Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-12-06
The Presidents Message
Fellow CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AID HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES

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 painful
political situation, although before untrIed
by ourselves. is not new in the experience oil
the nations. Political science, perhaps as
highly perfected in our own tune aud eoun-
try as in any other, has not yet disclosed any
means by which civil wars can be absolutely
prevented. An enlightened nation, how
ever, with wise and benefcent COUstitu-
ton OF free government. may diminish their
frequency and mitigate their severity BY di-
recting all its proceedings IN accordance with
Its fundamental law. When a civil war has
been brought to a close it is manifestly the
first interest and duty Of the State 10 repair
the injuries which the war has inflicted, and
to secure the benefit OF the lessons it teach
es as fully and speedily as possible. This
duty was upon the termination Of the rebel
lion promptly accepted, not only by the Ex-
ecutiye department but by the instruction
ary States themselves, and restoration in the
first moment OF peace was believed to be as
easy and certain as it was indispensable.
REaRErs.
The expectations. however, then 50 reasona-
bly, and confidently entertained were disap-
pointed by legislation from which felt con-
strained BY my obligations to the Constltu-
t!en TO withhold my assent. u Is, therefore,
a s0urSe Of profound roget tnat ia COM
plying with the obligation imposed upon the
President by the Constitution to give to
Congress from time 10 time information OF
the State OF the Union. | am unable to com
munIcste any definite adjustment satisiacto-
" to the American people, .of the questions
which since the close OF the rebellion have
agitatel the public mind. on the contrary,
candor eJmpels me 10 declare that at this
time there II no Union a. our fathers under
stood the term, and as they meant 1t to be IN
derstO0d by Us. The Union which they estab-
! lished can only exist where all the States axe
represented IN both Houses OF COngress. where
| one State Is a. free as another TO regulate it,
internal concerns according to Its own will,
/ and where the laws of the Contra Govern
ment strictly confined to matters Of Nation
/ al jurisdiction, apply with equal force 20 all
the people Of every action That such IL
not the present state Of the Union Is d mel
sncholy fact and We all must acknowledge
that the restoration Of the States 10 their
/ proper legal relations with the Federal Gov
eminent, 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 bestow upon
/ the Nation. Ii becomes our imperative duty
10 consider whether OF not it is impossible 10
effect this most desirable Contamination.
FEARS.
The Union and the Constitution are inse-
parable. As long as one Is obeyed by all
parties the other Will be preserved, and II
one l. destroyed, both must perish together.
The destruction OF the Constitution will be-
followed by other and still. greater ealami
ties. 1t was ordained not only u form s
more perfect union between the State. but
TO 4" establish justice, insure domestic tran.
! guilty, provide for the common defence. pro-
mote the general Welfare, and secure The
blessings OF liberty 10 ourselye. ana ouI
! posterity.' Nothing but implicit obedience
TO its requirements. IN al parts Of the clun-
Try, viii accomplish these great ends. With
out that obedience We can look forward only
to continual outrages upon individual rights
incessant breaches Of the public peace, ma
tiOnal weakness, financial dishonor, the toial
loss Of our prosperity, the general corrup.
lOn Of morals, ana the final extinction Oi
popular freedom 10 save our country from
evils 50 appalling jas these, we should renew
our efforts again and again. To me the
! process OF restoration seems perfectly PLAN
and simple; 1t consists merely in a faithful
application Of the Constitution and laws
NOTHING PKEyETs RESTORATION, But Cos
GRESs.
! The execution Of the laws Is not now OBJ
structed or opposed by physical force
| There i no military or other necessity, real
or pretended, which can prevent obedience
| 70 the Constitution either North or South
| All the rights and all the obligations a
States anu individuals can be protected and
| enforced by means perfectly consistent with
the fundamental law. The courts nav be
everywhere open, and if open, their process
would be unimpeded crimes agrinst the
United States can b prevented OF punished
by the proper judicial authorities IN d man
ner entirely practicable and legal. There Il.
therefore, DO reason why the Constitution
/ should not be Obeyed, unless those who exer-
else its powers have determined that it shall
be disregardei and violated The mere ma
ked viii of this Government. or Of some one
OF more Of it. branches. is the only obstacle
that can exIst TO a perfect union of all the
States. On thIs mOmeniOus question. and
| some OF the measures growing out OF it,
have had the misfortune 70 differ from Con-
gress, and have expressed nv convictions
without reserve, though with becoming def
erence to the Legislative department These
convictions are not only unchanged but
strengthened by subsequent events and fur
! 49, fnasra- Tho
tance Of the subject will be sufficient ex-
cuse for calling your attention to some of the
| reas us which have - strongly influenced
my own Judgment. The hope that We may
| all fayoTably concgr On a mode OF settlement
consistent 1t once with our true interest
/ and our sworn duties 10 the constitu-
ton, Il too material and Just TO be easily
THE UNIoN not DISSOLVED.
relinquisbed. 1t j. clear to nv apprehen-
sion that the States lately 10 rebellion are
still members Of he National Union. When
did they cease to Re 500 The "ordinances
Of secession adopted by portion. in most
Of them a very small portion, OF their citizens.
were mere utilities. If We admit now that
they were valid and e5ectual for the pur-
pose intended by their authors. We sever
from under our feet the whole ground upon
which we justified the war Were these
States afterwards expelled from the Union
by the war? The direct contrary was aver
red by this Government to be its purpose
and was understood 20 by all those who gave
their blood and treasure 10 aid in It's prose
cution. IL cannot be that a successful war
waged Tor tie preservation Of the Union, bad
the legal effect Of dissolying it. Tie victory
OF the nations arms was not the disgrace %
her policy; the defeat OF secession on the
battlefield ~as not the triumph of IT. law
les principle. Nor could Congress, with OF
without the consent Of the Executive. Do
anything which would have the effect. d.
rectiy OF indirectly, of separating the States
IRON each other, To dissolve the Union Is
TO repeal the constitution, which holdz It
together, and that is a power which does
not bel0ng to any department Of this govern
ment. or 10 all OF them united This Is 20
plain that IL has been acknowledged by all
branches OF the Federal Government. The
Executive, my predecessor. as well a. my
self, and the heads Of all the departments,
have uniformly acted on the principle, that
the Union Is not only undissolved, but indis-
a. I