The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-06


pledge a. Ne male on the 22l July. 1851. will
assureily diminish the market value OF our
other promises. Besides. II vr nov acknowi-
edge that national debt MAS incurred, not tn
hold States in Union, as tax payers were led tn
suppose, but Ia expel them from u and hand
them over to be governed by negroes, the NOR
al duty 10 pay II may seem much less clear.
say u may seem so. for do not admit this ar
any other argument In favor of reputation
can be entertained a. sound; but its influence
on some classes of minds may well be appre-
hended q
The financial honor Of great commercial
nation. largely Indebted. AMI with rcpub'',
can form Of government, administered
by agents OF the popular choice, IL thing OF
such delicate structure, and the destruction Of
II would be followed BY such unspeakablc Ca
lamity. that every true patriot must desire to
avoid whatever might expose Il to the slightest
danger. The great interests ut the country
require immediate relief FROM these enact
ments.
lie then passes to more exultant theme
the recent elections warns Con-
gross that the people have everywhere vot.
cd against the Congressional plan, and in
his favor! We suppose he rcganls the
elections in Maine and Massachusetts, rs
especially conclusive upon the point!
We give below his entire remarks rela-
tive to his forbeannce in not resisting the
acts Of Congress:
How far the duty Of the President to pre-
serve and protect the Constitution required him
To go In opposing an unconstitutional act of
Congress, Is very serious and important
question. on which have deliberated much
and felt extremely anxious to reach proper
conclusion. Where nm act has been passed &C
cording to the forms Of the Constitution, by
the supreme legislative authority, and is regu-
larry enrolled among the public statutes Of the
country, executive resistance to Il. especially
in times OF high party excitement, would be
likely to produce violent collision between the
respective adherents Of two branches OF the
government. This would be simply civil war,
and civil war must be resorted 10 only rs the
last remedy. Whatever might tend to provoke
II should be most carefully avoided. A faith
full and conscientious magistrate will concede
very much TO honest error. and something even
90 obvious malice. endanger public peace and
he will not adopt torcible measures, or such
might lead 20 force, rs longs as those which are
peaceable remain open to him OF his constitu-
ents. II Is true that cases may occur In which
the executive would be compelled to stand ON
its right and maintain them, regardless OF con-
sequences. II Congress should pass an act
which Is not only In direct conflict with the
Constitution. but which will certainly. II car
ried out. produce immediate injury TO the or
ganic structure ut the government; and II
there be neither judicial remedy for the wrongs
IL inficts. nor power In the people tn protect
themselves without the official aid oftheir elect
ell defender IL for instance the legislative de.
partment should pass an act. even through all
the forms OF law. to abolish coordinate de
partment Of the govcrnment,-in such = case
the President must take the high responsibility
Of his office, and save the nations Mt all har-
ards. The so-callel reconstruction acts, though
as plainly unconstitutional rs any that can be
imagined, were not believed To be within the
class last mention. The people were not wholly
disarmed Of the power of self-iletence. In all
the Northern States they still held in their
hands the sacred right Of the ballot, and il was
safe to believe that In due time they would
come to rescue their own institutions.
lie neu speaks OF the enormous frauds
upon the Treasury which have been per-
peirated, and which, if unchecked, "will
soon bring upon us total ruin and dis.
grace" lie thinks that the high taxes muy
have something to do with this state Of
things, but thar the real cause is that "ihe
open disregard Of constitutional obligations"
there il is AGAIN. @avowed by some Of the
highest and most influential men in the
country, has greatly weakened the moral
sense OF those who serve in subordinate
places" Aud so this quirking and gigun-
tic demasoguo "stiil harping on my daugh-
ter" AMI her constitutional obligations, ac-
counts forcvery sin named in the decalogue
by laying them at the doors Of Congress.
He means over the "tenure Of office act"
which he denoiinces rs unconstitutional, in
consequence Of which act he was unable TO
prevent frauds upon the finances. Tie
moves il be repealed. Our foreign relations
are satisfactory.
The remainder Of the Message is devo,.
ell to statistics taken from the reports of The
diflcrcn, heads of Departments, and rs we
shall hereafter publish condensed state.
ment of those reports, we omit them here.
A.. that ,l,., ,,s,s.,f