Year: 1865

FsEore- Cai,sas Of tie Senate and House Of Re


preeut1.icss:


To express gratitude to God, in the
name Of the people, for the preservation
Of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you. Our thoughts next re-
vert to the death of the late President by
an act OF parricidal'treasOn. The grief Of
the nation is still fresh it finds some sol,
ace in Reconsideration that be lived to
enjoy the highest proof Of its confidence
by entering on the renewed term of the
Chief Magistracy to which he had been
elected that he brought the civil war
substantially to q close that his loss was
iepIored in all parts Of the Union and
that foreign nations have rendered JUS
tice to ais memory. His removal cast
upon NE a heavier weight Of cares than
ever developed upon any one Of his prede-
cessors.


To fulfill my trust I need the support
and confidence Of all who are associated
With me in the various departments of
Government, and the support and conf
ienee of the people. There is but one
way in which | can hope to gain their
necessary aid; it is, to state with frank
cess the principles which guide my con-
duct, and their application to the present
state OF affairs, well aware that the efici.
ency Of my labors will,in great measure,
depend on your and their undivided ap-
probation.


The Union of the United States Of
America was idtended by its authors to
last as long as the states themselves shall
last. "The Union shall be perpetual are
the words of the Confederation. 10 form
. more perfect Union by an ordinance
of tie people Of the United States is the
declared purpose of the Constitution. The
hand of diviue providence was never more
plainly visible in the affairs of men than
in the framing and the adopting Of that
instrument. 1t Is beyond comparison, the
greatest event in American history; and
indeed is il not Of all events in modern
times, the most pregnant with consequent
ces for every people Of the earth


The members of the convention which
prepared It brought to their work the ex-
perieDte of the confederation, of their
several States. and of other republican
governments, old and.new; but they needed
and they obtained a wisdom superior to
experince. and when for its validity it
required the approval Of a people that oc-
cupied large part of continent, and
acted separately in many distinct conven-
tons, what is more wonderful than that
after earnest contention and long discuss
Ion, all feelings and all opinions were ul-
tlmately drawn in one way to its support.


The Constitution to which life was thus
impaired contains within itself ample re-
sources for its own preservation. 1t las
power to enforce the laws, punish treason
aud insure domestic tranquility. In case
of the usurpation of the Government of a
State by one man, or an ohgarchy, it be-
comes a duty of the United States to make
good the guarantee to that State of re-
publican form government, and so main
tain the homogeneousness of all. Does
the lapse of time reveal defects 4 simple
mode Of amendment is provided in the
Constitution itself, so that It's conditions
can always be made to conform to the re-
quirements Of advancing civilization.


No room is allowed even for the thought
of possibility of It's coming to an end
Aud these powers of self preservation have
always been asserted 10 their complete
integrity by every patriotic Chief Magis-
trate-Jefersou and Jackson, not less
than by Washington and Madison. The
parting 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 maintained;" and
the inaugural words of Presid Ut Jefferson
held up "the preservation Of the General
Government in It's constitutional vigor, as
the sheet anchor of our peace at home
and safety abroad. The Constitution Is
the work Of the People OF the United
States, and itshould be as indestructible
as the people.


1t is not strange that the trainers Of
the Constitution which had no model In