Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-12
Synopsis Of the Presidents Message.

secure the benefit of the wars lessons at
the earliest moment. This duty WAS
promptly accepted by the executive.
The restoration of the insurrectionary
States. in the first moments of peace
was believed as easy and certain as 1t
twas Indispensable. These expectants
were disappointed by legislation, and
now there is 40 union where one State
is as free as another to regulate it's IN
ternal affairs according to its own Will.
Here follows an elaborate argument on
the proposition that the Union and Con-
stitution are inseparable. AS long as,
one is Obeyed the other will be preserv-
ed, and if one is destroyed both VIII
perish together. There is no military
or other necessity, real or pretended,
which can prevent obedience to the Con
stitution, either North or South. The
hope is expressed that Congress may
ultimately concur as plan of settle
ment consistent with the true interests
of the country and their sworn duties.
This is, of course, too natural and too
just to be easily abandoned. 1t is clear
to the apprehension of the president,
that the States lately in rebellion are
still members of the Union. The execu-
tive, my predecessor, as well as myself,
and heads of all departments, have
adopted and acted upon the principle
that the Union is not dissolved, but is
indissolubIe.
Congress submitted constitutional
amendments to the Southern States and
accepted their votes on the ratification
of the same. The judges of the Supreme
Court have included the Southern
States in their districts. If the South
ern States are component parts of the
Union, the Constitution is the supreme
law for them as for all other States.
They are bound to obey it, and so are
we. Being sincerely convinced that
these views are correct, the president
recommends the repeal of the acts plac-
ing the Southern States under military
masters.
The conflict between the RECONSTRUCT
ton acts and the rights of the people I'M
der the Constitution is argued and illus
trated at length.
Abiding to negro suffrage, the presi-
dent says:
'sThe subsection of the States to negro
dominion would be worse than the eXis-
ting military despotism. The people
will endure endless military oppression
rather than degrade themselves by sub
lection to the negro race. The blacks
are entitled to be well and humanely
governed, but if it were possible to give
them government of their own, it
would become grave question whether
we ought to do so or whether common
humanity would not require us to save
them from themselves. But it is not
proposed that they shall only govern
themselves, but that they shall govern
the white men, and to a greater or less
extent, control the destinies of the
whole country"
The negro character is contrasted
with the virtue, intelligence and Spirit
of progress of the white race. The ne
gro population is contrasted with emi-
grants, and the different terms of ac-
curing citizenship and franchise are
stated
The president yields to no man in at
tachment to the rule of suffrage, but it
requires of some classes suitable time
for protection and preparation.
To transfer our political inheritance
to the negroes would, in the presidents
opinion, be an abandonment of n duty
which we owe alike to the memory of
our children.
Depicting the horrors inevitable from
the proposed governments, the presi-
dent says it will require a strong stand
ing army, and probably more than 5000,
100000 per annum to maintain the sn-
premacy of negro governments after
they have been established.
Without military power they are
wholly incapable of holding iii subjuga-
ton the white people of the South.
The effect on the public credit sand
trade by the persistence in the congress
sional scheme is discussed, showing ruin
to both,
The presidents financial policy has
already been truthfully fOreshadowed.
The message makes no special allu-
sion to the cotton tax.
Discussing the presidents duty he
says after grave consideration
ssCases might arise where, after laws
had passed all constitutional forms, and
been placed on the statute books 1t
would be the duty of the executive to
refuse to carry them out, regardless of
consequences, this would be involving
the country in iustifiable civil war"
The civil tenure bill is discussed and
denounced as unconstitutional, extra
judicial and promotive of fraud in pre-
venting the removal of dishonest
officers.
The president deliberately discussed
the financial question and invites its
early consideration by Congress. In
10 o11rToY,ox- 0froYt1a fiOrD of