Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-12-13
Presidents Message.
FeItoao Citizens Of the Senate and the
House Of Representatives.

L HO SOitiHuCd dlOOI SdHiLoeioh Va
the Union, to which the President
has so often 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
fuI political situation, although not
before tried by ourselves, is not new
in the experience Of nations. Polite
al science, perhaps as highly perfect
ed in our own times and country as
IN any other, has not yet disclosed
any means by which civil wars can
be absolutely prevented. An enlight-
ened nation, however, with wise and
benefcent constitution of free gov
ernment, may diminish their frcquen-
cy and mitigate their severity, by
directing all its proceedings in ac-
cordance with its fundamental law.
RECONSTRUCTION.
When a civil war has been brought
to close it is manilesty the first in
terest and duty Of the State to re-
pair the injuries which war has Unfit
ed, and TO secure the benefit of the
lessons 1t teaches, as fully and speedi-
ly as possible. This duty was, upon
the termination Of the rebellion,
promptly accepted, not only by the
Executive Department but by the in
surrectionary States themselves; and
restoration in the first moment of
peace was believed to be as easy and
certain as it was Indispensable. The
expectations, however, then so reas-
ona6ly and confidently entertained,
were disappointed by legislation
from which felt constrained by my
obligations TO the Constitution to
withhold my assent.
1t is therefore a source of profound
regret that in complying with tie
obligation imposed upon the Presi-
dent by the Constitution to give to
Congress from time to time informa-
ton OF the State of the Union, | am
unable to communicate any definite
adjustment satisfactory to the Amer
lean people, Of the questions which
since the close of the rebellion have
agitated the public mind. On the
contrary, candor compelS NE to de-
clare that at this time there is no
Union as our fathers understood the
term, and as they meant it to be un-
derstood bv u. The Union which
they established can exi. t 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 It's own
/ will, and where the laws of the cen
tral government, strictly confined to
matters OF national jurisdiction, APP
ply with equal force to all the people
of every section. That such is not
the present "State of the Union is a
melancholy y 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 hestOw upon this nation. 1t
becomes our imperative duty to con
slider whether or not it is impossible
to effect this most desirable consum
nation. The Union and the ConSti
tuition ale inseparabe. AS long as
one is obeyed by all parties, the 9th
er will be preserved; and if one is
destroyed, both must perish together
The destruction Of the Constitution
will be followed by other and still
greater calamitieS. 1t was ordained
not only to form more perfect Union
between the States, but to establish
Justice, insure domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense, pro,
mote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our poSterity." Nothing but i'm
plicit obedience to its requirements
in all parts of the country, will accom-
: plish these great ends. Without thai
obedience, we can look forward only
to continual outrages upon individual
rights, incessant breaches of public
peace national weakness, financial dis
honor, total loss OF prosperity, gen
eral corruption Of morals, and tina
extinction Of popular freedom. To
save our country from evils so appal-
ing as these, we should renew our eff
forts again and again.
To me the process of restoration
, seems perfectly plain and simple. Ii
: consists merely i'll faithful applica
: ton of the Constitution and the laws
The execution of the laws is not ob
strncted or r-opposed by physical force
There is no military or other neces
slty, real or pretended. Which car
prevent obedience to the Constitution
either North or South. All the rights
and all the obligations of States and
individuals can be protected and en-
forced by means perfectly consistent
with the fundamental law. The courts
may be everywhere open, and if open
their process would be unimpeded.-
Crimes against the United States car
be prevented or punished by the pro
per judicial authorities, i'll a nannei
entirely practicable and legal. There
is, therefore, no reason why the Con
: stitution should not be obeyed, unlcs.
those who exercise its powers have
: determined that it shall be disregard
} ed and violated. The mere naket
5 will OF this government, or OF some
: one more of its branches, is the onl,
: obstacle that can exist to perfec
- uniau of oil tho Mates