Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-10
Presidents Message.

Congress, is yet subject OF profound
and patriotic concern. When civil
war has been brought to close il is
manifestly the frat interest and duty
o. the State to repair the injuries
which war has inflicted, and to secuic
the benefit OF the lessons it teaches,
as fully and speedily as possible
This duty was, upon the termination
OF the rebellion, promptly accepted
not only by the Executives Depart,
ment, but by the insurrectionary
States themselves, and restoration in
the first moment Of peace was believ-
ed to be as easy and certain as it was
indispensable. These expectations,
however, so reasonably and confi>
dentl y entertained, were disappoint-
ed by legislations from which | feel
constrained by my obligations to
withhold my consent. 1t is there
fore, 3 source Of profound regret,
that, in complying with the obliga-
lions imposed upon the President by
the Constitution TO give to Congress
from time to time information Of the
state of the Union, | am unable to
any definite adjustment
satisfactory to the American people
of the questions which, since the
close of the rebellion, have agitated
the mind of the country. Candor
compels me to declare that in all this
there is 10 Union as our fathers I'M
derstood the term. The Union which
they established can exist only where
all the States are represented in both
houses Of Congress; where one State
is IS free as another TO regulate it's
internal concerns according TO its
own will, ard when the laws Of the
Central Government are confined to
matters of national jurisdiction
That such is not the present state OF
the Union is melancholy fact. The
Union and Constitution are ms par-
able AS long as one is obeyed the
other will be preserved; and if one is
destroyed, both must perish.
To me the process of restoration
seems perfectly plain and simple. 1t
consists merely in a faithful apprecia-
ton of the Constitution and laws
The execution Of the laws is not now
obstructed or opposed by physical
force. There is no military or other
necessity, real or pretended, which
can prevent obedience to the Consti>
tuition, either North or South. Courts
may be everywhere opened, and
their process would be unimpeded,
and crimes against the United States
prevented or punished in legal man
ner.
CONGRESS.
There is no reason why the Consti-
tuition should not be obeyed, unless,
those who exercise its powers have
determined that it shall be disregard
ed and violated. Mere naked will Of
some one Of the branches ofthis Gov.
eminent is the only obstacle that can
exist to q perfect Union. On this
mcmentous question | had the mis-
fortune to differ from Congress, and
have expressed my conviction with
Difference, but without reserve
Those convictions have been strength
ened by recent event sand further re
Election. The Importance ofthe subject
will be a sufficient excuse for calling
your attention to some of the rea
sons which have influenced my judg
ment.
EFFECT OF SECESSION.
1t is clear TO my apprehension that
the States lately IN rebellion are still
members of the National Union
The ordinances fseccession adopted
by a portion of their citizens were
mere utilities. Ny predecessor, as
well as myself aud the heads of al
departments, have uniformly acted
on the principle that the Union is
not only undissOlved but indissoluble
Congress submitted an amendment
to the constitution to be ratified by the
Southern States; and if these States
were out Of the Union, Congress, in
asking it, committed political absur
dity. Judges Of the Supreme Court
are constantly exercising jurisdiction
in these States, which does not belong
to them, if tho States are out of the
Union.
On the 22nd day Of July. 1861,
Congress declared, by an almost
unanimous vote of both Houses, that
the war should be conducted solely
for the purpose Of preserving the I'm.
ION and maintaining the supremacy
Of the Federal constitution and laws,
without impsiring the dignity
equality and rights of the States OF
individuals, and that this being done
the war should cease. Having given
that assurance in the extremity OF
our peril, violating it now in the day
of our power would be a rude rend-
ing of that good faith which holds
the moral world together. 1t would
make the war not only failure but
8 fraud.
Being sincerely convinced that
these views are correct, | would be
unfaithful to my duty if | did not rec
ommend a repeal of the acts of Con-
gress which place ten of the Southern
States under the domination of mill
tary masters. I am aware it is as
sumed that this system Of govern
ment for the Southern States is not
to be perpetual. 1t is true, that this
military government is to be only
provisional, but it is through this
temporary evil that greater evil il
to be made perpetual.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE
1t is manifestly an avowedly the
object Of these laws to confer upon
negroes the privilege of voting, and
to distranchise such number of white
citizens as will give the former a
clear majority at all elections in
Southern States. This to the minds
OF some persons is SO important that
a violation of the constitution is justi>
fed as means of bringing it about.
The subjugation of States to negro
domination wculd be verse than the
military despotism under " hich they