Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1865-12-23
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fello,o. Citizens Oft Senate aA -

ofithe peoplo,S for the preservation of the Uni
ted States, is my first duty in addressing you.
Our thoughts next revert TO the death of the
late President, by an act of parricidal treason.
The grief Of the nation is still fresh; it finds
some solace in the consideration that he lived
J to enjoy the highest proof of its confidence by
entering on the renewed term of the Chief
Magstracy, to which he had been elected
that he brought the civil war substantially to
a close; that his loss was deplored in all parts
.of the Union; and that foreign nations have
rendered justice to his memory. His remov.
al;,oast upon me heavier weightof cares than
ever deyolved upon any one of his predeces-
sors> To fulfil my TRUST need the support
sand confidence of all who are associated with
me in the various departments of Government,
and Shc support and confidence Of the people.
There is but one way in which can hope to
gain their necessary aid; it is, to state with
frankness the principles which guide my con-
duct and their application to the present state
of affairs, we'll aware that the efficiency of my
labors will, in great measure, depend on your
and their undivided appreciation. M .
Y The Union of the United States of Ameri-
ga was intended by it's authots to last as long
as the States themselves shall last. "The
h
the Confederation. ,"To form more perfect
United States, is the declared purpose of the
was never moro plainly visible in the affairs
of men than in tue framing aud the adopting
of that instrument. /, It's, beyond comparison,
ahs sreatest ps eyeut Ia a n.orcan listory and
indeed, sit not, of all events in modern times,
!. fy people'of the earth ? The members of the
Convention which prepared it, brought to
their work the experience Of the Coufedera-
tion,o their several States, and .of other Re-
publican Governments, old and new, but they
!. needed and they obtained wisdom superior
to experience, And when, for it's validity, it
required the approval 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 and all opin.
ions were ultimately drawn in one way to its
The Constitution, to which life was thps
Impaired, contains within itself ample rcsdur-
ces for it's own preservation. 1t has power to
enforcc the laws, punish treason ahdo insure
domestic tranquility In case Of the usurpa-
ton of the Government of State BY one man,
or an, ,oIigarchy. it becomes aduty of the Uni
ted States to make good tire guarantee to that
SRtc,of a Republican form of government,
and 50 to maintain the homogeneousness of ALL
Doess the lapse Of time reveal defects? a i
simple mode Of amendment is provided in the
Constitution itself, SO 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 it's
coming to amend, y And these powers of self
preservation have always been asserted in their
I Complete integrity by every patriotic Chief
Nlagistrate-by Jefferson and jackson, not
less than by Washington and Madison. Tho
parting advice Of the Father of his Country,
whileyet President, to the people Of the Uni
ted States, was. THAT, .the free Constitution,
which was the work ofstheir hands, might be
sacredy maintained;" and the inaugural words
of President yetforsonheld up ntEc prcserya-
ton Of the GENERAL Government, in its Con-
stiyational vigor, as,tl,e sheet anchor Of our
peace at home and safely abroad'' The Con-
stitution is the work Of 'tho people Of the
United States" and it should beas indestruot-
ible az tho people.
4 II is not strange that the trainers Of the
Gonstitution, which had nompdcl in the past,
should not have fully 5comprehended tho ex-
cellence Of their own work. Fresh from a
struggle against arbitrary power, mhny patr-
cts suffered from Harvesting fears Of an ab-
sOrption Of the State Goyernments bv tho