The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fslop citisns Of he Senate and:: House Of Rep

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resentaiiues
To express gratitude to God, in the name
OF the people, for The preservation OF the
United States. is my first duty in addressing
you. Our lhnpghts next reyertto The death
OF the President by an act Of parrlcidai TIRE a
son. The grief OF the nation is still fresh
il finds some solace in the consideration that
be lived 10. enjoy The highest proof of its
confidence by entering on the renewed term
Of the Chief Magislracy 10 which he had
been elected thai he brought the civil wal
substantially TO close that his loss was
depIorsd-in all parts OF the Union, and that
foreign nations have rendered justice % his
memory His removal cast upon me a
heavier weight of cares than ever devoIved
upon any one Of his predecessors.
To fulfill my trust lfneed The support and
ccn6deucs OF all who are associated with
ne inthe various departments cf Govern
ment, aud the suppor and eoufidence of the
people. There is buI one way in which |
can hope 70 gain their necessary aid
il is, 10 slate with frsokness the principles
which guide my ccnduct, aud their spplica.
,ion TO the present state Of affairs, well
aware thai the efficiency of my lsshors will
ina great measure, depend on your and
their undivided appreciation.
Tho Union Of he United States of Amer.
ica vas intended by It's authors 10 last as
long az the Siaes themselves shall last
'sTke sUiion shall ebes perpeuaf, are The
words Of the Considerations @"To form a
more perisct Uoieu,v by an ordinance OF
the people of the United States, is The de.
cIarsG purpose OF the Co1stimtidn The
hand of Divine Providence was never more
plain!y visible 10 the affairs OF men than in
the framing and The accepting of :hat instru-
ment. ftis. beyond com psrisou, the great
est event in American history and indeed
- ii not, Of all events in modern times, the
most pregnant with consequence for every
psri of the earth
The members or she convention which
prepared Il brought 20 their work the ex-
perIence Of the con federation, of their seT-
cral States. aud Of other republican govern
menls, old and new; but they needed and
ob,ailsed wisdom superior 10 experience.
And when for it's validity il required the ap
provslof a people that occ pied a large
part Of . continent, and acted Sc parately in
many distinct conventions, what's more
wouderfui than that, after long conlenlion
and earnest discussion, all feelings and all
opinions were ultimately drawn in one way
TO lis snpport.
The Constitution to which life was thus
impaired Contains within itself ample re-
sources foliis own preservation. II has
power to enforce the laws, punish treason,
and snsess domestic tranquility In case
of usurpaiion OF the government Of State
by Que man or an oligarchy. it becomes a
duty OF the Unitej States TO make good the
guarantee to thai State OF republican form
of government, and so 10 MAINTAIN the no
mogenecosness of all Does the lapse OF
time reveal detects A simple mode Of
amendment is provided in the Constitution
iirsif, so that its conditions can always be
made 10 conform 10 the requirements OF ad-
vancing civilization.
No room is allowed even for the thought
OF q possibility of liz coming 10 an end.
And these powers OF self preservation have
always been asserted IN th cir complete in
iegrIiy, By every patriotic Chief Magistrate
by Jefferson. and Jackson, mol less than
by Washington and Madison. The parting
advice OF ;he Father OF bis Country, while
yei President, 10 the people OF the United
States, was iha; s'ihe free Constitution,
which was The work of their hands, might
be sacrecly main'ained, and the inaugural
words Of President Jefferson held I'D ''ihe
preservation Of tbs General Government, in
is constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor
Of Our peace al home and safety abroad :"
The Constitution is the work OF silh Q people
Of the United States, y and Il should be as
indssiructibIe as The people.
II - not strange that the trainers of the
Constitution, which had no model in the
past, should not have fully comprehended
the excellence of their own work. Fresh
from struggle against arbitrary power,
many patriots suffered from hafrassing fears
of an absorbtion OF the Slate governments
by the General government The subjects
that come unquesicnably within iis iuris-