The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-12-12
ABSTRACT OF TIE
President S Message.

ton of Congress. Mr.. Johnson ther
proceeds to say that the duty of repair
ing the injuries which the war inflict,
ed as fully and speedily as possible
"yas, upon the termination of the re
belliOn, promptly accepted, not only
by the Executive Department, but by
the tnsurrectionaTy States themselves ,
and that restoration was believed tC
be as easy and certain as it was indis-
pensable, but that these expectations
"then so reasonably and confidently
entertained, were disappointed by leg.
islatiOn, from which felt constrained
by my obligation to the Constitution,
to withhold my assent"
He regrets that there has not been
any definite adjustment satisfactory to
the American people, "of questions
which, since the close of the rebellion,
have agitated the public mind" He
saysi
"Candor compels me TO declare that
all 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 where all the States are re-
presented in both Houses of Congress,
where one State is as free as another
to regulate its internal concerns ac-
cOrding to its own will, and where
the laws of the central government
are strictly confined to matters of ma
tiOnaI Jurisdiction, and which apply
with equal force to all the people of
every section, That such is not the
present state of the Union is a mel
anchOly fact; and we all must ac-
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 kindest Providence
could bestOw upon this nation.
at becomes our imperative duty to
consider whether or not it is impOssi-
bic to effect this most desirable con-
summation. The Union and the Con-
stitutiOn are inseparable. AS long as
one is Obeyed by all parties, the other
will be preserved, and if one is destroy
ed, both must perish together. The
destruction of the Constitution will be
followed by other and still greater
calamities. It was ordained not only
to form a more perfect union between
the States, but to establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the
general welfare, and to secure the
blessings ofliberty to ourselves and
our p0sterity. Nothing but implicit
obedience to its requirements in all
parts Of the country will accomplish
these great ends. Without that Obedi-
ence, we can look forward only to con-
tinual Outrages upon individual rights,
incessant breaches of the public peace,
national weakness, financial dishOnOr,
total loss of our property, general cor
ruptiOn of morals, and final extinction
of popular freedom. To save our
country from evils so appalling as
these, we should renew our efforts
again and again"
Mr.. johnson proceeds to say that
the process of reconstruction sis per-
fectly plain and simple" and "con-
5ists mainly in a faithful application
of the Constitution and laws" He
says there is now nothing to obstruct
n, q ovoO11tiOo Of tho Io ~, ~, CbOJiD,,oo
to the Constitution, either North or
South. "There is, therefore, Che con-
tinues) "no reason why the Constitu.
ton should not be Obeyed, unless
those who exercise its powers have.
determined that it should be disre-
garded and violated. The mere
naked will Of this Government, or of
some one or more of its branches, is
the only Obsticle that can now exist to
the perfect Union of all the States.
On this mOmentOus question, and on
some of the measures growing out of
it, had the misfortune to differ with
Congress, and have expressed my con-
without reserve, though with
becoming Difference to the opinion of
the legislative department. Those
were not only unchanged,
but strengthened by subspqu,n events
and further reflection. The transcpn-
liant importance of the subject will be
4 sufficient excuse for calling your at
-entiOn to some of the reasons which
have strongly Influenced my own
Judgment. The hope that we may
all finally concur in mode of settle
nent consistent at once with our true
interests, and with our sworn duties
o the Constitution, is too natural and
90 just to be easily reIinquished."
Mr.. johnson then enters into a long
to prove that the Southern
States did not lose, by rebellion, any
If their rights under the Constitution;
hat they were still members of the
Union, and entitled to all the privi-
eges of other States; and that therefore
hey are subject only to the authority
Of the Constitution, the same as other
States. He says:
. 'If the Southern States are compO-
lent parts of the Union, the Constitu-
ion is the supreme law for them, as it
s for all the other States. They are
pound to obey it, and so are we. The
light of the Federal Government, |
which is clear and unquestiOnable, to
enforce the Constitution upon them,
IMPLIES the cOrrelative obligation on
,ur part to observe its limitations and |
execute its guarantees. Without the
we are nothing
Through and under the Constitution,
We are what it makes us. We may
loubt the wisdom Of the law; we may
lot approve of its provisions; but we
5annot violate it, merely because it |
ieems to cOnfine our powers within |
limits narrower than we could wish. " !
Mr.. johnson further urges that
constitutional duty is not the on
y one which requires the States to
De restored. There is another con
which, though Of minor i'm
DOrtance, is yet Of great weight. On
he 22d Of July, 1861, Congress de-
,lared by an almost unanimous vote
If both Houses, that the war should
De conducted solely for the purpose ofI
- TN.sa-