St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-12-06
President JOhns0R's -MeSSage.

The Presidents Message was sent into
congress on Tuesday. Its great length
prevents us from printing it entire; but
we give a pretty full abstract below:
The president opens by saving that the
continued DISCRIMINATION of the section
to which he has SO often called the at
tention of congress-, yet SUBJECT of
profound and patriotic concern. lie
says it Is, therefore, 4 source of profound
regret that, in complying with the obi
cation imposed upon the president by
the Constitution, to give to congress,
from time to time, information of the
state of the Union, that he is unable to
communicate any detnitive adjustment
satisfactory to the American people--oF
the questions which since the close of the
rebellion, have agitatcd the public mind.
On the contrary. candor compels him to
declare that, at this time. there is no
Union las our fathers understood the
term, and as they meant it to be under
stood by us. The Union which they cs-
tablished can exist only where all the
states are represented in both houses of
congress. To the president the pro cess
Of restoration seems perfectly plain and
simple 1t consists merely in faithful
application of the Constitution and the
laws. The execution of the laws is 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 Of all the states
and individuals can be projected and
their obedience enforced by means per-
fectlv consistent with the fundamental
law. 1t is clear to his apprehension that
the states lately in rebellion are still
members of the national Union. When
did they cease 10 be 50! The "ordi-
nances of secession adopted by a portion,
i'll most of them By Il very small portion
of their citizens, were mere utilities l.,
we admit now that they were valid for
the purpose intended by their authors.
we sweep troin un'lyr Our feet the who'll
ground upon which We Justified the war.
The president celebrates these views nj
great length. and then says:
Being sincerely cons ncyd that these
views are correct, | would be untaithtul
to my duty i'll did not recommend the
repeal OF the act, of congress which place |
ten of the southern states under the dom !
nation OF military masters. II calm rt-
Election may satisfy 4 lnajority of Your
honorable bodies that the acts referred To
are not only a violation OF tie national ,
faith, bu: III direct conflict with the Con
sutution, dare not permit mvseit to
Doubt that You viii Immediately strike
them from tie statute book"
The President proceeds to say that he
has no desire 10 save from the Just and
proper consequences OF their crime those
who engaged III rebellion. but as to the
mode of punishment, the measures under
consideration are the most Objectionable
| that could be invented. Many of these
people are perfectly innocent. am, oil
those who are guilty with their own con-
sent, the degrees of guilt are rs various
as their shades OF character and temper
But these acts of congress condemned
them all together in common doom
lndIscrimlnate vengeance on classes. par
ties, or upon whole communities, for Of
tenScs committed by Il portion OF them
against the government 10 which thcv
owed obedience, was common IN the bar
barcus ages. but christianity ana civiiza-
ton have made such progress that re
course to punishment 50 cruel and I'M
just would meet the condemnation Of ali
unprecedented and righl minded men. The
justice of this age. especially in this
country, does not consist in stripping
whole states OF their liberties. and re due
ING all OF their people, without dlstinc-
ton, to the condition OF slavery. He
says he is aware that it Is assumed that
this system OF government for the south
Is not to be perpetual. Ii the guarantees
OF the Constitution can be broken pro-
vlslonally, to serve temporary purpose,
and IN part onl Y OF the country, we
can destroy them everywhere and for all
time. Arbitrary measures often change.
but they generally change for the worse.
1t Is the course OF despotism that it has
no: hating place. The president then
states:
at Is manifestly and avowcdlv the
object OF these laws to confer the privll-
eye OF voting on the negroes, and to dis
franchise such a number of whites as to
give the former clear majority Of all the
elections in the southern states This 10
the minds of some persons is 50 impor-
tant, that violation of the Constitution
is Justified as the means of bringing il
about. We are not permitted to do evil
that good may come, but in this case the
end Is evil. The subugation of the
states to negro domination would I've
worse than the military despotism under
which they are now suffering. The
blacks in the south are entitled to be we'll
and humanity governed, and to have the
protection Of just laws for all their rights
of person and properly. If it were prac-
tlcable at this time to give them a gov
eminent OF their own, 1t Is questionable
to do so; but low they are permitted to
elect legislators, organize states and cleo,
presidents. No Independent government
has been maintained by negroes"
The message goes on to argue the dan
gers OF the extension of the elective fran
chlse, and says that four millions of de-
graded slaves of yesterday cannot be
made intelligent freedmen to-day. He Is
willing to join i'll any plan to better the
conditions of the negroes, in all respects
but that of transferring to them our po-
litical inheritance. The President al
ludeS to the uncountcd millions that the |
Congressional plan has cost, and says it
will increase the burdens of taxation, and