New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

FrLLow-CnnEys or TIE SENATE AND HOUSE OF sEr
REsENTArWEs:
The continued disOrganzation Of the Union,
10 which the President has often called the attention
Of Congress Is yet o subject Of profound aud patriotic
concern We may. however find some relief from thar
anxiety the reflection that the painful political Sunr
ton although before untred by ourselves ~ not new In
tho experience Of nations Political science, peFhaps 40
highly perfected in our time and country as in any
other has not yet disclosed any by which civil
wars can be absolutely prevented An enlightened
nation however with wise aud Deneacent constitution
Of free Government may diminish their frequency and
mitigate their severity by directing all its proceedingsm
accordance with IT'S fundamental law.
When civil war has brought 20 close It Is mani
testify the first interest and duty OF the State TO repair the
injuries which the war has inflicted. aud TO secure tho
benefit OF the 10 teaches fully ana as speedily
rs possible THIS duty was upon The termination OF inc
Rebellion promptly accepted not only by the LAccuuVe
Department bat by the nsurectonary states
and restoration I'm the first moment Of peace was believed
IN be ma easy and certain t Indispensable Tue
expectations however then 80 reas1uaoy anu 80, TX
euirrtaucd disappointed 10y legislation RON WHICH
fct constrained by NY obligations 70 the CONSTITUTION
&c Is, theicfore source Of profound resre,
tbat i'm complying with tho obligations imposed
upon the President 10y the Constitution, 70 s.se ~. 20
Congress from time TO time INFORMATION OF Lno
state Of tho Union, am unable 20 Solnuun'c tS
any dehnuye adjustment saII'iaT,,oSS i,co ,hs
American people OF the questions Whlch sluce tne
crs Of
time there Is Union, our fathers understood me
nion which thi y established exist only where all
The States are represented IA b0tb Houses OF tOistss
where Que State free "a another 10 regulate us h
,raI concerns according 30 ia will and whore tho
laws OF the Central Government strictly confined IA mat
ne or If SySy section That such is NOT the present
state OF tho Union Il melancholy TACT ana We az nuse
uroper legal relations with the Federal Government and
with another, according to the terms o me oShs
"a l,.sf pgtf
God i'm Ills kndrst Providence could bestoT upon thsna
ton becomes onr Imperative dny 10 c0isJe Nne.no'
not II II impOssioie 10 oleVt uA' hV'V
The Union and the Constitution are inseparable.
preserved and II is destroyed both must perish 20
gctheT The destruction or the Constitution Elu De Iol
Vowed nv other and still greater caainteS ~ was or
daped not OILY q form mOre perfect union between
the states. but TO establish justice insure aoesp S
tranquility provide FOR the common defense promote the
general welfare. and secure the blessings OF liberty
ourselves and pOsterty Nothing put hph,lt ooed1
accomplish these great ends. Without mat Oped.ehSs
we can look forward only to continual outeases upon IN
iI,dnal rchts ncessant breaches OF the public peace.
national weakness financial dshOnOr me totd loss on
prosperity the general corruption OF nofS anu sS
final extinction o. popular freedom TO save cur cOuhty
from evils appalling rs these we should rene" o''
To- me- the process Of restoration seems perfectly
plain and simple. IL consists merely end " lors
faithful application OF ui xs not " now OBJ
structed or opposed by physical force IhcTe r. no
military or other neees he It E either Norm or
E,b All the rights and all the obligations OF States and
nd id1als can Be protected and enforced by
perfecy consistent with the fundamental Law;
Tho courts may be- everywhere opcn, anu l.l,! -
the United States be prevented or punished py tns
proper judicial authorities IN manner entiy pO' .
be and legal There Is, therefore, no reason WY tno
Constitution should not be Obeyed unless those VINO et
errise s powers have determined that II snail be ulsEc
garded aud violated. The naked viii OF Tho Govern
neu or OF some one or more Of It's branches !, the only
obstacle that Can exist to perfect UNION oi "n NO
On thus nomontous question and OF the measures
growing out II, have had the misfortune 10 inner Io
Congress ANA have expressed 10y convictions without NJ
ser, e. Though with becomng Difference 90 tho opinion
tho Legislative Department Those oonFlciohs
events and fIlthS reflection Tho tran,coudant ,uI0f
tance OF the subject will be sufficient excuse Tor caAs
your attention % some OF tho reasons %nlen at rs
strongly Influenced my Judgment the nope ths'
we may all finally concur IN mode OF setl.prn. r
tent at with our true interests anq WIN ~" w -
duties 20 the Constitution Is too natural anu JUL ~ ~
II is clear to my apprehension that the states aiey
rebellion are sin members OF vac ,r, Na ..o,d
Union. When DID they cease 70 re sG' n, pcr.
ton lin most OF them very snan po' ao
their citizens were mere nuues , We Ino.e IN
that they valid and elcctual ior Ii. Prp r ,est
tended by their authors We sweep ilols tl - Wsro
whole ground upon which we Union by tho
those States aferward expelled rom ~ r tSs Govern.
wari The direct contrary was svetvu ~ ali those
mont to be Us pqrPose ara @ AID in it, prosecu,
ton. cannot Ice that successtni VA f ~ dissov.
preseryation OF the Cnion had the egl 40, tie dls
ng g. The victory OF the nation s on the bar,
grace OF her policy The defeat OF Sec ,rincine No,
ccvI Consress with or without the consent OK tno
tj ~, thing which would have the enect ulWty
or Indirectly q sepSapg the states from sscn hcb
10 dssoyS the UIOn to repeal the Y. -
bcla IN tog,her and that Is power when u"es no.
long 10 any department Of this Government OF "
them united. -. 4. h.s haac .ckpowiedRsd
ms nS hy,Sches OF the Federal Government Inc
ny III prdn, ~ nredecessor as we'll myself and the
be departments have uniformly acted upo9
the principle that the Union Is not only oi Ss
10 be ratified by the 50uthern states SLY
canted their acts OF ratification ~ necessary asa "a
S, eFer,iso u their Highest junction, thsS WS5e wv