The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-07

Representatives.:
The continued Reorganization of the Union,
to which the President has often called the
attention of Congress, is yet subject Of pro-
found and patriotic concern. We may, however,
find some relief from that anxiety in the rehec-
ton that the painful political situation, although
before untried by ourselves is not new in the
experience of nations. Political science, per-
haps, as highly perfected in our own time and
country as in any other, has not yet disclosed
any means by which civil war can be absolutely
prevented. An enlightened nation however,
with wise and beneticent Constitution Of free
government, may diminish their frequency and
mitigate their severity by directing AL its pro-
ceedings in accordance with its fundamental law.
THE PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
When civil war has been brought to a close, it
is manifest that the first interest and duty of the
State is to repair the injuries which war has in
ficted and TO the benefit 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 Executive
Department, but by the insurrectionary States
themselves; and restoration, in the first moment
OF peace, was believed to be easy and certain
as it was indispensable. The expectations, how
ever, then reasonably and confidently enter
tanned, were disappointed by legislation from
which l felt constrained, by my obligations to
tHc SoIsIllutiou, W WltHHOlu my assent. III II,
therefore, source of profound regret that in
complying with the obligation imposed upon the
President by the Constitution TO give to Con-
gress, from time to time, information OF the state
OF the Union, that l am unable to communicate
any definite adj ustmsnt satisfactory to the Amer
lean people of the questions which, since the
close of the rebellion, have agitated the mind of
the country. Candor compels me to declare that
all this time there has been no Union as our
fathers understood the term, and they meant
it to be understood by us. The Union which
they established can exist only where all the
States are represented in both Houses Of Con-
gress; where one State is a. free another to
regulate its internal concerns according to it's
own will; and when the laws of the central
Government, strictly confined 10 matters 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 melancholy fact.
We all must acknowledge that the restoration of
the States to their proper legal relations with the
Federal Government, with one another,
cording TO the terms Of the original compact,
would be the greatest temporal blessing which
God, in His kindest Providence, could bestow
upon our nation.
REVERENCE TO THE CONSTITUTION.
1t becomes our imperative duty to consider
whether not it is impossible effect this most
desirable contamination. The Union and the
Constitution are inseperabls; so long as tbs one
is obeyed by all parties, the other will be pre-
served and if one is destroyed both must perish
together. The destruction OF the Constitution
will be followed by other and still greater calam-
tiles. 1t was ordained not only TO form more
perfect Union" between the States, but 80 es-
tabliAh justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro-
vide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure Me blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity." Nothing but inn
plicit obedience TO its requirements in all parts
Of the country will accomplish these great ends.
Without that obedience we can look forward
only to continual outrages upon individual
rights; incesssnt breaches VI the public peace;
National weakness; financial dishonof; total
loss of our property; general corruption Of
morals, and the final extinction Of popular free
dom. To save our country from evils 50 appsll.
ing ~ those, we should renew efforts again
and again.
NATTERs or RECONSTRUCTION.
To me the process Of restoration SCENE per.
fectly plain and simple. 1t consists merely in
faithful application Of tho Constitution and
laws. The execution Of the laws il not now
obstructed or opposed by physical force. There
is no military, or other necessity, real or pre-
tended, which can prevent obedience 70 the Con-
stitution, either North or South. All the rights
and all the obligations Of States and individuals
can be protected and enforced by means perfect
ly consistent with the fundamental law Courts
may be everywhere opened, and il open, their
process would Be unimpsded. Crimes against
the United States can bs prevented or punished
BY the proper judicial authorities, in . manner
entirely practicable and legal There is, there
fore. no reason why the Constitution should not
be obeyed, unless those who exercise its powers
have determined that it shall be disrsgarded and
violsted. The mere naked will of this Govern
msnt, or of some one or more of its branches, il
the only obstacle that can exist to the perfect
Union Of all the States. On this momentuous
question, and some Of the measures growing out
Of it, had the misfortune to differ from Con.
grsss, and expressed my conviction without re-
serve, though with becoming Difference to the
opinion of the Legislative Department. Those
convictions not only unchanged but
strengthened by subsequent events and further
reflections. The transcendent Importance Of the
subject will be sufficient excuse for calling
your attention to some of the reasons which
have so strongly influenced my own Judgment.
The hope that we may al finally concur in n
mode of settlement consistent at once with our
true interests, and with our sworn duties to the
Constitution, is too natural and too Just to be
easily relinquished.
THE REBEL STATES NOT OUT OF THE UNION
1t is clear, to my apprehension, that the States
lately in rebellion are still members of the Ma.
tional Union. When did they cease to be SO |?
The ordinances Of secession adopted by portion
of these citizons were mere utilities. If we
admit now that they were valid and etfectual for
the purpose intended by their authors, we sweep
from under our feet the whole ground upon
| which we justified the war. Were these States
afterward expelled from the Union by the war?
The direct contrary was averred by this Govern
ment to be its purpose, and was so understood by
all those who gave their blood and treasure to
n;d ifa ho H.