The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-12-12
pREslDENT's MESA G E,

EsDlD- CUt~eHS " "'0 '1N'''N'N N
"a Of Representatives. |
The continued disorganization of the
Union, TO which the President has so often
called the attention of Congress, is yet
subiect of profound and patriotic concern
We may, however, find ZONE relief from
that anxiety in the reflection that the pam
full political situation, although untrled py
ourselves, is not new ia the experience oi
nations.
Political science, perhaps as hlghly per
fected in our own time and country as IN
any other, has not yet disclosed any means
by which civil wars can be absolutely pre-
vented an Enlightened nation, however,
with q wise and benifcent Constitution OF
fres government, may diminish their ire
quency and mitigate their severity, Dy ul-
re citing all its proceedings in accordance
with its ornamental law. When civil war
has been brought to a close, it is manltestly
the first interest and duty OF the state TO
repair the injuries which the war has in
Aicted. and to secure the benefits of the
lessons it teaches, as fully and as speedily
as possible. This duty, was, upon the ter
mination Of the rebellion, promptly accept
cd, not only by the Executive Department,
but by the insurrectiOnary States them
,seives, and restoration in the first moment
Of peace, was believed to be as easy AID
certain as it was Indispensable.
The expe Citations, however, then so rea-
sonably and confidently entertained, were
disappointed by legislation from which
felt constrained, by my obligations to the
Constitution, to withhold my assent. 1t is,
there. a source of profound regret that in
complying with the obligation imposed upon
the President by the Constitution, TO give
to Congress from time to information of the
state of the Union, | am unable to commu-
nicate any defnitive adjustment satisfactory
to the American people, of the questions
which. since the close of the rebellion, have
sgitated the public mind On the contrary,
candor compsls me to declare that at this
time there is no Union as our fathers un'
derstood the term, and as they meant 1t to
be understood by us. The Union which
tthey established can exist only where all
the States are represented In both houses
of Congress, ''wqere one State IS as Tree as
onother to regulate its internal concerns
according to its will, and where the laws OIL
the central government, strictly conhned 10
matters of national jurisdiction, apply with
equal force to all the people of eyory Sec
tion.
That such is not the present estate Of the
Union'is melancholy fact, and we all
must acknowledge that the restoration oi
the States to the proper legal relations with
the Federal Government, and with one an
other, according to the terms of the orlgl'
nal compact, would be the greatest tempo
raj blessing which God, in his klndest
providence, could bestow upon this nation
1t becomes our imperative duty to con
slider whether or not it is imposslhle 10 ei
feet tile mott desirable con summation. Th6
Union and the Constitution are lnseperaole
AS long Us one are eyed by all parties
the other will be preserved and If one Ii
destroyed both must perish together. Inc
destruction of the Constitution will be tol
lowed by other and still greater calamities
1t was ordained not only to form more
perfect Union between the States, but tC
establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defence
promote the general welfare, and secure tn,
blessings of liberty to ourselves and ou
posterity" Nothing but implicit obedi
ence TO its requirements, in all parts of th
country, will accomplish these great ends
Without that obedience we can look for
Rar'l only to continual outrages upon indi
Eidual rights, incessant breeches of thu
public peace, national weakness, tinancia
dishonor, the total loss of prosperity, thu
general corruption Of morals, and the tina
extinction of popular freedom. To saw
our country from evils so apaling as these
we should renew our efforts again and again
- To me the process Of restoration seem
perfectly plain and simple. 1t consist
merely in faithful application of the Con
stitutien and the laws. The execution o
the laws is not now obstructed or Opstruct
ed or opposed by physical force; there is n
military or other necessity, real or preten
ded, which can prevent obedience to th
Constitution, either North or South. A
the rights and al the obligations of Stat
and individuals can be protected and en-
forced by means perfectly consistent wit
tha fundamental law. The courts may b
everywhere open, and, if open, their pro
cess would be unimpeded. Crimes agains
the United States can bC prevented or pun
ished by the proper judicial authorities i
manner entirely practicable and legal.
There is, therefore, 10 reason, why tn
Constitution should not be obeyed, unles
those who exercise its poMers have deter
mined that it shall be disregarded and VIC
lated. The mere naked will of this Coy
eminent, or of some one or mors OF II
branches. is the only obstacle that can eN
ist to a perfect Union of all the States. U
this momentous question and some OF IN
measures growing out of it, have had tn
misfortune to differ from Congress, an
have expressed my convictions without re
serve, thoughe6ith becoming difference
the opinion of the Legislative Department
Those convictions are not only unchant
ed, but strengthened by subsequent ovent
and further reflection. The transcender
importance of this subject will be sutlicier
excuse for calling your attention to som
Of 3he reasons which have so strongly infr
enced my own judgment. The hope this
We may all finally concur in mode If Sc
tlem ent consistent at once with our true il
terests, and with our sworn duties to th
Constitution, is too natural and too just
Do easily relinquished
IL is clear to my apprehension that tn
States lately in rebellion ar still member
nf h. No,;onol up;on Whan did IN n