Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-05
Etc.
Etc.

.Ft0lo. Citizens Of he Senate and House Of Rep
TeSentattueS:
The continued disorganization Of the Union,
10 which the President has so often called the
attention OF Congress, is yet subject OF pro
found and patriotic concern. We may, howeY-
ar find some relieffrom that anxiety in the refee-
zion that the painful political situation, although
before nntried by ourselves, Is not new IN the
experience Of nations. Political science, per
maps as highly perfected in our own time and
country as in any other, has not yet disclosed any
means by which civil wars can be absolutely pre-
vented. An enlightened nation, however, with
q wise and benefcent constitution OF nee gov
eminent, may diminish their frequency and nit
5gate their severity, by directing all its proceed
ings in accordance with its fundamental law.
Whena civil war has been brought to a close il
is manifestly the first interest and duty of the
State to repair the injuries which the war has
inflicted, and TO secure the benefit OF the lessons
10 teaches as fully and as speedily as possible.
This duty was upon the termination of rebellion
promptly accepted not only by the Executive
department but by the insurrectiOnary States
themselves, and restoration in the fret moment
of peace was believed to be as easy and certain
asst was indispensable. The expectation, how
ever then so reasonably and confidently enter
7ained were disappointed by legislation from
which felt constrained by my obligations to the
Constitution to withhold my assent. 1t is,
therefore, source Of profound regret that in
complying with the obligation imposed upon the
President by the Constitution TO give TO Con
1ress from time to time information of the State
of the Union, am unable to communicate any
definite adjustment satisfactory TO the American
people, of the questions which since the close of
abe rebellion have agitated the public mind. On
The contrary, Candor compels me to declare that
at this time there is no Union as our fathers I'M
derstood the term, and as they meant II to be
understood by us The Union which they es-
tablished can exist only where all the States are
represented in both Houses of Congress, where
one State is as free as another to regulate its in
Ternal concerns according to its own will, and
where the laws of the central Government,
! Of turfg
1ion. apply with equal force to all the people of
every section. That such is not the present
state OF the Union is a melancholy fact, and we
all must acknowledge that the restoration OF the
States to their proper legal relation with the
Federal Government, and with one another, &C
COrding to the terms of the original compact,
would be the greatest temporal blessing which
God in His kindest Providence could oestoW
apon the nation. 1t becomes our imperative
duty to consider whether or not II Is impossible
10 effect this most desirable contamination.
The Union and the Constitution are nseparable.
AS long 2s one is obeyed by all parties the 0thef
will be preserved, and if one is destroyed, both
7nnst perfsh together The destruction of the
Constitution will be followed by other and still
greater calamities. Itwas ordalheq MOI City "
form more perfect union between the states,
Ymt to " establish justice insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and our posterlty'
Nothing but implicit obedience TO its require
plish these great ends. Without that obedience
we can look forward only to continual outrages
npon individual rights, incessant breaches OF the
public peace, national weakness, financial dis
honor, the total loss of our prosperity, the gen
eral corruption of morals, and the final extlnc-
lion of popular freedom. To save our country
from evils so appalling az these,we should renew
our efforts again and again. 10 me the process
of restoration seems perfectly plain and simple.
ltconsists merely in faithful application OF the
Constitution and laws. The execution OF the
laws is not now obstructed or opposed by phys
iCal force. There is no military or other neCes-
sity, real or pretended, which can prevent ob9-
Cience to the Constitution either North or South.
All the rights and all the obligations of states
and individuals can be protected and enforced
by means perfectly consistent with the lundl-
mental law The courts may be everywhere
open, and if open, their process would be unlm-
peded crimes against the United States can be
prevented or punished by the proper Judicial au'
fhorities in a manner entirely practicable and le
ral There is therefore, no reason why the Con
stitution should not be obeyed, unless those WING
exercise its powers have determined thatlt shal
he disregarded and violated. The mere nakeC
win Of this Government, on of some one or more
of its branches, is the only obstacle that can ex
list to perfect union OF all the States. VI
1his momentous question, and some OF I'M
measures growing out Of it, have had the mis-
fortune to differ from Congress, and nave eX
pressedmy convictions without reserve, thongl
with becoming Difference to the opinion OF tn
legislative department. These convictions ar
moi only unchanged but strengthened by sub
seduent events and further reflection, IN
franscendent importance of the subject VIII
q sufficient excuse for calling your attention I
some of the reasons which have so strongly IL
1luenced my own judgment. The hope that W
may all favorably concur on mode of SETTLE
ment consistent at once with our true interests
and with our sworn duties to the Consuthtloi
is too natural and too just to be easily relil
quished. -
THE STATUS OF THE REBEL STATES.
1t is clear to my apprehension, that the State
lately in rebellion are still members OF ii
National Union When did they cease to be SO
The Ordinance of secession" adopted by
portion, in most of them very small portion
their citizens, were mere utilities III we adm
now that they were valid and effectual for Il
purpose intended by their authors, we sew
from under our feet the whole ground upC
which we justified the war. Were these STAT
afterwards expelled from the Union BY the wal
The direct contrary was ayerred by this cover
ment to be its purpose, and was so understOt
ly all those who gave their blood and treasu
10 aid in its prosecution. 1t cannot be that
successful war waged for the preservation OF q
Union, had the legal effect of dissOlving it. II
victory of the nations arms was not the disgra
of her policy: the defeat of secession on u
battlefield was not the triumph Of its lawle
principle Nor could Congress, with or witho
The consent of the Executive, do anything whi
would have the effect, directly or indirectly,
separating the States from each other. To d
solve the Union, il to repeal the Constitute
which holds it together, and that is pow
Government, or to all ofthem united. This is
plain that it has been acknowledged by
branches of the Federal Government. The EXt
utive. my predecessor, as well as myself, and t
heads ofall the departments, have uniformly act
upon the principle. that the Union is not only I
dissolved but indissolube. Congress submit
an amendment of the Constitution, to beratif
by the Southern States, and accepted their
OF ratification as a necessary and lawful eXerc
of their highest function. If they were
states. or were States out of the Union. tn
consent 10 q change IN the fundamental law
the Union woud have been nugatory, and O.
gress in asking il committed political abs
dity. The judiciary has also given the so el
sanction Of its authority 10 the same views
the case. The judges OF the Supreme Co
nave included the Southern States in their
cults. and they are here and elsewhere eXert
ing jurisdiction which does not belong 10 tn
unless these States are States of the Union.
the Southern States are component parts OF
Union the Constitution is the supreme law
hem as il is for all the other States They
bound to obey it and so are we. The right
Federal Government, which is clear and unqu
tionable TO enforce the Constitution upon the
implies the correlative obligation ON our ?
70 observe its limitations and execute Its gu
antees. Without the Constitution we are no
ing; but through andunder the Constitution