Year: 1865

""s hAooee ~ AseVese'eutftts.


To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the people, for the prescrva-
tion of the United States, is my first
duty in addressing you. Our thoughts
next revert to the death of the late
President by an act of parricidal trea-
son. The grief of the nation is still
fresh it finds some solacc in the con-
sideration that he lived to enjoy the
highest proof of its confidence by en-
tering on the renewed term of the
Chief Magistracy, to which he had
been elected that he brought the civ
il war substantially to close that
his loss was deplored in all parts of
the Union /; and that foreign nations
have rendered, justice to his memory.
His removal cast upon me heavier
weight Of cares than ever devolvcd
upon any one of his predecessors. To
fulfill my trust need the support and
confidence of all who are associated
with me in the various departments of
Government, and the support and
confidence of the people. There is
but one way in which,l can hope to
gain their necessary aid it is, to
state with frankncss the principles
which guide my conduct, and their ap-
plication to the present state Of affairs,
well aware that the efficiency of my
labors will, in q great measure, de-
pend upon your and their undivided ap-
probation. -.. s...s ......


The Union of the United States of
America was intended by its authors
to last as long as the States themselves
shall last. THE UNION SHALL BE
pERpErrn,v are the words OF the Con-
federation. "To FORM A MORE PERFECT
UNION" by an ordinance of the people
of the United States, is the declared
purpose of the Constitution. The hand
of Divine Providence was never more
plainly visible in the affairs of men
than in the framing and the adopting
of that instrument It's, beyond COM
parison, the greatest event in Ameri-
can history and indeed is it not, of
all events in modern times, the most
pregnant with consequences for every
people of the earth? The members OF
the Convention which prepared it,
brought to their work the experience
of the Confederation, of their several
States, and other Republican Govern
mcnts, old and new but they needed
and they obtained wisdom superior
to experience. And when for its va.
lidity it required the approval of a
people that occupied large part OF
continent and acted separately in
many distinct conventions, what is
more wonderful than that, after earn
est contention and long discussion, all
feelings and all opinions were ulti-
mately drawn in one way to its sup
port?


The Constitution to which life was
thus impaired contains within itself
ample resources for its own preserva.
tion. 1t has power to enforce the
laws, punish treason, and ensure do.
mcstic tranquility. In case Of the
usurpation of the Government of a
State by one man, or an oligarchy, il
becomes o duty Of the United States
to make good the guarantee to that
State of a Republican form Of Govern
ment, and so to maintain the homoge
neousness of all. Docs the lapse OF
time reveal defects? A simple mode
of amendment is provided in the Con
stitution itself, 80 that its conditions
can always be made to conform to the
requirements Of advancing civilization
No room is allowed even for the
thought of a possibility OF its coming
to an end. And these powers of self
preservation have always been assert
ed in their complete integrity by ever,
patriotic Chief Magistrate---by Jefler
son and jackson, not less than by
Washington and Madison. The part
ing advice of the Father Of his Coun
try, while yet President, to the people
Of the United States, was, that " the
free Constitution, which was the work
of their hands, might be sacredly main
tanned :" and the inaugural words o
President jefferson held up "the pres
ervation of the General Government
in it's constitutional vigor, as the shee
anchor Of our peace at home and safe
ty abroad" The Constitution is th'
work of the people of the Unitct
States" and j. should be as indestract
ible as the people. .


1t is not strange that the trainers 0
the Constitution. which had no mode
in the past, should not have fully com
pretended the excellence Of their owl
works. Fresh from q struggle agains
arbitrary power, many patriots suffer
cd from harrassing fears Of an absorp
tion Of the State Governments by tn
General Government, and many, iron
a dread that the States would breal
away from their orbits: But the yer,
greatness of our country should ALA,
the apprehension of encroachments b.
| the General Government. The sui
jects that come unquestionably within