Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
THE FAILURr on RFsroRArIoN.

hutgect OF profound ana patflotic concern.
We may, however, find some relief from
that anxiety in the reelection that the pain
ful political situation, although before un-
tried by ourselves, is not new in the expe-
rience Of nations. Political science per
haps az highly perfected in our time and
country as in any other, has not yet dis
closed any means by which civil wars can
be absolutely prevented. An enlightened
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. When civil war has been brought 10
a close If Is manifestly the first interest
and duty Of the State 20 repair the Injuries
which war has inflicted, and 10 secure the
benefit OF the lessons il teaches az fully and
speedily as possible This duty was upon
the termination Of the rebellion promptly
accepted, not only by the Executive De-
Partment, bnt by the insurrectionary States
themselves, and restoration as the frat
movement Of peace was believed TO be easy
and certain as il was indispensable. The
expectations, however, then no reasonably
and confidently entertained, were disap-
pointed by legislation from which I felt
constrained by nay obligations 70 the con-
stitution 10 withhold my assent
IL is therefore source Of profound re-
gret that, in complying with the obligation
imposed upon the President by the consti,
tuition, to give 10 Congress, from time 10
time, information of the state of the Union"
am Unable 20 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 to be
understood by ms. The Uaion which they
established can exist only where all the
States are represented in both Houses of
Congress; where one State is as free as
another 10 regulate its internal concerns ar
cording TO It's own will and where the
laws of the central government, strictly
confined TO matters of national jurisdiction,
apply with equal force TO all the people Of
every section. That such is not the present
state Of The Union is n melancholy fact
and, since we all must acknowledge that
the restoration Of the States 10 their proper
legal relations with the Federal govern
ment, and with one another, according 20
the terms Of the original compact, would
he the greatest temporal blessing which
God in his kindess providence could bee
stow upon this nation, il becomes our inn
Peratiye duty to consider whether or not it
is impossible to effect this most desirable
consummation.
RESTORATION MAY BE EFFECTED BY AID
HERRING TO THE CONSTITUTION.
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 together.
The destruction Of the constitution will be
followed by other and still greater calami-
ties. It was ordained not only "to form
more perfect Union" between the States,
but 'tO establish justice insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fense, promote the general welfare and se-
cure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity." Nothing but implicit
obedience 10 its requirements in all parts
Of the country will accomplish this great
end. Without that obedience we can look
forward only to continual outrages on in
diyidual right, incessant breaches of pub
lie peace, national weakness, financial dis
honor total loss of our property, general
corruption Of morals, and the final extinc
ton Of popular freedom.
10 save our country from evils so APP
palling as these, we should renew our efforts
again and again. To me the process Of
restoration seems perfectly plain and sim
pie. II consists merely in faithful applis
cation Of the constitution and laws The
execution of the laws ia not now obstructed
or opposed by physical force. There is no
military or ether necessity, real or pre-
tended, which can prevent obedience TO
the constitution, either North or South.
All the rights and all the obligations Of
States aud individuals can be protected and
enforced by means perfectly consistent with
fundamental law. Courts may he every
where opened, and if opened their process
would be unimpeded. Crimes against the
United States can be prevented or pun
ished by the proper judicial authorities in
a manner entirely practicable and legal
There is, therefore, no reason why the
constitution should not be obeyed, unless
those who exercise its powers have deter
mined that il shall be disregarded and yio-
lated. The mere naked will Of this gov
ernment, or of some one or more Of its
branches, is the only obstacle that can ex ist
to the perfect union of all the States.
On this momentous question and some
ol the measures growing ont of IL, | had
The misfortune 10 differ from Congress, and
have expressed my convictions without re-
serve, though with becoming Difference TO
the opinion of the legislative department
Those convictions were not nlyunchanged
but strengthened by subsequent events and
further reflections. The transeendent i'm
portance Of the subject will be a sufficient
excuse for calling your attention 10 some
reasons which have 80 strongly influenced
my own Judgment. The hope that we NAV
all finally concur in mode Of settlement
consistent AT once With our true interests
and with oar sWon dut' - 10 the constitH-
ton is too natural and too inst 10 he easily
relinquished.
THE UNION UNBRoKyN BY REBELLION.
Ii is clear TO my apprehension that the
States lately in rebellion are still members
Of the national Union. When did they
cease 90 be so ? The ordinances Of seces-
sion adopted by portion Of those States,
in most Of them by very small portion OF
their citisens, were mere nnllities. lf We
admit now that they were valid and
efectual for the purpose intended by their
authors, we sweep from under our feet the
whole ground upon which we justified the
war.
We're those States aferWard expelled
from the Union by war? The direct con-
trsry was averred by this government tC
be its purpose, and was 30 understood by
all those who gave their blood and treasure
g. aid in its prosecution. II cannot be thai
successful war, waged for the pres@rva
tion of the Union, had the legal effee.t o
dissolying IT,
The victory Of the nations arms WAS 30
the disgrace Of her policy. The defeat o
secession on the battlefield was not tn,
taiumph Of ITS lAwless principle. No
could Congress, with or without the con
sent Of the Executive, do anything whicl
would have the effect, directly or indirect
ly, Of separating States from each other
To dissolve the Union is to repeal the con
s,itution which holds il together; and tha
ia power which does not belong to an.
department of this government, or to al
of them united.s
This II so plain that it has been acknowl
edged by all branchesof the Federal gov
ernment legislative and executive. Nj!
predecessor. as well as myself and III
heads of the departments, have uniforml
acted upon the principle that the Union /
moi only undissolved but iDdissolublt
Congress submitted an amendment of Oh
constitution 10 be ratified by the Southern
go II .,,,rtad fbair acfa of ratifCa