The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1867-12-06
The Presidents Message.


its arguments, and dignificd and even
tempered throughout. The President |
steadily adhcrcs to his policy in refer
cncc to the States lately in rebellion,
and urges Congress in strong language
to strike at once from the statute book |
the laws which have placed the people
of the South under the domination of
military masters. lie holds to the pro-
position that the Southern States are
still members of the National Union.
If the Southern States are component
parts of the Union, the Constitution is
the supreme law for them, as it is for
the other States. They arc bound to
obey it, and so are we. If we cannot
support the Constitution with the cheer
full alacrity of those who love and be-
licve in it, we must give tc it at least
the fidelity of public servants who act
under solemn obligations and COM
mands which they dare not disregard.
The message dcprccatcs clothing the
negro race with privileges torn from
the white man. The blacks ofthc South
are entitled to be well and humanely
governed md to have the protection of
just laws for all their rights of person
and property. fit were practicable at
this time to give them government en-
clusivcly their own, under which they
/ mi h n,o t,ni IL; hot,
own way, it would become grave qucs-
ton whether we ought to do so, or
whether common humanity would not
require us to save them from themselves.
But, under the circumstances, this is on
! ly speculative point 1t is not pro-
posed merely that they shall govern
themselves, but that they shall rule the
white race. make and administer State
laws, elect Presidents and members of
Congress, and shape to greater or less
extent the future destiny Of the whole
country. Would such II trust and pow
cr be safe in such hands?
It'll submitted TO the Judgment of Con-
grcss whether the public debt may not
be iniuriously affected by system of
measures like those under discussion,
and that all the great interests of the
country require their immediate repeal.
Business in the South is paralyzcd by a
sense of general insecurity, by the ter
ror of contiscation, and the dread of ne
gro supremacy. The Southern trade
from which the North would have de-
rived so great profit under govern
mcnt of law, still languishcs, and can
never be revived until it ceases to be fct-
tered by the arbitrary power which
makes all its operations unsafe. That
rich countryside richest in natural re-
sources the world ever saws worse
than lost ifit be not soon placed under
the protection ofA free Constitution. In
stead of being, as it ought TO be, Il source
of wealth and power, it will become an
intolcrablc burden upon the rest of the
nation.
Another reason why Congress should
rctracc its steps is to be seen in the late
manifestation of public opinion upon
the subject. We live in country where
the popular will always cnforces ODE
dicncc to itself sooner or later. 1t is
vain to think of opposing it with any
thing short legal authority, backed by
overwhelming force. 1t cannot have
escaped your attention that from the
day on which Congress fairly and form
ally presented the proposition to govern
the Southern States by military force,
with a view to the ultimate establish
mcnt of negro supremacy, every express
sion Of the general sentiment has been
more or less adverse to it. The atlcc-
tons of this generation cannot be de-
tached from the institutions ofthcir an
ccstors. Their determination to pre-
serve the Inheritance offrcc government
in their own hands, and transmit ii UNI
divided and unimpaired to their own
postcrity, is too strong TO be successfully
opposed. Every weaker passion will
disappear before that love of liberty and
law for which the American people are
distinguished above all others in the
world.
The message says in reference to the
duty of the President "to preserve, pro-
tcct and defend the Constitution :" A
faithful and conscientious Magistrate
will conccdc very much to honest error,
: and something even to pcrvcrse malice
before he will cndanger the public
peace; and he will not adopt forcible
measures, or such as might lead to
force, as long as those which are peace
able remain open to him or to his con-
stitucnts. 1t is true that cases may Oc-
cur in which the Executive would be
compelled to stand on his rights, and
maintain them, regardless of all consc-
qucnccs. If Congress should pass an
act which is not only in palpablc con-
tict with the constitution, but will GER
tainly, if carried out, produce immedi-
ate and irreparable injury to the organ
ic structure of the Government, and il
there be neither judicial remedy for the
wrongs it inficts, nor power in the pco.
pie to protect themselves without the of.