Year: 1865

.t --
Fello,c- Citizens Of the Senate and


House Of Representatives.


To express gratitude to God, in the
name of the people, forthe preservation
of the United States, is my first duty in
addressing you. Our thoughts next
revert to the death of the late Presi-
dent by an act of parricidal treason
The grief of the nation is still afresh;
it finds some solace in the consideration
that he lived to enjoy the highest proof
of its confidence by entering on the re-
newed term of the Chief Magistracy, to
which he had been elected that he
brought the civil war substantially to a
close that his loss was deplored in all
parts of the Union and that foreign
nations have rendered justice to his
memory. His removal east upon me a
heavier weight Of cares than ever de-
volved upon any one of his predecessors.
To fulfil my trust [ need the support
and confidence of all who are associated
with me in the various departments of
Government, and the support and con-
fidencc of the people. There is but
one way in which [ can hope to gain
their necessary aid it is to state with
frankness the principles which guide
my conduct, and their application to the
present state of affairs, well aware that
the efficiency of my labors will, in a
great measure, depend on your and their
undivided appreciation.


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 perpet-
ual" are the words of the Confederation. G
"To form 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 Wis
ible in the affairs of men than in the
framing and the adoption of that instru-
ment. 1t is, beyond comparison, the
greatest event in American 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 of other repub-
lican governments, old and new but
they needed and obtained wisdom SUI
perior to experience. And when for its
validity it required the approval of a
people that occupied large part of
continent and acted separately in many
distinct conventions, what is more Won
derful than that, after earnest conten-
tion and long discussion, all feelings and
all opinions were ultimately drawn in
one way to its support?


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 domestic
tranquility. In case of the usurpation
of the government of State by one
man, or an oligarchy, it becomes duty
of the United States to make good the
guarantee to that State of a republican
form of government, and so to maintain
the homogeneousness of all Does the
lapse of time reveal defects? A simple
mode of amendment is provided in the
constitution itself, so that its conditions
can always be made to conform to the
requirements of advancing civilization.
No room isallowed even for the thought
of possibility of its coming to an end.
And these powers of self-preseryation
have always been asserted in their COM
plcte integrity by every patriotic Chief
Magistrate-by Jefferson and jackson,
not less than by Washington and Madi.
son. The parting advice of the Father
of his Country while yet President, to
the people Of the United States, was
that the '.free Constitution, which was
the work OF their hands, might be sa-
credly maintained land the inaugural
words of President Jefferson held up
"the preservation of the general govern
ment, IN its constitutional yigor, 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 it should be as indestruc,
tible asithe people.


1t is not strange that the trainers Of
the Constitution, which had no model
IN the past, should not have fully com
pretended the excellence of their own
work. Fresh from struggle against
arbitrary power, many patriots suffered
from harrassing fears of am absorption
OF State governments by the general
{ government, and many from dread
that the States would break away from
their orbits. But the very greatness oi
our country should allay the apprehen.