Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TO THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS-.

NEW YoRK, December BAH the
papers print the Presidents message this
morning. The following is o summary
of it: The President opens by saying
that the continued Reorganization of the
Union, to which the President has 50
often called the attention of Congress,
is vet a subject of profound and patriotic
concern. He says it is, therefore, a
source of profound regret in complying
with the obligation imposed upon the
President by the Constitution, to give
Congress from time to time information
of the state of the Union, am unable
communicate any definite adjustment
satisfactory to the American people Of
the questions which, since the close of
the rebellion, have agi,ated the public
mind. On the contrary, candor COM
pels me to declare that at this lime
there is no Union, as our fathers under
stood the term, as they meant it to be
understood by us. The Union which
they established can only exist where
all the States are represented in both
houses Of Congress. At the present the
process of restoration seems perfectly
plain and simple, and consists merely
in faithful application of the
Constitution and laws. The execution
of laws is not now constructed by physi.
cal 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 indi-
yiduals can be protected and enforced by
means perfectly consistent with the fun
damental law tits clear to his appre-
hension that the States lately in rebellion
are still members of the National
Union. When did they cease to be SO !?
The ordinance Of secession was adopted
By very small portion Of the citizens in
most Of them. These were null if we ad-
init now that they we're valid and effect
ual for the purpose intended by their
authors. sThiz sweeps from under foot
the whole ground upon which we justified
the war. The President Celebrates these
views at great length, and then says,
/ being sincerely convinced that these
views are correct, ] would be very
unfaithful to my duty if | did not recon-
mend the repeal Of the acts OF Congress
which place ten Of the Southern States
under the domination Of military mas
tiers. II calm reflection shall satisfy a
msjority Of your honorable bodies that
the acts referred 10 are not only viola
tions Of the national faith, but in direct
conflict with the Constitution, | dare
not permit myself 70 doubt that you will
Immediately strike them from the statute
book The President proceeds to say be
has no desire TO save from the just and
proper consequences Of their crime those
who engaged 10 rebellion, but says the
mode Of punishment and the measures
under confederation ere the most M.
reasonable that could be invented. Many
Of those people are perfectly innO'
cent, aBd Of those who are guilty
with their own consent the degrees Of
guilt are as various as their shades Of
character and temper; but these acii
Of wrong oonlound them al together in
one common doom lndiscrim.nate ven
reance on classes, sects, parties, OF
upon whole communities, for ofenses
committed By a portion Of them
against she Government 10 which they
owed obedience, vas common 10 TOE
barbarous ages, bu, Christianity and civ