Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-07

~ iiON W " ot as eiSI ara CeIldlh . IL "dS ~
dispensible. Expectations, however, Then sd
reasonably and confidently entertained, were
disappointed b. legi-l4iion from Wh.cl telt
constrained bv my obligations TO the CnnSIitu-
ticn To withdraw my assent.
1t is therefore Il source of prof, ,und fegrci
that, in con.plying with the obligation imposed
upon the Pres dent by the Constitution to give
tu Congress fIom time 10 time information OF
The state of the Ulion, am uaa5ls to coElmu-
nirate any definite adjustment, satisfactory to
the American people, of The questions which
since the close of ihc rebclIl;n have agitated the
public mind. On the CONTRARY, can1or comp Is
me to declare chat al this time there is no Union
as our fathers understood the term, and as they
mcait it to be understood by US. The Union
which they established can exist only where all
states are reprcs nted il beth House of Con
grrsS where one state is as free as another 10
regulate lis internal concerns according 10 IFS
own will, and where the llws which control tie
Government are sri;tl, confined TO matters ot
national jurisdiction end aV"ly- with equal force
to al people of every section. That such is not
The present state of the Uliun is mulancholy
fact, and we all must acknowledge that the res
iOratien of the States 20 their proper and legal
relations wi the Federal Government, and
with enc arrt,ler, according tc the terms of the
oFigin"l coTp"ct, would be the g~;'atcS tempor-
al blessing which God in LII; p-oYi .Cncc could
para:ive duty 10 consider wLiher or not il is
imp s>ible to effect this IN 81 de>iraLlc cnnsum-
nation. The Union and Constitution are inSep-
arabic, for aslOng rs one is obryed by all palties
the other will be preserved and if one is de
stroyed both must perish together. The de-
Structiun Of tie CCL:titut.Cn will lie followed
by other ard sill greater cal r.::;es II was or
dained not only 10 form more.pcrfcct union
bc.W, ch the States, but 20 establish justice, in
Al, tys I;fp
defense, lICmcte stnclai wclf Te al q secure
She blessings Of tbeFtT 10 ourselves and CUR POS
tyTiiy. No!li ing LIT Implicit obeGience TO its
rCqureml mis- IN I'll IsaIIS of the country VIII ac-
compiish these great ends Without obe dence,
we can lock forward O..ly to continued outra9es
upon i dividual rights, inctsSant Greach,s OF
the public peacr national wrakl.cSs, financial
dishonor, total ks5 Of our property, general cor
rupiion. and neral nd final tNtiI cliUn of pOpu
lar freedom. To save our country f: om evils so
appalling as these we should rcEew our efforts
a gain and again. To ne til process of IcstOra-
hon sytmS perfectly plain aid 'in Pie. 1t cen
sisis merely in faithful apl cation If the Col
SiiJuiion and laws The execution OF the Law :
is not now ObstuctCd or opposed ty hysic"l
firce. There is no military or either necessity,
real or pretended, which Can prevent obediI nee
to the Constitution, either North OF South. Iii
rirhts-a Il all obligations of Stat, 5 and ildivil
uals can be prciccied and enturc. d by means
perfectly Coz ui.siSIelt With thr fundamental law.
Courts mag be everywhere opened, and, fopen,
their Irotcs>cs would be uuimpCded Crimes
against the United States can be prevented or
panshed by the proper judicial authorities in a
manner enli ely practicable and legal. There
is, Iheref ,re, no reason why the CDnSti,u ion
Should not be obeyel, unless those who eXer-
else its powers have determined that it shall he
disrcgarded and violated. The mere naked will
NJ, mr. Df n nj
branches is the onl obs acle that can exist to
pc feet a uni, II of all the States. On this mo-
mentus question, and some of the measures
grow ing out OF it, had Tie misfortune to differ
with COngrl So, and | have expressed my cOnvic-
III ms Without reserve, though wi becoming
Difference to tie opinion Of the Legislative De
2armcni Thosa convictions were not only
but strerg gihened ly subsequent
events and fu ther reflect i'm. The transcendrnt
imp rtance ufthe subject will be a sufficient
cXcu~e for calling your at tnti0n to some of The
reasons which have so strongly intiuc.. ced my
own judgment. hope That we may ii finally
ront ur in mode of settlement consistent AT
once with our true intelcs's ant our sworn
dulies TO the Constitution. Ii is too naturi! and
100 Just TO be easily relinquishel
1t is clear to my apprehension tli4t the States
lately ii rebellion are sill! members OF the Ma
tional Union, When did they cease to be so?
i > y
tion of their ci'iz rs were mere nullili,s. II
we admit now that they we're valid and efficient
for the purpose intended by their aH hOrS, We
sweep from under our fe t the whole ground
upon which we Justified The war. Were those
States afterwards expelled from tic GIion by
The war? The direct contrary was aver. cd by
this government 10 he its purpose, and it was 81
unde stood by al these who gave their blood
and treasure 10 aid in its prosecution. II can
not he that Il successful war, wLged for the
p eservation of the Union, Ii I'd the l,gal efec3
Of dissclYins it. The victory Of the Nations
arms was not the disgrace OF her policy The
leftat of secession on the battle field was not a
triumph over lis ldwless princip es, nor could
Congress, with or without The consent of the
Executive, 90 anything which would have the
fleet, directly or indirectly, Of splra'ing States
rom 'ach other To dissolve The Union is 10
'epeal the Constitution which holds il together,
md that is power which docs not belong To
my depaltm II; of Ibis govcrnmcn', or TO all OF
hem united. THIS is SO plain thai it has been
acknowledged 10y all branches Of the Federal
Government. My predecessor, as well as N.Y.
eli and he heads Of all departments, have uui-
ormly acted upon the principle that the Union
8 not cniy undissnlved, but iHGiSS3lublt. Con
,ress submitted IN amendment 10 the ConS'itu-
ion to be Iatitied by The SGutEeIn States and
ccrptcd their acts Of ratification as nect sslry
Iu,i Lawful exercise of their highest Junction.
f they wrTe not States, or States out f the
JniDn, their consent TO a change in the funda-
mental law of the Union would have been nuga-
Dry, and Congress, in asking it, has committed
political absurdiiy. The judiciary also gave
he S leMn sanction of its authority to The same
Jew ofihe Case. Judges of the Sapreme Court
ave included the Southern States in their cir
uits, and they are constari'y, in bare and else
where, exercising jurisdiction which does moi
,elong to them, unless those States are States |
# the Union. Ii the Southern States are com.
,oEcnt parts Of the Union, the Constitution is |
be supreme law for them as it iS-fOr all other !
tateS; they are bound to obey i. and So are /
&C. The right OF the Federal Government. |
rhich is clear and unqaestionahlc TO force the |
onsitutiUn upon lhem, implies IL co-rcldtive
litigation on our part 10 observe lis limitations |
nd execute its guarantees. Without the con-
titution we are nothing; but thrcngh and un-
er the constitution we are what il makes US = I
We may doubt the wisdom Of the law, we may
ut approve offs provisions, but cannot
iolate it merely becau-e it seems to contiue our
overs wi hin limits narrower than we coud
ish. II Is not question of individual, Or
lass, or sectional intere t. much less of party
re dominance, but of duty, of a high and sacred
utv, which we all are sworn to perform. II
C cannot support the Constitution with the
leerful alacrity Of those who believe in il, We
ust give il at least The fidelity Of public SER
ants who art under solemn obligations and
which they dae not disregard.
Constitutional duty is not the only one which
'quireS the States 10 be restored. There is al
Lh'r consideration which, though of minor i'm