The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TO THE FORTIETH CONGRESS

which the President has so often called the attention
of Congress is yet subject of profound and patriots
concern We may, however, find some relief from
that anxiety in the reflection that the painful potca
si.aation,- although before uatred-by ourselves, il
not new in the experience of nations. Political
science. perhaps highly perfected in own tme
and country IS in any other, has not 1yet,dsclosed
any means By which civil be absolutely
prevented. An enlightened nation, however, with q
wise and benchccnt Constitution of free government
may diminish their frequency and mitigate their
severity by directing all its proceedings in accordance
with its fundamental law.
When civil war has been brought TO close IL is
manfesy the first interest and duty of the State 10
repair tHe injuries which the has inflicted, and
the benefit of the lessons it teaches fully
and speedily possible. This duty was, upon the
termination Of the rebellion, promptly accepted,
only by the Executive Department but by the insur-
aectionary States themselves and restsrato in the
first moment of peace believed to be easy and
certain il Indispensable The expectations
however, then so reasonably and confidently enter
tanned, disappointed by Legislation from which
felt constrained, by my obligations to the Constitu
tion to withhold my assent.
Is therefore q source of profound regret that, in
complying whit obligation imposed upon the Pres
ident by the Constitution, TO give to Congress from
time to time information of the State of the Union,
am unabie to communicate any definite adjustment,
satisfactory tothe American people, of the questions
which, since the close of the rebellion have agtated
the public mind On the contrary candor compels
Ine to declare that at this time there is Union
our Fathers understood the term, and they mean
il to be understood by the Union which they
established can exist only where all tie Etates
represented in both Houses Of Congress; where
Sate ID rs free as another to regulate its internal
concerns according to its will and where the
laws Of the central Government strictly confined to
matters of national jurisdiction, apply with equal
aarce 10 all the people of every section That such is
not the present 'stste of the Union is melancholy
fact; and we all must acknowledge that the
ton of the States to their proper legal relations with
the Federal Government and with another,
k&IFfQf tn fhn Of tha
abe greatest temporal blessing which God, in his
kindest providence, esuld bestow upon this nation
Ii becomes our imperative duty consider whether
or not 1t is impossible to effect this most desirable
contamination.
The Union and the Constitution are inseparab1e
As long as one is obeyed by all parties the other
will be preserved, and if one is destroyed both
perish together. The destruction OF ahe
viii be followed by other and still greater caantcs
Ii was ordained not only to form more perfect
Union between the States but to establish Justice
insure domestic trasqui.y provide for the common
aeepcc prSGete the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity
Nothing but implicit obedience its requirements in
all parts of the country will accomplish these great
ends Without that obedience we can look forward
only to continued outrages upon individual rights
incessant breaches of the public peace national
weakness, financial dshonor the total loss of our
prosperity the general corruption of morals and the
hhal EXTINCTION of popular freedom. To save our
country frsm evils SO appalling as these, we should
renew our efforts again and again.
TO me the process of restoration seems peri ctly
plain and simple. 1t consists merely in faithful
application OF the Constitution and laws. The exc
cution OF the laws is not obstructcd or opposed
by physical force There is no military or other
necessity real or pretended which can prevent ODE
dIence to the Constitution, either North or South
AL the rights and all the obligations of States |
and individuals can be protected and enforced by |
means perfectly consistent with the fundamental law
~. Inc courts may be everywhere open, and if open
their process would be unimpeded. Crimes against !
the United States can be prevented or punished by |
the proper Judicial authorities, in a entirely
practicable and legal There is, therefore, no reason
why the Constitution should not be obeyed unless
those who exercise its powers have determined that
1t shall be disregardcd and violated. The mere
hahed VIII OF TINS Government, or of some
more of its branches, is the only obstacle that can
exist TO perfect union of all the States
On this momentous question and some of the
measures growing out Of it, have had the misfortune
10 dner from Congress, and have expressed my con-
Flctlons without reserve, though with becomno
difference to the opinion of the Legislative Denart
ment. Those convictions are not only UNCHANGED.
but strengthened by subsequent events and further
renection The transcendent Importance of the sub
Ject Will be sufficient for calling your attep-
tiqp to some of the which have so strongly
influenced my own judgment. The hope that we may
a nhaliy concur in mode of settlement consistent
az cnse <h our true interests and with orr sworn
eutes 10 the Constitution, is natural and too list
10 be easily relinqushed
IL ls clear to my apprehension that the States
lately In rebellion are still members of the National
H.
nances OF secession" adopted by n portion lin most
OF them very small portion) of their citizens were
mere nullitles If We admit that they were valid
ana enectua for the purpose intended by their au-
we sweep from under feet the whole ground
upon which we justified the war; We're those States
afterwards expelled from the Union by the wars
ne direct contrary was averred by this Government
to be Its purpose and understood by all those
VINO gave their blood and treasure to aid in its prose
cutlon 1t cannot be that a successful war waped I
1or the preservation of the Union had the legal ef
1ect OF dlssoving it. The victory of the nations s
arms was not the disgrace of her policy: the defeat
OF secession on the battle field was not the trumph of
lis Wless principle Nor could Congress with or
Without the consent of the Executive do ANYTHING ! 9
"hicn would have the effect directly or indirectly Of
separating the States from each other. To dissolve
the mon is to repeal the Constitution which holds
together and that ia power which does not belong
them united. " " ,
TINS 10 SO plain that il has been Acknowledged bv n
II! branches Of the Federal Government The Exec O
auSe tmy predecessor well as myselfl and tho r
peaas Of ell the Departments have uniformly acted
ipon the principle that the Union is not only undis
oiVed, out lndlssolube. Congress submitted an \
OF the constitution to be ratified by the v
southern States and accepted their acts of ratiSca
Ion as necessary and lawful exercise of their is
,ighest junction If they were States or were T
,'aes out OF the Union, their consent to change in
ne fundamental law of the Union would have been W
ugatory, and Congress, in asking it. committed a ! RI
ohticai absurdity The Judiciary has also given ~
ne Solemn sanction OF its authority to the same Wow :,
the case. The Judges of the Supreme Conrt have s.
aciuded the Southern States in their circuits and
qey are constantly cane and elsewhere EXERCISING nj
arisoietioa which does not belong to them. unless
nose states arc States of the Cnion In
tae southern States component parts of tho a,
naaa the Constitution is the supreme law for then,
to{a, /.