The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-04
OPPOSITION TO THE TENURE OF
OFFICE BILL.
OTHER NATIONAL CONCERNS.

REFLECTIONS ON RECONSTRUCTION. =
Fellos1 Citizens of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
The continued Dissemination of
the Union, to which the President
has so often called the attention of
Congress, is yet a subject Of profound
and patriotic concern. We may, how
ever, find some relief from that anxs
iety IN the reflection that this painful
political situation, although before
untried by ourselves, is not new in
the experience 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 war can be absolutely
prevented. A enlightened H4stien,
however, with wise and 5enifcer-
Constitution of free government, may
diminish their frequency aud nit
gate their severity by directing all its
proceedings In accordance with its
tuRdamental law. When civil war,
has been brought to a close, Il Is
manifest the first interest and duty Of
the State to repair the injuries which
war has inflicted, and to secure the
benefitof the lessons ID teaches asfully
and speedily as possible, This duly
was. upon the termination of the re-
bellion, promptly accepted, mot only
by the Executive Department, but nv
the insurrect5onasy States themselve-;
aud Reconstruction in the first mo-
ment Of peace was believed to be as
easy and certain as il was indispensa-
bic. These expectations. however.
then 50 reasonably and confidently
entertained, were disappointed by
legislation, from which | felt con-
strained, By my OBLIGATIONS TO the
Con stitution, TO with hold my assent. L.
is,theFefore. a source of profound regret
that in complying with the Obligation
imposed upon the President by the
Constitution to give 70 Congress from
time to time information OF the sta ~
Of the Union, | am unable to corf-
municate any definite adjustment s. T.
issactoTy TO the American people OF
the questions which, since the Close
of tie rebellion, have agitated tie 3
minds.
On the contrary, candor compels
me to declare that all this time there
Is nc Uaion as cur 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 It's
internal concerns according to its own
will, aud where the laws Of the cen
tral Government, strictly confined to
matters Of national Jurisdiction, ap.
ply with equal force 20 all the people
of everv section That sucb is not
the present state Of the Union is q
melancholy fact, and we all must ac
knowledge that the restoration Of
the States to their proper leg:l rela-
t;o3s with the Federal G9vernment
AMI with one another, according to
the terms Of the original compact,
would be the greatest temporal bless
ing which God, in his kindest provi-
deace, could bestow upon this nation
1t becomes our imperative duty &C
consider whether or not 1t is impos-
si5le to effect this most desirable cor
summltiou. The Union aud The Con
sti;ution are inseparable. As long as
one is obeyed BY all parties, the OTHER
Will be preserved; and f Que i lie,
stroyed, both must perish :o@ Their
The destruction of the Constitution
will be followed by other and still
greater calamities. 1t was ordained
not only to form more perfect. unior
between the States. but to tablist
Justice, insure domestic tranquility