Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-12-13
Presidents Message.
Ieilou Citizens Of the Senate and House n
Representatives

Teilou Citizens Of the Senate and House n
Representation
THE REcossTRrcTIoS QUESTION.
The continued disorganizaion of the I'm
ion, TO which the President has 50 of en- call.
ed the attention Of Congress, is yet subject
Of profound and patriotic concern. We may,
however, feel some relief from the anxiety
in the reflection that the PAINFUL political
although before untried by our
selves, is not new in the experience Of ma.
tions. Political science, perhaps as highly
perfected in our own time and country as in
any other, has not yet disclosed any means
BY which civil wars can be absolutely pres
vented. An enlightened nation, however,
with wise and benefcent constitution Of
free government may dimluish their frequen-
cy and mitigate their severity, by dissec,ing
all its proceedings in accordance with it fun
dsmental law. When civil war has been
brought to close, it is manfestly the frs.
interest and duty Of State 70 repair the in
juries which the war has inflicted, and 10 Sc.
cure the benefit Of the Lessons it teaches, as
fully and speedily as possible. The duty
was, upon the termination Of the rebellion,
accepted, not only by the excess
tive department, but by the insurrectionary
states themselves, and restoration, in the
first moments Of peace, was believed to be
as easy and certa1n as it was indispensable.
The expectations, however, then go reasona-
bly, and confidently entertained were disap-
pointed by legislation from which | feel con-
by my obligations to the ccnstitu>
ton, 70 withhold my assent. II is, therefore,
o source Of profound regret that. in comply
ing with the Obligations imposed upon the
President by the constitution, to give to Con-
gress from time TO time Information Of the
state Of the Union, l am unable to commu>
nicate any definite adjustment, satisfactory
TO the American people, Of the questions
which, since the close Of the rebellion, have
agitated the mind Of the country. Candor
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 us. The Union which they established
can exist only when all the States arc repre>
sented in both houses Of Congress. When
one State is as free as another TO regulate
its internal concerns according to its own
will, and when the laws Of the central gov
strictly confined to matter. Of ma.
tional jurisdiction, apply with equal force TO
all people Of every station. That such is
not the present state of the Union is mel>
ancholy fact and We I'll must acknowledge
that the restoration Of the States to their
proper legal relations with the federal gov
and with one another, according 10
the terms Of the original compact, would be
the greatest temporal blessing which God,
in His kindest providence, could bestow up
on our nation. 1t becomes our imperative
duty to consider whether or not it is impos>
sible to effect this most desirable consum>
nation. The onion and the Constitution
are inseparaLle. As long as one is obeyed
by eli parties, the other will be preserved !;
and, ifcne is destroyed, both must perish to-
gethcr.
The destruction Of the Constitution viii be
followed by other still greater calamities. II
was ordained not only to form . more per-
(ect union between the States, but to estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, pros
vide for the common defence, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our pos,erity. Moth
ing but implicit obedience to its requires
ments, in ell parts Of the country, will &C.
complish these great ends. Without that
We can look forward only to con-
Iinued outrages upon individual rights, in
cessant breaches of public peace, national
financial dishonor, to loss Of our
general corruption Of morals, and
dnal extinction Of our popular freedom. To
ave our country from evils so appalling Is
hese, We should renew our efforts again and
again.
To me the process Of reconstruction seems
perfectly plain and simple. 1t consists mere.
y in faithfulapplication Of the Constitution
and laws. The execution Of the laws is not
now obstructed or oppressed by physical
oree. There is no military or other ncces-
,ity, real or pretended, which can prevent
obedience to the Constitution, either north
or south. A i rights and all obligations Of
States or individuals can be projected and
enforced BY means perfectly consistent with
be fundamental law. Courts may be every
where opened, and, if open, their process
would be unimpeded. Crimes against the
United States can be prevented or punished
BY proper judicial authorities in q manner
entirely practicable and legal. There is,
therefore,, no reason why the Constitution
'hould not be obeyed, unless those who ex-
:rcise its powers have determined that it
hall be disregarded and violated. The mere
naked will Of this government, or Of some
me or more of its branches, is the only OBJ,
'tacle that can exist to perfect union Of all
he States.
On this momentous question, and some of
he measures growing out Of it, l had the
to differ from Congress, and have
expressed my conviction without reserve,
hough with becoming Difference to the opin.
on Of the legislative department. Those
were not only unchanged, but
BY subsequent events and fur.
her reflections The transcendent impor>
ance OF the subject will be sufficient ex>
use for calling your attention to some of
he reasons which have SO strongly infuen.
d my own Judgment. The hope that We
nay all finally concur in . mode Of settles
nent consistent at once with our true inter-
sts and with our sworn duties to the Com
titution, ls too natural and too Just to be
asily relinquished.
1t is clear to my apprehension that the
states lately in rebellion are all members Of
be national Union. When did they cease
o be so? The ordinances Of secession,
'dopted by a portion Of their citizens, were
verc nullities. five admit now that thew
we're valid and effectual for the purpose in>
ended BY their authors, we sweep IRON un-
Ter our feet the whole ground upon which
re justified the war. Were these States af.
erwards expelled from the Union by the
var? The direct contrary WAS averred BY
he government to he its purpose, and il was
o understood by al those who gave their
,iood and treasure to aid its prosecution. 1t
an not be that successful war, waged for
he preservation Of the Union, had the legal
feet Of dissolving it. The victory Of the
lation's arms was not the disgrace Of her
,olicy /; the defeat of secession on the battle
ield was not the triumph ofits lawless prin>
'iple nor could Congress, with or without
he consent OF the executive, do anything
shich would have the effect, directly or ins
lirectly, Of separating the States from each
'ther. To dissolve TIE Union is to repeal
he Constitution which holds i, together:
md that is power which does no, belong
0 any department Of this government, nor
Q all OF them united. This is so plain tha,
I has been acknowledged b. all branches of
he federal government. Ny predecessors,
IS well ns myself, and the heads Of all the
have uniformly acted upon the
principle that the Union is not only undis>
solved but indissoluble. Congress submitted
IN amendment of the Constitution, to be rat
fed by the Southern States, and accepted
heir acts Of ratification ~ necessary and
awful exercise Of their highest function. II
hey were not States, or were States out of
he Union, their consent to y change in the