The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-12-12
PaEsip ENT,s MESSAGE
Delivered to Congress at Noon
Dec. Sd, 1907. Ft
Fellop citizens oftheSsadte
and House Of Rcpreseatatiut

and Rouse OF representatives.
The continued disorganization
of the Union, to which the Presi-
denthas so often called The atten.
tion of'Congress, is yet a snbjectot
profound and patriotic concern.
We may !, however, find some Ieliet
from that anxiety in therehection
that so paintulia political situation,
although before untricd bysour
selves, is notnewiin the experience
of nusions.
Political science, perhaps as high
" perfect in our time and country
a.. any other, has not yet disclosed
any, means by which civil wars can
be absolutely prevented. *g
An enlightened nation5 however,
witha wise and beaiticent eonsti-
tuition of free government, may
diminish their frequency and NIT
igate their severity by directing all
It's proceedings in accordance with
its tsfundamental law. When acivil
war,has been brought to a close, 1t
is nanifestly the first interest and
duty OF the State to repair the IN
iuries which the war has inflicted,
and to seeure the benefit OF the les
aons it teaches, as fully and speed
ily as possible. This duty was, up,
on the termination Of The rebellion,
promptly accepted. not only by the
Executive Department, but by the
fnsurrcctionary States themselves,
aud restoration in the first moment
Of peace was believed to be as easy
and certain as it was Indispensable.
Expectations however, then so
reasonably and confidently enter
tained, were disappointed by legis-
lation from which Ifeit constrain-
ed, by my obligations to the Con-
stitution, to withhold my assent.
The state OF the Union.
II is, therefore, source OF pro
found regret that, in complying
with the Obligations imposed upon
the President by the Constitution
10 give 10 Congress, from time to
time, information Of the State OF
the Union, | am unable to commu'
nicate any definite adjustment, sat
isfactory to the American people,
ofquestions which, since the close
of the rebellion, have agitated The
public mind of tho counsry. Can
dor compels me to declarethat all
thisatimo there is no, Union as our
fathers understood the term, aud
as they meant it to be understood
by us. The Union which they es-
.ta6lished can exist only where all
the States are represented in both
Houses of Congress, where ono
State is as free as another TO regu
late its Internal concerns according
TO its own will, and where the laws
OF the central government arc
strictly confined to matters OF ma
tional Jurisdiction, and which ap
ply with equal force to all the peo
pic of every section. That such il
not the present state OF the Unior
isa melancholy fact; and we al
must acknowledge that the restora
tion of the States TO their proper
legal relations with the Fedora
Government, and with one another
according to the terms Of The orig
inal compact, would be the great
est temporal blessing which God in
his kindest Providence could be
stow upon this nation.
1t becomes our imperative duty
to consider whether or not it il
impossible to effect this most desi
rable contamination. The UnioI
and the Constitution are insepara
BILE. AS long as one is obeyed BY
all parties, the other will be pre-
served; and if one is destroyed
both must perish together. Th.
destruction of the Constitution vii
be followed by other and stil
greater oalamities. 1t was ordain
ed not oGly to form q more pcrfec
Union between the States, but t
establish justice, insure domesti
tranquility, provide for the com
mon defense, promote the genera
welfare, and to secure the blessing
of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity. Nothing but implicit ODE
dience to its requirements in al
parts Of the country will accom-
plish these great ends. Withou
that obedience, we can look focwar'
only to outruges upon individuq
rights, incessant breaches OF th
public poace. national weakness
financial dishonor, total loss Of ou
property, general corruption 9
morals, and final extinction Of pop
ular freedom. To save our coun
TRY from evils 80 appalling az these
we should reuew our efforts agai
and again.
yiar y The Process OF RestOra tion.
To me tho process OF restoration
!, seems perfectly plain and simple
tasIt.consists mainly in q faithful al
plica,ion of the Constitution an
flaws. sIhe exeeutionof the law
is not now obstructed sor oppose
by physical fSrce. There is n
military or other necessity, real Q
pretended, which can prevent OBJ
tiieuce TO the Constitution. Eltht
North orssouth, all rights and .
Obligations Of States and indigit
uals, eau be protected and enforce
'sfby mtans perfectly consistent vii
he.fundame1talH law. The cour
.kqmas DO essryRbsre open,e and
I'd open, theirpfoeess would be min
R5dedg Crimebagainst the Gpite
-tsrHtgs czubg prrvvnted-er -pul
Ishst by.tbspkcpet judicial agtep