The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-12-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellop Citt-ens Of the Senate

House Of Representatives
The continued disorganization of the !
Union; to which the President has SO
often called tho attention of Congress,
is yet subject Of profound and patri-
otto couccrn. We may however, fad |
some relief from that anxiety in the
reflection that 50 painful u political
situation, although before untried by
ourselves, is not new IN the experience
of nations. Political science, perhaps |
as highly perfected in our own timo
and country as in any other, has not
yet disclosed any means by which civil
wars can DO absolutely prevented.
An enlightened nation, however,
with wise and benefcent constitution
of free government, nay diminish their
frequency and mitigate their severity
by directing all its proceedings in ac-
cordance with its fundamental law.
When civil war has been brought to u
close, it is manilustly tho first interest
and duty of q State 10 repair the IN.
juries which the war has inflicted, and
10 secure tho benefit Of tho lessons
which it teaches as fully and speedily
as possible. This duty was, upon the
termination Of the rebellion, promptly
accepted not only by tho Executive
Department but by the insurrectionary
States themselves; and restoration, in
the first moment Of peace, was believed
10 be as easy and certain rs It was IN.
dispensuble.
Expectations, however, then so roas
onably and confidently entertained,
were disappointed by legislation. from
which felt constrained by my obliga
tions to the Constitution to withhold
my assent. 1t is, therefore, q source
of profound regret that, IN complying
with the obligation imposed upon the
President by the Constitution, to give
to Congress from time to time infor.
nation Of the state Of the Union am
unable 20 communicate any definite
adjustment satisfactory to tho Amerl-
can pcopl5 Of tho questions which,
since the close Of the rebellion, have
agitatod the public mind. On the
contrary, conIor, compels me 50 de
clare that all this time there is no
Union, az our fathers understood the
.erm, and rs they meant II t0 be I'M
derstood by us. The Union which
they established can exist only where
all tho States are represented in both
Houses of Congress, where one State
is as free as another to regulate its in.
ternNl cOncerB according to Its own
will, ard whpro the laws that control
the Government are strictly confined
to matters of National jurisdiction, and
apply with equal force to all the poo
pie Of every section That such is not
the present state of the Union 10 q
melancholy fact, and we all must ae-
knowledge that the restoration Of the
States to their proper legal relations
with the Federal Government, and
with ono another, according to .hI
terms Of the original compact, would
be the greatest temporal blessing which
God, in his kindcst providence, could
hestow upon tins nation.
1t becomes our imperative duty tc
conaldcr whether or not it is impossible
TO effect this most desirable consumma
ton. The Union aud the Constitution
are inseparable. As long as tho one
10 obcyed by all pal ties, the other viii
be prcseryed aid if one is destroyed
both must perish together. The de-
struc ton of the Constitution will b'
followed by other and still greater Gu
lamIties. 1t was ordained not only t
- form. moro perfect uniou between th
States, but to "cstablish justice, insur
domestic tranquility, provide for tn
common defense, promote the genera
welfare, and secure tho blessings c
liberty to ourselves and our postority.
Nothing but implicit obedience to it
requirements mall parts Of the country
will accomplish these 'grea. ends. WITH
out Shat obedience, we can look for
ward only to continual outrages upo
inIividual rights, incessabt breachesC
the public peace, national weakness
financial dlshOnOr, total loss of ou
8property general corruption Of moral
and the final extinction Of popul,
freedom. To save our country troI
ievis so appalling as these, we shouI
renew our efforts again and again
To mo. the process OF rostoratio
scems perfectly plan and simple.
consists merely in u faithful appHcatiC
II of the Constitution and the laws.
The execution cf the lawsi is not no
obstructed or opposed by physic
force; there is no military or other n
cessity, real or pretended, which CT
prevent obedience to the Constitutio
eth or North or South All the righ
and sIl the obligations OF tho STATE
and of individuals, can be protect
and enforced by means perfectly co
sstent with Fundamental law; I
courts may be everywhere open, al
If opon, their process would be uni
peded; crimes against the Unit
States can be prevented or punish
by the proper judicial authorities,