Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-12-11

full political situation, although before uL-
tried by ourselves, is not new in the expe-
rieuce 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 wars
can be absolutely prevented. An enlight-
ened nation, however, with a wise and be-
nefcent constitution of free government,
may diminish their frequency and mitigate
their severity. by directing all its proceed
ings in accordance with its fundamental
law.
THE PRESIDENTIAL POLICY.
When a civil war has been brought to a
close, it is manifestly the first Interest and
duty of a State to repair the injuries which
the war has inflicted, and to secure the
benefit of the lesson it teaches as fully and
speedily as possible. This duty was, upon
the termination of the rebellion, promptly
accepted, not only by the Executive De-
partment, but by the insurrectionary States
themselves, and restoration, IN the first mo
ment OF peace, was believed to be as easy
and certain as it was indispensable. The
expectations, however, then so reasonably
and confidently entertained, were disap-
pointed by legislation from which l felt
constrained, by my obligations to the Con-
stitution, to withhold my assent.
II is, therefore, a source of profound re-
gret that, in comp wing with the obligation
imposed upon the President by the Consti-
tuition. to give to Congress from time to
time information of the state of the Union,
| am unable to communicate any definite
adjustment, satisfactory to the American
people, of the questions which, since the
close of the rebellion, have agitated the
public mind. On the contrary, candOr
compels me to declare that at this time
there is no Union as our Fathers under
stood the term, and as they meant it 10 be
understood by US. The Union which they
established can exist only whete all the
States are represented in both Houses of
Congress where one State is as free as
another to regulate It's internal concerns
according to its own will; where laws of
the central Government, strictly confined TO
matters of national jurisdiction, apply with
equal force to all the people of every sec
ton. That such is not the present "statc
Of tue Union is a melancholy fact and
we all must acknowledge that the restora-
ton of the States to their proper legal re-
lations with the Federal Government and
with one another, according to, the terms
of the original compact, would be the great
est temporal blessing which God, in his
his kindest providence, could bcstow upon
this nation. It becomes our imperative
duty to consider whether or not it is inn
possible to effect this most most desirable
consummation.
The Union and the Constitution are in
separable. As long as one is obeyed BY
all parties, the other will be preserved, and
if one is destroyed both must perish to-
gether. The destruction of the Constitu-
tion will be followed by other and still
greater caIamitics. 1t was ordained not
only to form a more perfect union between
the States, but to establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the COM
mon defence, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and our posterity." Nothing but
implicit obedience TO its requirements in
all parts of the country will accomplish
these great ends. Without that obedience,
we eau look forward only to continual out
RACES upon individual rights. incessaut
breaches of the public peace, national weak
ness, financial dishonor, the total loss of
our prosperity, the general corruption of
morals, and the final extinction of popular
freedom, To save our country from evils
so appalling as these, we should renew our
efforts again and again.
To me the process of restoration seems
perfectly plain and simple, 1t consists
merely in a faithful application Of the Con
stitution and laws. The execution of the
laws is hot now obstructed or opposed by
physical force There is no military or
other necessity, real or pretended, which
can prevent obedience to the Constitution,
either North or South All the rights and
all the obligations of States and individu-
ais can DC protected and enforced by means
perfectly consistent with the fundamental
law. The courts may be everywhere open,
and, if open, their process would be unim-
peded. Crimes against the United States
can be prevented or punished by the prop
er judicial authorities, in manner entirely
practicable and legal. There is, therefore,
no reason why the Constitution shonld not
be Obeyed, unless those who exercise its
powers have determined that it shall be dis
regarded and violated. The mere naked
will of this Government, or of some one
or 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 ont of it, have
had the misfortune to differ from Congress,
and have expressed my convictions with
out reserve, though with becoming defer
ence to the opinion of the Legislative De-
partment. Those convictions are not only
UNCHANGED hut sire rengthpupd hy snbsenu ent