Washington telegraph., 1865-12-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
lz.rs Of TIE SeRaie and

Feilotr- CulzsEs ot the SeR0fe ana
House Of Representatives,.
To express gratitude to God in the name II
tn. people for the preservation of the United
STATES, j. my hrsi cuiy IA ad9i essirg you lie
th.n retels 10 the death Of Mr.. Lincoln, md
pays an eloquent tribute to his memory; and
speaking OF The rebellion, and the relations Of
the states to the Government, SAYS, IL mas pow
er 10 enforce the laws. punish reason, anu in
sure domestic tranquility Il case OF the usurpa-
ton of the Government cf a State or an oligar-
chy The Constitution Is our sheet-anchoT and
The very greatness of our country should allay
all fears OF an usuTpation Of power Or .sncroach-
ments by the General Government. Tie events
Of the last tour years, he hopes has established
forever the fact that there is no appeal t.
force The maintenance Of the Union, brings
with il the state governments in all OF their
rights. bat no state has the right to Tenounce
i'll own place in the Union. OF nulliiy the laws
oi she same. The largest libeTahty will be
maintained il the discussion OF the acts OF the
Federal Government, but there Is no appeal
from its laws save to the Government itself, or
tile people who grant to the Legislatures and
Executive but limited power, retaining them
selves the power Of redress. sovereignty
Of the States is the language on the Confeders-
cy and not the language Of the Constitution.
The Constitution aud the laws of the United
States and the laws that shall be made in pur-
suance thereof, aud all trcates- made or which
shall be made under thai authority, shall be the
Supreme law of the land, and the Judges in ev-
ery State shall b. bound thereby, all State con-
stitutions OF laws 10 the contrary, notwithstand-
ing. The United States Government il a linn
tied one and SO is that OF every Slate. He then
refers 10 the condition of the country hen ir-
took his seat m President, aud in speaking Of
the great work OF reconstruction, says, that
military governments established for an inde-
finite period in the States lately ia rebellion,
would have offered no secuiity fOs the early
suppression Of the disconiented, and would on
ly have divided the peoplr into the vanquishers
aud the vanquish-d, and wsull have envenom-
ed hatred rather than restored affection, and
should have entailed all incalculable and eN-
hansting expense upon the country. Peaceful
emigi alton {, and from that country i one OF
the best means of restoring harmony, and emf
grafton would have been prevented, for what
emigrant from abroad, or good citizen at home,
would place himself willingly under military
rule The chief followers of the army would
have been dependent on the general Govern.
ment or men who expected profit from the mis-.
eries of their erring ielow-cItizens. The pow
ers of patronage and rule which would have
beer exercised under the President over q vast
and populous and naturally wealthy region, are
| greater than unless under extreme necessity
should be willing to entrust to any one man
| and as for himself, he never could consent t.
exercise them anless, on occasions OF great
emc crgency. If continued through period o.
years they would have endangered the purity o.
the general Administration, and the liberties o.
states which remained loyal under the policy
Of military rule over conquered territory rwoulc
| have implied that those States whose inhabi
tants had taken part in the rebellion, had BY
he acts OF those Inhabitants, 9, ased to exist
lIhe true throTy is, that ali pretended acts o.
secession, from the FIRST, are null and roid nm
II Sta.rs cannot commit treason, nor can the inli
i!,vd,al who may have committed treason, make
4, valid treaties or engage in lawful commerce
r With foreign powers. The States attempting Il
4, scede have placed themselves in condition
Were their vitality impaired, but not ex
tinnished, their fHnctiona extended but no
dess1yed Eut If any State refuses or neglect.