Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-04
NJ SSAGE
President to The Fcriielh Congress.

Fellow citizens oi the Senate ami House
Of Representatives,:
The continued DISCRIMINATION Of the |
Cnien 10 which the Precedent has 50 often 1
called the attention of Congress, i yet a |
.al.ie,t of profound and patriotic concern. |
We may, however find some relief from |
that anxiety in the reflection that the |
painful political situation. although before |
untrled by ourselves, Is not new In the ex
pcrience OF nations. Political science |
perhaps as highly perfected in our own |
time and country M IN any other, has not
yet disclosed any means by which civil |
wars can be absolutely prevented. An en-
lightened nation, however, with wise
aud benefcent constitution Of free gov
crnmcns, may diminish their frequency
and mitigate their severity by directing
all its proceedings in accordance with the
fund Amental law. When civil war has
been brought 10 u close, IL is manifcstly
the first interest and duty Of the state to
repair the injuries which war has Inflicted
AMI 10 s,cure the benefit of the lessons
!, teaches, as fully and speedily AS possible
The duty was. upon the termination Of the
rebellion, promptly accepted, not only 10y
the Executive Department. but by the in.
surrectIonary States themselves, aud rcs'o-
ration in the first moment Of peace WIS
believed 10 he as easy and certain Us il was
indispensable. These expectations, how
ever, then - reasonably and confidently
entertained, were disappointed by legsln
,lnn from which feel constrained by my
Obligations to the constitution 70 with.
hold my assent. IL is, Their fore, a source
oi profound regret that, in complying
WITH the obligation imposed upon the
President by the constitution To give 10
Concress from time In time in
formation of the state of the Union
am unable to communicate any definite
adjustment satisfactory to the Ameri-
can people of the questions which since
the close Of the rebellion, have agita'ed
the mind al the country. Candor comp,ls
me 10 declare that in all this time
there is no Union as our fathers under
stood The term, and as they meant II to DO
understood by us The Union which they
established can exist only where all the
States are represented in both houses oi
Congress; where one State is as free as
another To regulate its Internal concerns
according Ia it, own will, and when the
laws of the central government are strict
~ confined to matters of national juriscic
ton. AMI apply with equal force to all
people Of every station. That such is not
ia. present state Of the Union is mclan
choly TACT, and we all must acknowledge
that the restoration of the States to their
proper legal relations with the Federal
Government, and with one another, nc
cnrding to the terms of the original con
pact would be the greatest temporal bless
rig which God in Ills kindcst providence
could b,stow upon our nation II becomes
our imperative duty To consider whether
OF not 1t is possible TO eff ct this most de
sira dc contamination. The lnien and
consultation arc inscperlblc. AZ long as
one i. obcyel 10y nll parties. the Other will
j.. preserved, and i. one is destroyed,
both must perish together. The dcstruc-
ton u. the constitution will hc followed
hy other aud stu greater calamatics II
wts ord, ned not only to form IL more
perfect union between the States, but Ia
establish justice, insure domestic tran luil-
Nv. provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty 10 ourselves and our
rostcrity. Nothing hut implicit ohcd
.nce To its requirements in all parts II the
untry will accomplish these great ends
Without that obcdnDcc ae can look for
wali only 10 continual outfagcs upon ind-
rldnal rights, incessant breaches of the
public peace. national weakness, financial
,iishunnr, total loss of our proper
-. general corruption 1T morals
ahi tnal extinction OF popular freedom
IL save our country iiom evils So appalling
a. these, VT shouli renew our efforts again
AMI again To ne the process Of rtstora-
ton seems perfectly PLAIN and simple. II
consists merely IN faithful application of
tn constitution and laws. The execution
M the laws Is not now obstructei or ol,-
pss,l hy physical force There il no mil
lisry or "ther necessity. real or pretended,
which ran prevent obedience t. the con
stitntion either Norik or South. All
ghts And alt obligations 81 States and H.
d.*i'iuAl-. can be protected and enforced
Wy mcanS perfectly consistent with the
fundamental law. Courts may be EVERY
whsir opened, and il opened their process
vseaii be un.mpe..cd Grimes against tie
ed states can le pr, vented or punish
ID l'y the proper ia,lcA authorities in
manner entirely practicable and legal.
THi PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
There is Ia rviorc no reason way the
constitution should not he oDcy,d. uniess
those who exercise lis powers have deter
lated Mere naked will of this govern
ment, or of somc ono or more of is
branches, is the only obstacle that can cN
IL 10 a perfect Union If all the State,
On inis momentars question. and on some
al thu measures growing out of it. | hai
tho misfortune to differ from Congress
AMI have expressed my conviction w,,hou,
reserve, though with becoming Difference
Ia f4e Tf l.tt a.
mint. Those convictions were not only
unchanged but strengthened bv su5se
qncn, events aud further reflection The
transcen,ient importance of the subject
will he n Sufficient excusc for calling your
attention u some OF the reasons which
have 80 strongly influenced my own uig
mcnt. The hope that we may all finally
canenr in mode of settlement consistent
at once with our true interests, and with
our swcrn duties to the constitution, is
too natural aud too just to be easily relin-
pushed.
STATUS or THE LATE REBAI STATES
|, is clear to my apprchcnsions that the |
States lately in rebellion are still mem |
bers OF the national Union. When did |
they cease 10 be SOY The ordinances of Sc.
ccssinn adopted by a portion of their citi |
us we're mere utilities. If We admit now
that they were valid and effcctual 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 afterwards expelled
from the Union by war. The direct con
trary was averred by the government to be
i.spurposc, and was 50 understood by ali
those who gave their blood and treasure |
O. aid in its prosecution. It cannot be that |
successful war, wagcd for the prescrva
ton Of she Union, had the legal effect OF |
cissolving il. The victory OF the nations |
arms was not the disgrace of her policy
The defeat Of secession on the battle field |
was not the triumph of its lawless princi- |
pie, nor could Congress, with or without
the consent of the Executive, do any
thing which would have the effect, direct.
Igor indirectly. of separating the States
trom each other. To dissolve the Union
Is to repeal the constitution which holds
IL together, and that is a mower which
does not belong To any department Of this
government, or to all of them uuited
This is so plain that it has been acknowl.
edged by all branches Of The E.a.r.l