Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

fs2asao titizs7ss II ne st7so6s end House
81 Representatives.
The continued Decentralization 0f the
Union, 70 which the President has 50
often called the attention of Congress,
Is yet subject profound and patriot
lc concern. We may, however, aud
some relief from that anxiety IN the re-
fiection that the painful political situa-
ton, although before untriesl bT our
selves, is not new In the experience OF
nations. Political science. perhaps, as
highly perfected in our own times and
country as in any other. has not yet dis
covered any means by which eIvsl wars
can be absolutely prevented. An en-
lightened nation, however, with a
wise and beReficeut Constitution OF
free government. mav diminish their
frequency and mitigate their severity
10y directing All its proceediSgs in ac-
cordance WIN its fundamental law.
Reconstruction.
When q civil war has been brought
10 close, i is manifestly the first IN
tereSt II duty Of the State To repair
the injurie- which the war has inflicted
and to secgSe the benefit Of ti1e lessons
1t teaches as fully aud Is speedIip ess
possible. Ihis duty was upo1 the term
5uaEiQa OF thn rebellion promptly ac-
aepted. not uI.F BIZ the Executive De-
4srtment, but by the insurrectionary
states themselves; and restoration in
the hrst moment Of peace was believed
~ he a. easy and certain a. ID N-as in
dispe1sabie. The expectations, howev-
er, then 50 reasonably aud confidently
entertained, TeTe disappointed ~ leg
5slart0n from which I felt cofsrFaIre j,
~
@ withhold my assent. II Is therefore
r source Of profound regret that in com-
plying with the obligation imposed up
9n the President by the Constitution,
70 give To Congress from time 10 time
Information of the state Of the Union,
/ au unable TO communicate any defin-
tive adjustment satisfactory 10 the A.
msricau people, of the questions which
since the close Of the rebellion, have
aZit4ted the public mind. On the con-
LraTy, CaudOF compels me TO declare
that at this time there is no Union rs
our fathers understood the term, and as
they meant ID to be understood by Us
The Union which they established can
exist only where all the states are rep
resented ia both HOas- : Of Congress,
where one state Is a free as another
70 regulate its internal concerns accoT-
ling to its own viii. " and where the
laws Ofthe Central Government, strict
is confined 10 matters of national jaFis-
,.Ict3On, apply with equal force to all
the people Of every section. That such
Is rot the present t'State of the Union"
is a melancholy fact and we all must
IesEuoWledge that the restoration Of the
states 10 their proper legal relations
with the Federal Government, and
with one another, according te the
terms OF the original compact, would
Pee the greatest temporal blessing which
God in his Eindest Providence could
b=stow upon this nation. 1t becomes
our Imperative duty 10 consider wheth-
er or not it j. impossible 10 effect this
most desirable cOESUmmat1ou. The L
alOn and the Constitution are insepara-
BILE. As long a. one is 0beyed by all
parties, the other VIII be preserved, ,
and If che is destroyed both must per
5sh together. The destruction Of the
Constitution viii be followed by other
and s.iIi greater calamities. Il was or
G8ined not only 10 form q more perfect
Union between theStateS. bat 20 ''estaD-
iish justice, insure dOmeSti ic tranquility.
provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare and secure
the blessings Of liberty 10 ourselves and
cur p0steTity.' Nothing but inpli-
cit obedience t0its Ee1GireUeuts il all
parts uE the country VIII accom- ul1-ll
these great ends. Without that 05edI-
auce. we can look forward only TO con-
tiRual Outrages upon individual rights,
luC.ssa1t breaches OF the public peace,
national weakness, luancia. dlsE8u1r,
the total loss Of our prosperity. the gen
--aI corruption Of morals and the tluaI
aEriuetiOu Of popular freedom. To
save our country from evils 80 aPpsI-
ling a. these we should renew our efforts
rliu and again. To me Ihe process
If restoration seems perfectly plain
ad simple. II consists merely in a
aitlful application Of the Constitution
sul laws. The execution of the Jaws
Is not now 0bstructel or opposed By
physical force. There Is no military
brother necessity, real OF pretended,
which can prevent obedience to the
Constitution, either North or South.
All the rights and all the obligations
rf states and individuals can be pro
rected and enforced by means perfectly =
consistent with the fundamental law.
The Courts may be everywhere open,
and # open, their process WoIlG be un-
5upeded. Grimes against the IniIeti
States can b. prevented OF punished hE
the proper judicial auJhOritjes II ulaa-
uaT entirely practicable and legal
There l.. therefore. no reason Why the
Constitution should not lie 0beEed, M
less those who exercise its powers,
have determined that It shall be dIsFe-
gar,ied and violated. The mere naked
willof this Government, or of some
enc or more Of its branches, is the only
obstacle that can exist 10 q perfect u
MON Of all the STATES on this momeu-
fgus question. On some OF the meas
ures growing ont oG il, 1 have had the
misfortune 70 differ from Congress. and
have eXprezsed my convictions with
o,lt reserve, though with becoming de-
ference TO the opinion Of the legislative
DEPARTMENT. Those convictions are
not only unchanged. but strengthened
hv subsequent events and further re-
Election. The tEausceudeut importance
" the subject VIII be a sufficient excuse
for calling your attention 10 some Of
the reasons which have % strongly an
Huenced my own judgment.
The hope that we may all finally con
cur in q mode Of settlement consistent
at once with our true interest and with
our sworn duties ta the Constitution. j.
too natural and too Just to be easily re-
l5nauished. tits clear To my apprelen-
sion hat the States lately in rebellion
are still uneIntsers OF the National Euioa-
When did they cease TO be 80? The
ordinances of secession, = adopted bE q
portion. in most Of them bya very small
portion Of their citizens, were mere
luIl5tieS. IF I'VE admit now that rsey