The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
r,l10p- Citizens eftAe Senate
and House of Representatives,

The -. oo which the President has so often
Union W w. attention. of Congress, is yet a
called ' ~ profound and patriotic concern.
subject - However; find some relief from
We may ,;ety Id the reflection that this
tbas d political situation, although before
panied aimed by ourselves e not new IN tne ex-
un n:luSe Of nations. Political science per
psrils11g;Un our own time and country as IN
fectea e.h ~ has not yet disclosed any means
any y S;sh civil war can be absolutely pre-
by WIZ WI An enlightened nation, however.
veaTa' wise and benefcent constitution OF
with = .s,,a srv may diminish their fire.
free sVa and mitigate their severity by Oil
qnenOys al its proceeding in accordance
rec.ins l. fundamental law. When civil
with is' heen brought to close, it is mani
war nas Srst interest and duty of the State
fest snH the injuries which war has infie-
to Is agnd to secure the benefit Of the lessons
e tea .,sarhes as fully aud speedily as pos
~ i ,e'Thi This duty was upon the termina-
sols, - the rebellion promptly accepted not
uon " w tbe Executive Department. but by
ohiy discretionary States themselves; and
tue i lstrnctIon in the first moment of
Iecv na was believed to be as easy and GER
peace Il was indispensable These expec-
tain - however, then so reasonably and
tat eao,tlv entertained were disappointed
eon,hpar;alaiion from which felt constrain-
y 10 nv obligations to the constitution,
60, G:3thbold nv assent. 1t is therefore, q
~ sOnrce Of profound regret that in complying
s ~1th the obligation imposed upon the
president by the constitution to give to
Congress from time to time information OF
G sa sstote of the Uuion, / am unable to com
' suu any definite adjustment satisfac-
m Iiun ~ the American people of the cues
. .o.s which. since the close OF therebellion
nave nave aqitated their minds.
A1 Nm tbe contrary candor compels me to
,,olare that at this time there is no Union
ues "nr fathers understood the term, and as
Nv W. meant it to be understood by us.
Tbe Union which they established can ex-
it only where all the States are represen-
tod in both Houses of Congress- where one
Cote is as free as another to regulate its
;starnal concerns according to its own Will
an5 where the laws Of the Central Govern
,nsnt strictly confined to matters OF nation
a. Jurisdiction, apply with equal force te
Il; ne people Of every section. That SUCH
;snot the present state of the Union is Q
MELANCHOLY fact, and we all must acknowl
sdae that the Restoration Of the states t.
sbe;r proper legal relations with the FED
sral Government and with one another, &C
eordinp TO the terms of the original com
uact, would be the greatest temporal pies
sing which God, in his kindest providence
could bestow upon this nation.
n becomes our imperative duty. to con
s;aer whether or not it is impossible to 81
fact this most desirable cOnsuination. In
Union and the constitution inseperable. A
;ong as one is obeyed by all parties tn
other will be preserved; and If one is q. de'
troyed. both must perish together. In
destruction of the constitution will be TO
lowed by other and still greater calam
ties. II was ordained not only to form
more perfect union between the States. br
to establish justice, insure domestic tral
guilty, provide for the common deienG
promote the general welfare and secure u
blessings of liberty to ourselves and o.
posterity. Nothing but implicit obedien
to its requirements in all parts OF the cop
try will accomplish these great enc enc
Without that obedience we can look i
ward only to continual outrages upon
diyidnal rights, ineessant breaches OF pu
Ia peace. national weakness, financial d
honor. total loss of our property, geneel
corruption of morals and the final extll
lion Of popular freedom. To save our cou
try from ends so appalling as these,
should renew our efforts again and aga
To me the process of restoration seems p
fectly plain and simple. 1t consists me I!
" in afaithful application OF the constr u
ton and laws. The execution OF tne Ia Ia |,
isrot now INSTRUCTED or opposed by p
steal force; there is no military or OIL
necessity, real or perfected, which can
vent obedience to the constitution, eltl
North or South; all rights and all obi
tions of states and individuals can be
tected and enforced by means perfec
consistent with the fundamental law; COT
NAV be everywhere opened, and II or
their process would be unimpeded; GIRL
AGAINST the United States can be prev
ted or punished by proper judicial auth
ties, in manner entirely practie;aDnle !
legal. There is therefore, no reason
the constitution should not be obey
Unless those who exercise it's powers b
determined that it shall be dlsregar
and violated, the mere naked Will OF
Government, or of some one or more OF
branches is the only obstacle that can
list to perfect Union Of all the States. :
this momentous question and some OF
measures growing out of 1t, / had the
1 fortune to differ from Congress and d
expressed my conviction without reese
4 though with becoming Difference to
4 opiuion of the Legislative Departm
j Those convictions We're not only un pt q
4 but strengthened by subsequent events
4 further reflections. The trancendent
! portance of the subject will be sutic
4 excuse for calling your attentionto 8
ofthe reasons which have strongly II
enced my own judment. The hope that
may all finally concur ina mode OF sci
q ment consistent at once with our tru'
4 terests and with our sworn duties to
constitution, is too natural and too Jus
be easily relinquished.
tits clear to my mind that the st
II lately in rebellion are still members OF
n National Union. When did they cease t
~ so9 The ordinance Of secession adoptest
petition of their citizeus were nnll
1--we admit now that they were valid
81 efsctual for the purpose intended by I
authors, we sweep from under our feel
"a whole ground upon which we justlfiet
war. We're those states afterwards e.
FL led from the Union by war; Directly
"a contrary was ayerred by this Govern
81 to belts purpose, and it was SO unders
Ia byall these who gave their blood and
"a sursto adm its prosecution. 1t cannt
thata successful war waged for the pr
yation Of the Union had the legal effe
dissolvingit. The victory of the nat
arms was not the disgrace of her pc
Thedefeat of secession on the battle
wasnotthe triumph of its lawless prime
Nor could Congress, with or witilou
consent Of the Executive, do anyt
which would have theeffect, direetlyt
directly, Of separating the States from
other, 10 dissolve the union is to r
the constitution which holds 1t toge
4 andthat lisa power which does not b.
Il TO any department. Of this Government
81 toah ofthem united. This is sePlain
Mhas been acknowledged by all bra
Of the Federal Government. The y
I'VE, my predecessor, as well as myself
Inc heads Of all the departments, hay
,ofmly acted upon the principle ina
onion s not only indissoluble. Cor
submitted With an amendment OF tn
altution to the Southern States, al
L. n 49,, Il