The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-12-12
Presidents S Message.
FellO,v Citizens Of the Senate and HOHse Of
Representatives,

:
subject of profound political concern. we
NAV. however, find some relief from that
anxiety in the reflection that this painful
rolitical situation, although before untried
nv ourselves, ia not new in the experience
of nations. Political science, perhaps as
highly perfected in our own time ana
country as in any other, has not yet dis
closed any means by which civil wars can
he absolutely prevented An enlightened
nation, however, with a wise and benef>
cont constitution of free government, may
diminish their frequency and mitigate their
,.radty by directing all its proceedings in
,ecordance with It's fundamental law.
When civil war has been brought to a
close, it is manifestly the first interest anc
duty of the State TO repair the injuries
which the war has inflicted, and to secure
the benefit of the lessons it teaches as fully
and speedily rs possible. This duty was,
upon the termination of the rebellion,
promptly accepted, not only by the Exc
cutiye Department, but by the insurrec~
tionary States themselves and restoration
in the first moments of peace was believed
TO be as easy and certain as it was lndls-
pensable. Expectations however, then so
reasonably and confidently entertained,
we're disappointed by legislation from
~hich 1 felt constrained by my obligations
ahe Constitution to withhold my assent,
HE, therefore, a source of profound regret
that in complying withthc obligation i'm
posed upon the President by the Consti-
tuition, to give to Congress, from time to
time, information Cf the state of the Union,
am unable to communicate any definite
adjustment, satisfactory to the American
people, of questions which, since the close
of the rebellion, have agitated the public
mind On the contrary, candor compels
me to declare, that all this time there Is
no Union, as our fathers understood the
term, and as they meant it to be under
stood by US. The Union which they es-
tabIished, can exist only where all the
States are represented in both Houses of
Congress, and whe,e one State is as free
as another to regulate its internal concerns,
aGCOrding to its own will, and where the
laws Of the central government are strictly
confined TO matters of NATIONAL jurisdiction,
and apply with equal force TO all people
Uf every section and that such is not the
present state of the Union, it is melan>
choly fact, and we all must acknowledge,
that the restoration of the States to their
proper and legal relations with the FEEDER
al government, and with one another, ac-
cording to the terms of original compact,
would be the greatest temporal blessing
which Ged in his kindest Providence
could bestow upon this nation. Ii becomes
our Imperative duty TO consider whether
not, -. l. al.
desirable consummation. The Union and
Constitution are inseparable; as long as
zoe is obeyed by all parties, the other will
h preserved, and if one is destroyed, both
must perish together. The destruction Of
the Constitution will be followed by other
and still greater calamities. 1t was or
uaIned not only to form more perfect
Union between the States, but to establish
Justice and domestic tranquility, provide
Tor the common defense, promote the gen
eral welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity.-
Nothing but implicit obedience to its re-
quirements in all parts Of the country will
accomplish these great ends, and without
that obedience we can look forward only
to continued outrages upon individual
rights and incessant breaches of the public
peace, national weakness, financial dishon-
or, total loss Of our prosperity, general
corruption of our morals, and the final
extinction of popular freedom. To save
our country from evils so appalling as
these we should renew our efforts again
and again
To me the process of reconstruction
Ee@s perfectly plain and simple 1t con-
si'iS merely in faithful application of
lie Constitution and laws, and as The exc
euloA OF the laws is not now obstructed or
opposed by physical force, there is no mil
nary or other necessity, real or pretended,
winch can prevent obedience to the Con-
HItuilon, either North or South All
rights and all obligations of States and in
u''iduals can be protected and enforced
W means perfectly consistent with funda-
mental law. Courts may be everywhere
opeh' and 1t open, their process would be
'upeueu, and crimes against the United
o1@Nes can be prevented or punished by
t.opeF judicial authorities in a manner an
practicable and leual There ;s
therefore, no reason why the Constitution
Shonld not be obeyed. unless ,booo rvho
II sbou l. ], nave determined that
,norn Ie uiSregarded and violated as the
.g,e .nue mai NAKED will of this Government, or of
ooHe one or more ofits branches. Is there
T3;' qI'5 obstacle that can exist to perfect the
,onU 1nlon Oh all the States? On the momen-
.OuS question, and some of the measures
slowing out of it, l had tho misfor,r,o =,
n,uer from Congress, and have expressed
NY convictions without reserve. tbougb
% ''1 becoming Difference to the opinion of
'D' legislative Department. Those con,