Year: 1865

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The President in his message express
ed gratitude to God in the name OF the


people for the preservation OF the United
States. and reverted to the death of the


late President


He said the Union of the United States
was intended by its authors to last as
long as the States themselves He de-


fined the powers of the Constitution; if
revealed defects in its simple mode of
amendment, it was providedin in 1t so that
its condition can always be made to con.
form to the requirements of advancing
civilization. No room is allowed for
even the thought of a possibility of its
coming to an end. Absolute acquiesence
in the decision of the majority was. at
the beginning of the country, enforced
by Jefferson, and the events of the last
four years have established. We hope, for
ever that there lies no appeal to force.


After treating upon the subject of the
sovereignty of the States! !he said: | found
the States suffering from the effects OF
civil war. Resistance to the general
Government appeared to have exhausted
itself. The United States had recover
ed possession of the forts and arsenals
and their armies were in the occupation
of every State which had attempted to
secede. Whether the territories within
the limits of these states should be held
as conquered territory under military au.
thority emanating from the President as
the head of the army was the first ques-
tion that presented itself for decision.
Now military governments established
f. IL 10 ,NarinA Uhnl1 haUa
offered no security for the early suppress.
sion of discomfort; would have divided
the people into the vanquishers and van
auished and would have envenomed
hatred rather than have restored atfec-
ton once established. No precise limits
to the continuance was cOncelyable.-
They would have occasiOned an incalcua-
bic and exhausting expense. He spoke
at some length about the debt and tinan-
cial resources said our debt is doubly Sc
cure, first in the actual wealth and
still greater undeveloped resources OF the
country.


Next Oh the character of our institu-
tions, he said: 1t is our first duty to
prepare in earnest for our recovery from
the ever increasing evils of an irredeem-
able currency, without sudden revolu-
ton, and vet without untimely procras-
tipation To that end we must each i'll
our respective positions prepare the way
| hold it to be the duty of the executive
to insist upon frugality in the expendi'
lures, and economy itself is great
national resource On foreign affairs he
said: Our relations with the emperor OF
China, so recent in their origin, are now
friendly. The unbroken harmony be-
tween the United States and the emperor
of Russia is receiving new support from
an enterprise designed to carry tele.
graphic lines across the continent OF
Asia through his dominions, and so to
connect the United States with all Eu-
rope by q new channel of in terests.


Our commerce with South America is
about to receive encouragement by
direct line of mail steamships to the ris-
ing empire of Brazil. The distinguished
party of men of science who have recent
IL left our country to make scientific
exploration of the natural history, rivers
and mountain ranges of that region have
received from the Emperor that genuine
welcome which was TO have been OK
pected from his constant friendship for
The United States, and his we'll known
zeal in promoting the advancement of
We received from the
powers in the region of the Mediterra-
mean sea expressions Of good will, and it
is worthy ofnote, that special envoy
has brought us a message OF coincidence
on the death of our late Chief Magistrate
from the Bey of Tunis, whose rule in
cludes the old dominion of Carthage on
the African coast.


He spoke about Great Britain at some
length, and said, for the future friend
ship between the two countries must
rest on the basis of mutual Justice. He
SAYS, "but while have no doubt that
now, after the close of the war, it is not
for the general government
to extend the elective franchise In the
several States, it is equally clear that
good faith requires the security OF the
freedmen in their liberty and property
their right to labor, and their right to
claim the just return of their labor