Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The following is summary Of
the Presidents Message:
The President opens by saying
that the continued disorganization
of the Union, to which the Presi-
dent has so often called the atten-
ton of Congress, is yet a subject
of profound and patriotic concern.
He says it is a source Of profound
regret that in complying with the
obligation imposed upon the Presi-
dent by the Constitution, to give
Congress from time to time infor-
nation of the state of the Union, |
am unable to communicate any def
mite adjustment satisfactory to the
American people Of the questions,
which since the war have agitated
the public mind. On the contrary,
candor compels me to declare that
at 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 established, can only exist
where all the States are represented
in both Houses of Congress. 70
the President, the process of resto-
ration seems plain and simple. 1t
consists merely in a faithful appli-
cation of the Constitution and Laws.
The execution of the laws is not
now obstructed by physical force
| There is no military, or other ne
cessity, real or pretended, which can
prevent obedience to the Constltu-
ton, either North or South. All
the rights, and obligations OF the
States and individuals, can be pro
tected and enforced by means, per
fectly consistent with the funda
mental law. 1t is clear to his ap
prehension that the States lately ir
rebellion are still members of the
National Union. When did they
cease to be so2 The ordinances O
secession, adopted by a portion o
the States, in the most of them, by
a very small portion of their citi
zens, were mere nullities. II W.
admit now that they were valid an(
effectual for the purpose intended
by their authors, we sweep from un
der our feet the whole ground upol
which we based the war. The Pres
! ident elaborates these views at grea
! length, and then says: Being sin
cerely convinced that my views ar
a correct, / would be unfaithful to m,
duty if / did not recommend tn
: repeal of the acts Of Congress
which place ten of the Southern
States under the domination o
/! military masters. If calm reflection
shall satisfy a majority of your Hon
orable bodies, that the acts referre'
. to are not only in violation OF tn
national faith, but in direct contlic
with the Constitution, | dare no
permit myself to doubt that you wi
Immediately strike them from tn
J statue books, rtEF
The President proceeds to say h
has no desire to save from the jus
b.. and proper consequences OF taei
a crime, those who were engaged !
d the rebellion, but as a mode OF pun
k' ishment, the measures under COZ
e. sideration are the most unreason'
- bic that could be invented. Man
r Of these people are innocent and
Ve those who are guilty with their oW
! consent the degrees Of guilt are
various as their shades OF charact
and temper. But these acts OF Cc
y oress confound them all togeth
in one common doom. lndiscrll
mate vengeance on all classes, sect
narties or upon the whole comm
oil nritv. for offences committed by
nd norton of them against the Cover
,e- ment to which they owed obedien(
re was common in the barbarous age
an an but christianity and civilization ma
~ made such progress that recoqr
- 70 n nunishment SO cruel and unJr
. would meet the condemnation OF
unpreiudiced and right minded me
4 The primitive justice Of this at
especially in this country, does Il
consist in stripping whole States
! their liberties and reducing all
+ their people, without Distinction
the condition Of slavery. He 50
= he is aware that it is assumed IL
this system Of government Tor !
san South is not TO be perpetual. lft
Sc guarantee of the Constitution c
. be broken Professionally to serve
= temporary purpose, and in pa
III. only, of the country we can destr
to them everywhere and for all tn
Arbitrary measures often chan
but they generally change for
worse. 1t is the course Of Fiesp
nps ism that it has no halting place
lar' The President then says: 1t
I. manifestly and avowedly the OBJ
of these laws to confer the privil'
ari- Of voting on the negroes and to {