The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-04
MESSAGE j
or rnE
President Of The United States
FoRT1ETH CONGRESS.

TO THE

and Hotiseo Representatives.
The continued disoEganization of the
Union, 10 which the Presidenthas 30 often
called de attention OF Congress, is vt a
subject Of profound and patriotic concern.
We may, however, find some relief from
that anxiety In the reflection that the pain.
full political situation, although before mn.
tried BY ourselves, Is not new In the ex.
pefience Of nations. Political science,
perhaps as highly perfected in our own
time aud country as in any other, has not
yet disclosed any means by which civil
wars can be absolutely prevented. An
enlightened nation, however, with wise
and benefeent Constitution offreagoyern.
ment may diminish their feqhehey and
mitigate their severity by directing all lis
proceedings In accordance with itS fnnda.
mental law.
When civil war has been brought TO a
close, 1t Is mAnifestly the first interest and
duty of the State 10 repair the injuries
which the war has inflicted, and 10 secure
the benefit OF the lessons it teaches %
fully and as speedily as possible. This
duty was, upon the Termination Of the 70.
bellion, promptly accepted, not only BY
the Executive Department, but by the in.
surrectionary States themselves, and
restoration, In the fifst moment Of peace,
was believed TO be as easy and certain az
i was Indispensable. The expectations,
However, then 90 reasonably and conf.
dently entertained, were disappointed BY
legislation from which / felt constrained,
by my obligations to the Constitution, 10
withhold pyjassent I,,. ID re
Its therefore source Of profound re
gret that, in complying with the obliga.
ton imposed upon the President by the
Constitution 70 give to Congress from
time 70 time information Of the state Of
the Union, ] am unable to communicate
any de6nitive adjustment, satisfactory 10
the American People, Of the questions
which, since the close of the rebellion,
have agitated the public mind. On the
contrary, candor compels me to declare
that at this time there is no Union as our
Fathers understood the term, and as they
meant It TO be understood by rs. The
Union which they established can exist
only where oil the States are represented
in both houses of Congress; where one
State is as free as another TO regulate its
internal concerns according to its own
will and where the laws Of the central
Government, strictly confined To matters
ofnational jurisdiction, apply with equal
force to all the people OF every section.
That such is not the present Estate of the
Union" is melancholy fact I; and we
all must acknowledge that the restoration
Of the States to their proper legal rela.
tons with the Federal Government and
with. one another, according to the terms
OF the original compact, would be the
greatest temporal blessing which God, in
his kindest providence, could bestow upon
this nation. Il becomes our imperative
duty to consider whether or not It is i'm.
possible TO effect this most desirable con.
summation.
The Union aud the Constitution are in.
separable. As long as one is obeyed by
all parties, the other will be preserved, ,
and if one is destroyed both must perish
together. The destruction of the Consti.
tuition will be followed by other and still
greater calamities. It was ordained NOT
only to form a more perfect union between
the States, but to Establish justice, in.
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings Of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity." Nothing
but implicit obedience to its requirements
in all parts Of the country will accomplish
these great ends. Without that obed.
ieuce, we can look forward only to con.
tinuAl optrages upon individual rights, in
ceSsant breaches Of the public peace, ma,
tional weakness, financial dishonor, the
total loss Of our prosperity, the general
corruption Of morals, and the final extinc,
ton Of popular freedom. To save ouI
country from evils SO appalling as these,
We should renew our efforts again and
again. 2 3
To me the process of restoration seems
perfectly plain and simple. 1t consists
merely in a faithful application of the
Constitution and laws, The execution Of
the lawsis not now obstructed or opposed
by physical force. There is no military
or other necessity, real or pretended,
which can prevent obedience to the Con
stituton, either North or South. All the
rights and all the obligations of States
and individuals can be protected and en-
forced by means perfectly consistent with
the fundamental law. The courts may be
everywhere open, and, il open, their pro,
cess would be unimpeded. Crimes against
the United States can be prevented OF
punished by the proper Judicial authori.
ties, in manner entirely practicable and
legal. There is, therefore, no reason why
the Constitution should not be obeyed,
unless those who exercise its powers have
determined that it shall be disregarCied
and violated. The mere naked will OF
this Government, or Of some one or more
ofits branches, is the only obstacle that
can exist TO perfect union Of all the
States.
On this mOmentOus question, aud some
OF the. measures growing out Of It, | have
had the misfortune to differ from Con.
gresS, and have expressed my convictions
without reserve, though with becoming
Difference TO the opinion of the Iegisla,
tive Department. Those convictions are
not only unchanged, but strengthened by
subsequent events and further reflection
The transcendent Importance of the sub
ject will be a sufficient excuse for calling
your attention to some of the reasons
which have so strongly Influenced my own
Judgment. The hope that we may all
finally concur in mode Of settlement
consistent at once with our true interests
and with our sworn duties to the Constitu
ton, is too natural and too Just TO be CaSi
ly relinquished.
Itis clear TO my apprehension that the
States lately in rebellion are still members
Of the National Union. When did they
cease to be so? The ordinances Ol
secession" adopted by portion Gin most
ofthem very small portion) of their citi
IONS, were mere nullities. II we admit
now that they were valid and efFectual ioI
the purposes intended by their authors,
we sweep frOm under our feet the whole
ground upoa which We justified the war
We're those States afterwards expelled
from the Union by the WARP The direcI
contrary was averred by this Government
TO be itS purpose, and was so understood
by all those who gave their blood and
treasure TO aid in 10 prosecution. Itcan
not be that q successful war, wngcd fol
the preservation OF tho Union, bad tht
legal effect Of diSsolving II. Tho victory
nffhn DnNtcDfu awtna waa nnk tho 1ta0es,nI