ls limited government and SO is every stale
government With us, this idea of limitation
sproais through every form OF administration,
general, State, aud municipal, and rests On the
great distinguishing principle Of the recognition
OF tue rights Of man. The ancient republics ab.
sorbed tho Individual in the State, prescribed I
has religion, and controlled his activity. The
American system rests on the assertion OF the
equal hight OF every man to life, liberty, and the
pursuit OF Happiness 10 freedom Of conscience,
Go the culture and exercise Of all his faculties.
as consequence, tbe State Government Is lln.
tied, as 10 the General Government IN lbo inter
cs' ct the Union, as to the individual citizen in
tue Interest OF freedom.
States, with proper limitations of power, are
essential 10 tue existence oil the Constitution OF
'ne omt'd States. At the very commencemtnt
" V, nen We assumed place among The Powers VI
the earth, the Declaration Of Independence was
adopted by States 70 also were the Articles Of
Conlede alton and when the People OF the
Onitel States ordained and established the