Arizona miner., 1867-12-21
Presidents Message.
WAsuINCroN, December 8.

of Represeptativcs:-The continued disorgan- ization of the Union, to wbich the President ha, -o often called the attention of Congress
 is vet a subject of profound and patriotic con cern We may however find some relief from that anxiety in the reflection that the painful political situation, although before untried by ourselves. is not new in the experience of ma tions. Political science is, perhaps as highly pcrfccted in our own time and country as in any other. but it has not yet disclosed any means by which civil wars can be absolutely prevented. An enlightened nation, however, with wise and bencicient constitution and free government, may diminish their trequen- cy and mitigate their severity, by directing | all its proceedings in accordance with its fun damental laws. When civil war has been | brought to a close, it is manilestly the first | interest and duty of the States to repair the | | injuries which the war has inflicted, and se- cure the benefits of the lessons it teaches as | ] fully and speedily as possible. This duty | | was upon the termination of the rebellion, | promptly accepted, not only by the EXecu | | tive Department, but by the insurrectionary l | States themselves, and restoration in the first moment of peare was believed to be as easy and certain as it was indispensable. The eX- pectations. however, then so reasonably and confidently entertained were disappointed by ! legislation from which 1 felt constrained, by my obligation to the Constitution, Co with hold my assent; and it s, therefore, a source of profound regret that, in complying with the obligation imposed upon me, as the Pres ident of the United States by the Constitu- ton e give to Congress, from time to time,
 information of the state of the Union. l am
 unable Co communicate any definite adjust
 ment satisfactory to the American people of
 questions which, since the close of the rebel
 lion, have agtated the public mind. On the
 contrary, candor compcls me to declare that,
 at the present timc there is no Union as our
 foreiathers understood the term. and as they
 meant to hc understood by Us. The Union
 which they established can exist only when
 ali the States are represented in both Houses
 of Congress, where one State k as free as ar- . other to regulate its internal concerns accord
 ing to its own will, and where the laws of the
 central government are strictly confined Co
 matters of national jurisdiction, and apply
 with equal force to all the people of every
 section. That such is not the present state
 of the Union is a melancholy iiict, and we all l must acknowledge that the restoration of the States to their proper legal relations with
 the Federal Government. and with one an-
 other. according to the terms of the original
 compact, would be the greatest temporal
 blessing which God in his kindcst providence Q could bestow upon this nation.
 D HOW TO RECONSTRUCT THE soUIu.
 It becomes an imperative duty to consider y whether or not it is impossible to effect this D most desirable consummatiOn The Union
 and the Constitution are nseparaDle. As
 long as ore is obeyed by all parties, the other b will be preserved; and if one is destroyed, n both must perish together The destruction
 of the Constitution will be followed by other . and stll greater calamities. It was ordained l. not only to form n more perfect Union be- r. tween the States, but to establish justice r. insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
 common defense, promote the general welfare,
 and secure the blessings of liberty to our
 selves and our posterity. Nothing but im- t plicit obedience to its requirements in all ,- parts of the country will accomplish these o great ends. Without that obedience we can
 look forward only to continual outrages upon Is individual rights, inccssant breaches of the o public peace, national weakness financial dis t honor the total loss ct our prosperity, the f, general corruption of morals, and the final
 extinction of popular freedom. To me the '" process of restoration seems perfectly plain
 and simple. IL consists merely in q faithful
 application of the Constitution and laws "a The execution of the laws is not nov ohstruc- n ted or opposed by physical iorvc; there is no s military or other necessity, real or pretended,
 which can prevent obedience 10 tle Consti- s tuition either North or South; all the rights y and all the obligations Of States and indiyid-
 uals can be protected and enforced by mean,
 perfectly consistent with the fundamental E. law; the Courts may be everywhere open, 70 and if open their process would be uni1npe- F ded crimes against the United States can : be prevented or punished by the proper judi '' cial authority in manner entirely practica- IT bc and legal.
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT.
 There is, therefore, no reason why the Con i stituton should not be obcyed unless those ,f who exercised its power have determined that o it shall be disregarded and violated. The
 mere naked will of this Government. or of Is one or more of its branches, is the only ob- Is stacle that can exist 10 perfect union of all
 the States. On this momcntOus question.
 and some of the measures growing out of it, nj have had the misfortune to differ from Con
 gress, and have expressed my conviction
 without reserve, though with becoming de- i ference of the opinion of the Legislative De le partment These convictions are not only m unchanged but strengthened by subsequent I events and further reflection. The transcen-
 dent importance of the subject will be a suf-
 iicent excuse for calling your attention to ie some of the reasons which have so strongly k influenced my own judgment. The hope that
 we may all finally concur in mode of settle
 ment, consistent at once with our true inter-
 osts and with our sworn duty to the Consti- ' tuition, is too natural and too just to be easiiv
 relinquished. It is clear to my apprehension
 that the States lately in rebellion are still fUI. ,l..rs. ..ft t,a n t