The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-12-12
resident's S Message.

=
- aIE ;, ub;ch the President has so often
noau ,5s attention of Congress, is yet
. ,torprofound political concern. We
&c a e7, .,ysvpr. find some relief from that
.r IN the reflection that this painful
tout ...I .ituation, although before untried
being ,..sIres, is not new in the experience
Mons Political science, perhaps as
prs, H. ,srfec:ed in our own time and
Oonn ,,,v As in any other, has not yet dis
TRF ,nv means by which civil wars can
.,.olptely prevented. An enlightened
.SFS !, however, with a wise and benei~
'f the / institution of free government, may
Balsa i,b their frequency and mitigate their
4Hh. 5ty BY directing all its proceedings in
~ WI lance with its fundamental law.
o,D'. Wv: ,r civil waf has been brought to a
o beFa il is manifestly the first interest and
sorcel Of the State to repair the injuries
Phv the war has inflicted, and to secure
give ,sreft of the lessons it teaches as fully
II i, ci, Dsedily AS possible. This duty was,
IN the termination of the rebellion,
. If nply accepted, not only by the Exc
,cEe me- Department, but by the insurrec>
"a ray States themselves and restoration
Rs Ne first moments of peace was believed
D.s'r be as easy and certain as it was indis-
0" sable Expectations however, then so
b,.J nably and confidently entertained,
SO, disappointed by legislation from
h | felt constrained by my obligations
u Constitution to withhold my assent.
therefore, a source of profound regret
80, ba oh
si upon the President by the Consti-
etors n, to give to Congress, from time to
. Cof b. Information of the state of the Union,
u unable to communicate any definite
lament, satisfactory to the American
gIe, Of questions which, since the close
-CFH he rebellion, have agitated the public
3D. On the contrary, candor compels
RKN to declare, that all this time there is
Union, "a our fathers understood the
d. and as they meant it to be under
AZ ID by US. The Union which they es-
~ ished, can exist only where all the
lies are represented in both Houses of
- lgresS and where one State is as free
= another to regulate it's internal concerns,
ceI riding to its own will, and u'harn the
zDA s of the central government are strictly
khfned TO matters of national jurisdiction,
hd apply with equal force to all people
every section and that such is not the
rcscnt state of the Union, it is melan~
s holy fact, and we all must acknowledge,
hat the restoration of the States to their
Sropcr and legal relations with 1.-THE FEEDER
II government, and with one another, ac
Crding 20 the terms Of original compact,
'AsouId be the greatest temporal blessing
y hich God in his kindest Providence
couid bestow upon this nation. Ii becomes
.i FUR imperative duty to consider whether
gr not It is impossible to effect this most
.kesirable cousummation. The Union and
CONSTITUTION are inseparable; as long as
he is obeysd by all parties, the other will
Be preserved, and if one is destroyed, both
fust perish together. The destruction of
re Constitution will be followed by other
hnd still greater calamities. 1t was or
lained not only to form more perfect
4 Union between the States, bat to establish
Justice and domestic tranquility, provide
kor the common defense, promote the gen.
seral welfare, and secure the blessings OF
fiberty to ourselves and our posterity.-
Nothing but implicit obedience to its re-
&1uirements in all parts of the country will
dfccomplish these great ends, and without
bat obedience we can look forward only
70 continued outrages upon individual
fights and incessant breaches of the public
peace, national weakness, financial dishon-
Dr, total loss of our prosperity, genera
corruption of our morals, and the final ex
inction of popular freedom. To save ouI
.1kountry from evils so appalling as these VIZ
ghould renew our efforts again and again
To me the process of reconstruction
ems perfectly plain and simple. 1t con
Sts merely in a faithful application o.
ne Constitution and laws, and as the exc.
uhon OF the laws is not now Obstructed Oh
fposed by physical force, there is no mil
iary or other necessity, real or pretended
(which can prevent obedience to the Con
stltution, either North or South. Al
ghts and all obligations of States and In
Esduals can be protected and enforced
means perfectly consistent with funda.
tneo'al law. Courts may be everywhere
'pea' aud if open, their process would +;
e S.a SSa.,mpeded, and crimes against the United
..a'e' can be prevented or punished by
Il proper judicial authorities in a manner en-
%sy practicable and legal. There is
%'Feiore, no reason why the Constitution
,-'uld not be obeyed, unless those wh'
~eIclse its powers have determined tha
a snail be disregarded and violated as th'
s'e naked will of this Government, or o
a 'ue one or more of its branches. Is Their
obstacle that can exist to perfect tn
c'uon OF all the Statesi On the momen
~. 4' question, and some of the measure
ID S;g SS;Sgwlns out of it, had the misfortune T.
-'' from Congress, and have expresses
convictions without reserve, thougl
$ Il" "I becoming Difference to the opinion o
S ' legislative Department. Those con
io6g great weight. On the 22d of July