The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-12-12
Presidents Message
pRLrvRREp no ooNaREss,
TUESDAY SeON, DECEMBER 8, 1857.


90 often called the attention of Con
gress, is yet subject Of profound aud
patriotic concern. We ay, however,
lind some relief from that anxiety in
the reflection that so painful a politi.
cal situation, although untried by
ourselves. is not now 10 the expert
ence ofnations. .f
Political science, perhaps as highly
perfect 10 our time aud country as in
any other, has not yet disclosed any
means BY which civil wars can be alb
solutely prevented.
An enlightened nation. however,
with a wise aud bene6ccut coustitu
ton Of free government, may diminish
their frequency and mitigate their SO.
verify by directing all its proceedings
in accordance with its Fundamental
law. When civil war has been
brought to a close, il is maniiestly
the first interest and duty OF tho
State to repair the injuries which the
war has inflicted, and to secure the
benefit Of the lessons IL 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 insurreetionary States themselves
aud restoration in the 6rst moment
peace was believed to be as easy aud
certain a. it was Indispensable. EK.
peesations, however, then so reasona.
bly, and confidently entertained, were
disappointed by legislation from
which | felt constrained, by my obli'
cations TO the Constitution, to with.
hold my Ascent.
THE STATE or THE UNION.
II is, therefore, source Of pro.
found regret that, in complying with
the obligation imposed upon the Pre-
sident by the Constitution to give to
Congress, from time to time, informa.
ton OF the state Of the Union, am
unable to communicate any definite
adjustment, satisfactory to tho Amer,
lean people, of questions which, since
the close of the rebel ion, have agi
tated the public mind Of the country
Candor compels me to declare that al
this time there is no Union as oul
fathers understood the term, and a,
they meant it to be understood by us
The Union which they established cat
exist ouly where all the States arc
represented in both Houses of Con,
gress, where one State is as free a,
another to regulate its internal con
Germs according to its own will, anC
where the laws of the central govern
ment arc strictly confined To mattcrl
of national jurisdiction, and which
apply with equal force to all the peo
pie of every section. That such il
notsthe present stats Of the Union il
. melancholy fact; aud we all mus
acknowledge that the restoration o.
the States Of their proper legal rela
tions with tho Federal Government
and with one another, according tC
tho terms of the original compact
would be the greatest temporal bless
ing which God in his kindest Provi
dence could bestow upon the nation.
1t becomes our imperative duty t.
consider whether or not il is impossi
bic to effect this most desirable con
summation. The Union aud the Con
stitution are inseparable. IA lon,
as one is obeyed by all parties, tn,
othor will be preserved aud il one i
destroyed, both must perish together
The destruction of the Constitution
will be followed by other aud still
greater calamities. 1t was ordaine,
not only to form more perfect Uniol
between the States, but "to establish
justice, TO insure domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense, pro
mote the gensrsl welfare. and to Sc
cure the blessings Of liberty to our
selves and our postcrity." Nothing
but implicit obedience to its require
ments in all parts Of the country viii
accomplish these great ends. With
out that obedience We can look for,
ward only TO continual outrages upol
individual rights, incessant breache
Of the public peace, national weak
ness, financial dishonpr, total loss o
our property, general corruption O
morals, and final extinction Of popu
lar freedom. To save our countr
from evils so appalling as these W
should renew our efforts again an
sgsin. -fati'Ltt
TUE PROCESS OF REsroRATIos.
To mo tho process of restoratio
seems perfectly plain aud simple. ]
consists mainly in a faithful applica
ton Of the constitution aud law
The execution Of the laws is not no
obstruoted or opposed by physics
force. There is no military or oths
necessity, real or pretended, whic
can prevent obedience to the constitu
tion. Either North or South, a
rights, and all obligations Of State
Aaa individuals, eau be protected an
enforced by means perfectly consist
ent with the fundamental Lag. III
courts may be every where open, an
If open, their process would beuniu
peded. Crimes against the Unite
States can be prevented or punishe
by the proper Judicial authorities in
manner eatirely practicable and lega
There IL, therefore, no reason VII
che constitution should not be obeye,
uuless those who exercise its powel
have determined that IL should
disrsgarded aud ,iolated. The mel
naked win of this govornmeut, or
Some one or more OF its branches,
the only obstacle that can exist
pAafeet the union Of all the States.
On this momentous question, al
on some Of the measures growing 81
of Il, I had the misfortune to diff
from Uoagreas, aud have express'
my ep1sioilep without reserve, thOua