Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-11
THE KNOXVILLE WING
Knoxville, Tenn, December II, 1867.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
BY BRowNLoW & HAws.

Fetto'o- Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rcprc
seHtatiges;
The continued disorganization of the Union 4
which the President has 50 often called the atten
ton OF Congress is yet subject Of profound anC
patriotic concern. We may however find some re
lief from that anxiety in the reflection that th,
painful political situation although before untriec
BY ourselves Il not new in the experience of "a.
tons. Political science, perhaps highly perfected
IN our own time and country RS in any other ha,
not yet disclosed any means by which civil war,
Can be absolutely prevented. An enlightened ma.
ton, however, with a wise and benefcent Constitu.
ton Of FREQ government, may diminish their FIRE.
quency and mitigate the severity by directing al
is proceedings in accordance with It's Fundamental
law.
When civil war has been brought 20 a close il J.
manfesty the first interest and duty of the State e
repair the injuries which war has inflicted and e
secure the benefit of the lessons il teaches IS fy
and speedily as possible This duty was upon the
termination OF the rebellion promptly accepted not
only by the Executive Department, but by the in.
urrectionary States themselves and restoration rs
the first movement Of peace was believed 20 be a.
easy and certain as it was Indispensable The ex-
pectations, however then SO reasonably and conf
IDENTIFY entertained, were disappointed BY legislation
from which i felt constrained by my obligations 70
The Constitution TO withhold my assent.
1t IS therefore source of profound regret that in
complying with the obligation imposed upon The
President by the Constitution, 10 give to Congress
from time 20 time information of the state of the
Union am unable TO communicate any definite
adjustment satisfactory 10 tho American people OF
the questions which, since the close OF the rebellion
have agitated the public mind On the contrary,
CandOr c0mpes me TO declare that all this time there
lie Union, our fathers understood the term and
they meant u 10 be understood by us The
Union which they established can exist only where
al the States are represented in both Houses Of
Congress; where one State is as free another TO
NaHn zee fwHr Il
viii and where the laws Of the Central Govern
ment, strictly confined TO matters of national iuris
dictiOn, apply with equal force to all the people Of
every section That such is not the present state Of
the Union Is a melancholy fact; and since, we all
must acknowledge that the restoration Of the States
70 their proper legal relations with the Federal Gov
eminent, and with one another, according to the
terms Of tho original compact would be the great
est temporal blessing which God in his kindest
providence coad bestow upon this nation, it be-
comes our imperative duty TO consider whether OF
not It is impossible 20 effect this most desirable con-
summation.
RESTORATION MAY BE AFFECTED BY ADHERING
TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The Union and the Constitution are inseparable.
As lops es one Is obeyed by all parties the other
viii be preserved; and Z one Is destroyed DoJn mast
perish together. The destruction Of the Constitu-
ticn win be followed by other and still greater ca
lamities. IL was ordained not only TO form more
perfect Union between the.States, but TO " estab-
sh justice, insure domestic tranquility provide for
the common defense, promote the general welfare,
and the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity." Nothing but implicit obedience to
is requirements in all parts of the country will
c0mplish this great end. Without that obedience
we can look forward only TO continual outrages on
individual rights Dcessant breaches public peace,
national weakness financial dishonor, total loss of
our property, general corruption Of morals, and
tho final extinction of popular freedom.
To save our country from evils SO appalling as
these We should renew our efforts again and again
To me the process of restoration seems perfectly
plain and simple IL consists merely in faithful
application of the Constitution and laws. The ex-
ecution of the laws is not INSTRUCTED opposed
hv physical force. There is no military or other
necessity, real pretended, which can prevent ODE
dience 20 the Constitution, either North or South.
An the rights and all the obligations of States and
individuals can be protected and enforced by means
perfectly consistent with fundamental law Courts
may be everywhere opened, and If opened their
process would be unimpeded. Crimes against the
United States can be prevented OF punished by the
proper judicial authorities in a manner entirely
practicable and legal.
There is therefore no reason why the C0nstltu-
lion should not be obeyed, unless those who exe7-
else its powers have determined that il shall be dis
regarded and violated. The mere naked viii OF
this government, or of some one or more OF its
branches is the only obstacle that can exist TO the
perfect union of all the States.
On this momentous question and some of the
measures growing out of H. had the misfortune e
differ from Congress, and have expressed my con
victions without reserve, though with becoming
Difference 20 the opinion of the Legislative Depart
ment Those convictions were not only unchanged
but strengthened by subsequent events and tuTthe
reflections. The transcendent Importance OF Tn
subject viii be a sufficient excuse for calling you
attention TO some reasons which have SO strongl
Influenced my own judgment. The hope that W
in ,af,rin efr soil
siseut at once with our true interests and with on
sworn duties TO the Constitution is too natural ant
too just 10 be easily relinqushed.
TIE UNION UNBRoKEN BY REBELLION.
Ii is clear 10 my apprehension that the State
lstelv in rebellion are st members of the Natlona
Union When did they cease TO be so The ordi
nsrces Of secession adopted by a portion OF thos'
Ststes, in most Of them By very small portion Q
their citizens, we're mere utilities. II we admi
now that they we're valid and eaectual for the pur
pose Intended by their authors, we sweep rom IN
der eur feet the whole ground upon which we Justi
fed the war.
We're those States afterwards expelled from In
Union by war; The direct contrary was aFerre'
bv this Government 20 be its purpose, and was g
understood by sll those who gave their blood an
treasure TO aid in its prosecution 1t cannot DC Una
successful war, waged for the preservation OF IN
Union, had the legal effect Of dissolving j.
The victory of the nations arms was not the DIS
grace of her policy. The defeat Of secession on tn
battlefield not the triumph Of its lawless prln
ciple Nor could Congress with or without tn
consent Of the Executive, do anything which woul
have the effect directly OF indirectly, Of separatin
States from each other. To dissolve the Union
10 repeal the Constitution which holds It together
and that IS a power which does not belong 10 an
department OF this Government or 10 all OF theI
united
This is so plain that it has been acknowledge b
all branches of the Federal Government, Leglsh
tive and Executive Ny predecessor, as wen
myself and the heads of the Departments nave uH
formlv acted upon the principle that the Union
not only undissolved but ndssolube. Congre:
submitted an amendment of the Constitution to
ratified by the Southern States and accepted the
acts of ratification rs necessary ana lawful eXei
else al their highest function. If they were nd
States or were States out Of the Union Their cor
sent 70 a change in the fundamental law OF u
Union would be nugatory and CohgIess - 49,: -
Il committed a political absurdity Inc iu1 i.l
has also given solemn sanction OF ~ ~ :
he same view of the case. The Judges OF inc >
pfeme Court have included the Southern STATES
their circuits and they constantly ~ oG'lco u
elsewhere, exercising jurisdiction Which does nov !
long to them unless those States are olate' Oh .
Union.
l. the Southern States are component paris on !
Union the Constitution is She supreme law lot tne
as it is for sll other States They are 3ouhe 70 90
Il, and Sd are we. The right Of the teaeia4 Se
eminent which is clesr and unqaestionablei 70
force the Constitution upon them, implies me cor
alive obligation on part 70 observe Us llileae.
ano execute It's guarantees. Without the Sohstn
Ton we are nothing. BY, through and uneer
constitution we are what e makes us we m
doubt tho wisdom Of the law, we may not appro
Of its provisions but we cannot violate IL mer'
because Il scans 10 eonfne our powers within lin