Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

F"foU C'ftstHS ~ WC SeHuC ana LOhSc 2
Representatives.:
! The continued disorganization Of tb,
Union, to which the President has 50 Otter
called the attention Of Congress. is yet ;
subject Of profound and patriotic CONCERN
We may, however, find some relief from
that anxiety in the reflection that the pain
tul political situation, although un.r;ed by
our, ewes, is not new IN the experience OF
! nations.
Political science perhaps as highly per
fectcd in 0r,r nwn time and country as IN
any other, has no, yet disclosed any means
by which civil wars can be absolutely pre-
vented an enlightened nation, however,
with wise and benefcent Constitution Of
free government, may diInini,!. their fre-
quency and mitigate their severity. by d.
rccting all lis proceedings in accordance with
its Fundamental law. When civil war has
been brought to a close, it is maniiGstIy the
first interest and duty of the State to repair
the injuries which the war has inflicted, and
to secure the benefit ofthe lessons it teaches,
Us fully aud as speedily rs possible. This
duty was, upon the termination of the re-
bellion. promptly accepted, not only by the
Executive Department, but by the insur-
rcctionary States themselves, and restora-
tiGn in the FIRST moment of peace, was be.
lieyed TO he as easy and certain as it was in
dsrcnsablc.
Ihn eXpc tons, however, then so rea-
sonabiy and confidently entertained, were
disappointed BY legislation from which
felt constrained, by my obligations to the
Constitution, to withhold my assent Ii is,
- ,.,,tNnpl tln,
in complying with the obligation imposed
upon the President BY the Constitution, to
give to Congress from time to time intorma-
ton Of the state of the Union, | am unable
to communicate any detinitive adjustment
satisfactory to the American people, of the
questions which, since the close of the re-
bellion, have agitated the public mind. On
the contrary, canlur compels me to declare
that at this time there is no Union as our
fathers understood The term, and rs they
mcnt 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 its internal
concerns according to its will and where
the laws Of the central government, strictly
confined to matters Of national jurisdiction,
apply with equal force to all the people Of
every section.
That sueh is not the present Estate of the
Union IL a melancholy fact, aul we all
must acknowledge 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 ori-
ginal compact, would be the greatest tenn
pora blessing which God, in his kinles.
providence, could bestow upon this nation.
1t becomes our imperative duty to con-
sidur whether or not it is impossible to ei-
feet this most desirable consummation The
Union and the Constitution are inscparable
As long as one is obeyed by all parties, the
other will be preserved; aud if one is de-
stroycd, both must perish together. The
destruction of the Constitution will be fol-
lowed by other and still greafer calamities.
1t was ordained not only to form Il more
perfect Union between the States, but to
establish justice, insure domestic tranquil
ity, provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings Of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity" Nothing but implicit obedience
to its requirements in all parts of the
will accomplish these great ends.
Without that obedience We can look forward
only to continual outrages upon individual
rights, incessant breaches of the public
peace, national weakness, financial dishonor,
the total Ioss of our prosperity, the general
Of morals, and the final extinct
ion of popular freedom. 10 save our
from evils so APPALLING as these, we
should renew our efforts again and again.
To me the process Of restoration seems
perfectly lain and simple. It consists
merely in faithful application Of the Con
stitutiou and the laws The execution of
the laws is not now obstructcd or opposed
by physical force there is no military or
other necessity, real or pretended which
can prevent obedience to the Constitution,
either North or South. Al! the rights and
all the obligations Of State and individuals
can be protected and enforced by mean.
perfectly consistent with the fundamental
law. The courts may be everywhere open,
aud, if open, their process, would be unim-
pedcd. Crimes against the United States
can bo prevented or punished by the proper
judicial authorities in manner entirely
practicable and legal.
There is, therefore, no reason why the
Constitution should MT be obeyed, unless
those who exercise its powers have deter
mined that it shall be disreg, ,rded and vio.
lated. The mere naked will Of this Gov
ernment, or of some one or. more OF its
is the only obstacle that can exist
to perfect Union ut ail the States. On
this inomentous question, and some of the
growing out Of it, have had the
misfortune to differ from Congress, and
have expressed my convictions without re-
serve, though with becoming Difference to the
opinion Of the Legislative Department.
Those convictions are not only unchanged,
but strengthed by subsequent events and
further reflection. The transcendent impor-
tance Of the subject will be q sufficient ex.
cuse for calling your attention to some Of
the reasons which have SO strongly influence
cd my own judgement The hope that We