Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-14

delivered ia Congress be
cembeF Sd, 1857.

TIniOD. TO which the frestueht mas 50
often called the attention of Congress,
i vet a subject of profound aud patrl,
ot;c concern. We may, however, Ind
son,a relief from that anxiety in the re-
aection that the painful political situa-
tion. although before untried 10y our
selves. ia not new in the experience oil
nations. Political science. perhaps, as
biohIv perfected in our own time and
co1ntrV as IN any other, has not yet
disclosed any means by which civil wars
can be absolutely prevented. An en-
tiObtened nation, however, with wise
and beneficent constitution OF Tree
,yavernment, may diminish their ne
Snapev and NIT gate their severity by
directing all its proceedings III &c
cordabce with its fundamental Iaw'
THE PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
When civil war has been brought to
a close. IT is manifest that the hrst IA
terest and duty Of the state rs To repair
tba irIuFies which war has INFLICTED,
end To secure the benefit of the lessons
81 teaches ss fully and speedily as pos
sible. This duty Was, upon the tefihi-
nation Of the rebellion, promptly ac-
repted not only by the executive lie
oa,tment. but by the insurrectiOnary
states themselves; and restoration, IN
tha tirst moment of peace, was believed
To lie as easy and certain as II was m
atsnensable. The expectations, how
ever then so reasonably aud confident
~ entertained, were disappointed Dy
LEGISLATION from which felt eonstfalh-
81. by NV obligations to the consi1tu-
tiop. 10 withhold my assent. IL IS,
therefore. \ source of profound regret
tbst IN complying with the obligation
imposed anon the president by the con
stitntiOn 10 give To congress, IRON
time to time, information al the state
of the Union, that 1 am unable To
communicate any definite adlnstment
satisfactory to the American people OF
the questions which, since the close OF
the rebellion, have agItated the minds
az the country. CandOr cODpels me
10 declare that all this time there has
been no Union as our fathers under
stood the term, aud as they meant lt
to be understood by MS. the Union
which they established can exist Onty
where ali the states are represented ih
both houses OF Congress; where one
state il as free as another 10 regulate
its internal concerns according 10 us
own will; and when the laws ot the
central government, strictly confined
to matters 0f national jurisdiction, ap-
Dly with equal force 10 ali people OF
every station. That such - not tho
preseDt state OF the Union IS mel
snehulv fact. We all must acknowledge
that the restoration of the states tn
them proper legal relations with the
federal government, and with one an
other. according To the terms OF the
original compact, would he the greatest
temporal blessing which dOd, IN his
kindest Providence, could bestoW upon
orr nation.
A REFERENCE To THE CONSTITUTION
1t becomes OuT imperative duty to
consider whether or not 1t IS lmpossl-
bic 10 effect this most desirable consul
nation. The Union and the COnstltu-
tion are inseparable; so long as the one
is obeyed by all parties, the other Will
be preserved: and if one Is destroyed
both must perish together. The de
strnction of constitution wall be fOl-
lowed by other and still greater calaml-
ties. It was ordained not only TO form
= more perfect Union, between the
States, but to establish Justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare. and secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our posterliy.
Nothing but implicit obedience to ais
requirements in all parts of the country
will accomplish these great ends. With
out that obedience we can look forward
only TO continual Outrages upon midi
yidual rights; incessant breaches OF the
public peace; national weakness; tinan
cIaI dishOnOr; total loss of our prop
erty; a general corruption OF morals,
and the final extinction of popular
freedom. To save orr country from
evils so appalling as these, we should
renew our efforts again and again.
MATTERS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
To me, the process OF restoration
seems perfectly plain aud simple. Ii
consists merely in faithful application
of the Constitution and laws. The ex-
eoution Of the laws is not now Ohsttuct-
ed or opposed by physical force. There
is no military, or other necessity, real
or pretended, which can prevent ODE
dience to the constitution, either north
or south. All the rights and all the OBJ
legations OF states and individuals can
be protected and enforced by means
perfectly consistent with the fundamen-
tai law. Courts may be everywhere
opened, and if open, their process
would be unimpeded. Grimes against
the United States can be prevented or
punished by the proper Judicial author
tiles, IN manner entirely practicable
aad legal. There IS, therefore, no
reason why the constitution should not
be Obeyed, unless those who exercise
its powers have determined that it
shall be disregardsd 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 the
union of all the states. On this mo
mentous question and some measures
growing out OF it, / had the misfortune
to differ from Congress, aud expressed
my conviction without reserve, though
with becoming Difference to the opin-
ion OF the Legislative Department.
Those convictions were not only I'M
changed but strengthened by subse-
quenL events and further reflections.
The transeendent importance of the
subject will be a sufficient excuse for
calling your attention to some of the
reasons which have so strongly infiu-
enced my own Judgment. The hope
that we may all finally concur in a
mode of settlement consistent at once
with our true interests, and with our
sworn dnties to the Constitution, is too
natural and too just to be easily relin-
pushed.
THE REBEL STATES NOT OUT OF THE
UETON