Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-12-06
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

resentatives: u - }A
The continued REORGANIZATION Of tn
Union to which the President has SO Otter
called the attention of Congress, is yet ,
subject of profound and patriotic concern
We may, however, feel some relief from
the anxiety in the reflection that the pain
full political situation, although before un
tried by ourselves, is not new in the expe
rience of nations. Political science, per
haps as highly perfected in our own time
and country as in any other, has not yet
disclosed any means by which CIVIL wars
can he ahsol1tely prevented. An enlight.
ened nation. however, with wise and
benefcent constitution of free government
NAV diminish their frequency and mitigate
their severity, by directing all its proceed.
ings in accordance with its fundamental
law. When civilwar has been brought
to close, it is manifestly the first interest
and duty Of State TO repair the injuries
which the war has inflicted, and to secure
the benefit of the lessons 1t teaches, as
fully and speedily as possible. This duty
was, upon the termination OF the rebel
lion, promptly accepted, not My by the
executive department, but t. the lnsur-
rectionary States themselves, and restora-
ton, in the first moments OF peace, was
believed to be as easy and certain as 1t
was Indispensable. These expectations
however, then SO reasonably and c0nfl-
IDENTIFY entertained, were disappointed by
legislation from which / feel constrained,
by my obligations to the Constitution, 10
withhold my assent. 1t is, therefore,,
source of profound regret that, In comply
ing with the obligations imposed upon the
President by the Constitution, to give to
Congress from time to time information OF
the State of the Union, am unable to
communicate any definite adjustment, sat
isfactory to the American people, OF the
questions which, since the close OF the re-,
bellion, have agitated the mind of the
country. Candor compels me to declare
that at this time there is no Union as our
fathers understood the term, and as they
meant it to be understood by us. The
Union which they established can exist
only when all States are represented IN
both Houses of Congress; when one
State is as free as another to regulate lts
internal concerns according to It's own
will, and when the laws OF the centrat
government, strictly confined to matters
Of national jurisdictions apply with equal
force to people of every station. Inat
such is not the present state OF the Union
is melancholy fact; and we all must ac-I
knowledge that the restoration OF the
States to their proper legal relations with
the Federal Government, and with one
another, according to the terms of the
original compact, would be the greatest
temporal blessing which God, in His kind;
est providence, could bestow upon our
nation. 1t becomes our imperative duty
to consider whether or not it is impossible
to effect this most desirable contamination.
The Union and the Constitution are insep-
arabic. AS long as one is obeyed by all
parties, the other will be preserved; and,
II one is destroyed, both must perish to-
gether.
The destruction of the Constitution will
be followed by other and still greater ca
lamities. II was ordained not only to form
more perfect union between the States,
but to establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de.
fence, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
aud to our posterity. Nothing but i'm
plicit obedience to Its requirements, in all
parts of the country, will accomplish these
great ends. Without that obedience, we
can look forward only to continual out
RACES upon individual rights, incessant
breaches of public peace, national weak
ness, financial dishOnor, total loss OF our
property, general corruption of morals,
and final extinction of popular freedom.
To save our country from evils so appall-
ing as these, we should renew our efforts
again and again. VIZ @s1' rs I5rs
To me the process of reconstruction
seems perfectly plain and simple. 1t con-
sists merely in faithful application of
the Constitution and Laws. The execu-
ton of the laws is not now DISTRACTED or
opposed by physical force. There is no
military or other necessity, real or pre-
tended, which prevent obedience to the
Constitution, either North or South All
rights and all obligations of States or indi.
viduals can be protected and enforced by
means perfectly consistent with the funda-
mental law. Courts may be every where
open, and if open, their process would be
unimpeded. Crimes against the United
States can be prevented or punished by
proper judicial authorities in a manner
entirely practicable and legal. There is,
therefore, no reason why the Constitution
should not be obeyed, unless those who
exercise its powers have determined that
1t shall be disregarded and violated. The
mere naked will of this Government, or OF
some one or more of its branches, is the
only obstacle that can exist to perfect
union of all the States. h sl,re... ,ratt'
On this momentOus question, and some
of the measures growing out of it., / had
the misfortune to differ from Congress
and have expressed my conviction without
reserve, though with becoming Difference
to the opinion of the legislative depart
ment. Those convictions were not ONLY
unchanged, but strengthened, by -,subse
quent events and further reflections. @lTh,
transcendent importance of the subjec
will be sufficient excuse for calling you
attention to some of the reasons which
have so strongly influenced my own judg
ment. The hope that we may all finall,
concur In mode Of settlement consisten
at once with our true interests and will
our sworn duties to the Constitution, Is to-
natural and too just to be easily relin
pushed ,,,r mr.
It is clear to my apprshensions that tn
States lately In rebellion are still member
cease to be so? The ordinances of seces
sion, adopted by a portion of their citizens
were mere utilities. If we admit nov
tnat tney were Vanu anu eIectual lOr TN
purpose intended by their authors, w
sweep from under our, feet the Who'll
ground upon which we Justified the wal
Were these States afterward expelled ffor
the Union by the war; The direct con
trary was averred by this Government t.
be its purpose, and 1t was SO understood b
all those who gave their blood and treasur
to aid its prosecution. It cannotbe that
successful war, w.ged for the preservation
of the Union, had the legal effect of dis
solving it. The victory of the nation
arma Has not the disnraca of hsr nnlicv