Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-10
PRESIDENT JOHNsON'S MESSAGE.

FeAov- Citigems ofthe Senate
and House of Representatives:
The continued disorganization Of the
Union, to which the President has so often
called the attention Of Congress, is yet
subject of profound and patriotic concern
We may, however, find some relief from
that anxiety in the reflection that the pain
full political situation, although before un-
tried by ourselves, is not new in the expert
ence Of nations. Political science, perhaps
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 abso-
lutely prevented. An enlightened nation,
however, with wise and benefcent Consti
tuition 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, it is manifestly the first interest and
duty of the State to repair the injuries which
the war has inflicted, and to secure the ben
eft of the lessons it teaches as fully and as
speedily as possible This duty was, upon
the termination of the rebellion, promptly
accepted, not only by the Executive Depart
meat, but by the insurrectionary States them
selves, and restoration, in the first moment
Of peace was believed to be as easy and GER
tain as it was indispensable. The expecta-
tions, however then 30 reasonably and con-
fdently entertained, were disappointed by
LEGISLATION from which | felt constrained, by
nv obligations to the Constitution, to with
hold my assent.
1t is therefore a source of profound regret
that, in complying with the obligation i'm
posed upon the President by the Constitu-
ton, to give to Congress from time to time
information of the state of the Union, | am
unable to communicate ahy defnitive adjust
ment, 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 de-
clare that at this time there is no Union as
our Fathers understood the term, and as
they meant it to be understood by us. The
Union 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 to regulate its internal con-
Germs according 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
Estate of the Union" is melancholy fact;
and we all must acknowledge that the resto-
ration 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 greatest
temporal blessing which God, in his kind
est providence, could bestow upon this ma
ton. It becomes our imperative duty to
consider whether or not it is impossible to
effect this most desirable contamination.
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 tossthsr.
The destruction of the Constitution will be
followed by other and still greater calsmities.
1t was ordained not only to form . moro
perfect union between the States, but to
'.establish justice, insure domestic tranquil
ty, provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our postsrlty"
Nothing but implicit obedieIcs to lite require
ments in all parts of the country will accom-
plish these great ends Without that obs-
dienee, we can look forward only To eontin-
ual outrages upon individual rights, incss-
SAINT breaches of the public peace, national
weakness, 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
30 appalling as these, we should renew our
efforts again and again.
To me the process of restoration seems
perfectly plain and simple. 1t consists merly
in a faithful application of the Constitution
and laws. The execution of the laws ia not
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 individuals can be protected and
enforced by means perfectly consistent with
the fundamental law. The courts may be
everywhere open, and, if open, their pro-
cess 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 e1-
ercise its powers have determined that it
shall be disregarded and violated. The mere
naked will of this Government, or of some
one or more of it's branches, is the only OBJ
stacle 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 to differ from Congress, and
have expressed my convictions without re-
serve, though with becoming Difference to
the opinion of the Legislative Department.