Year: 1865

To express gratitude to God, in
the name Of the People, for the
preservation Of the United Safes,
is my first duty in addressing you.
Our thoughts next revert to the
death of the late President, by an
act Of parricidal treason. The
grief of the nation is still fresh /; it
finds some solace in the considera.
ton that he lived to enjoy the high
est 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
civil war substantially to close {;
that his loss was deplored in all
parts of the Union and that for
eign nations have rendered justice
to his memory. His removal cast
upon me a heavier weight of cares
than ever dcvolved upon any one Of
his predecessors. To fulfil my trust
i need the support and confidence
'of all who are associated with me
sin the various departments of Go
wernment, and the support and
confidence of the people. There
lis but one way in which ] can hope
to gain their necessary aid ; 1T is,
to state with frankness the princi-
piles which guide my conduct, and
their application to the present
state Of affairs, well aware that the
efficiency of my labors will, in a
yreat measure, depend upon your
and their undivided appreciation.


The Union of the United States
of America was intended by its
anthors to last as long as the States
themselves shall last. The Ux'
ION SHALL DE PERPETUAL" are the
words of the Confederation. 10
FORM MORE PERFECT UNION" by
an ordinance of the people OF the
United States, is the declared Gur'
pose of the Constitution. The
hand of Divine Providence was
never more plainly visible in the
affairs of mSn than in the framing
and the adopting 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 Contedera.
ticn, of their several States, and
of other Republican Governments,
old and new = but they needed and
they obtained wisdom superior
TO experience. And for its validi-
ty it required the approval OF a
people that occupied large part
of continent and acted separate
ly in many distinct conventions,
what is more wonderful than that,
after earnest contention rand long
discussion, all feelings and all
opinion 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
preservation. 1t has power to en-
force the laws, punish treason, and
insure domestic tranquility. In
case of the usurpation of the Go
vernment of a State by one man,
or an oligarchy, it becomes a duty
of the United States to make good
the guarantee to that State of a
Republican form of Government,
and so to maintain the homogeni-
business of all. Does the lapse OF
time reveal defects A simple
mode of amendment is provided
in the Constitution itself, 80 that
its condition 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 as
serted in their complete integrity
by every patriotic Chief Magis
trate-by Jefferson and jackson,
not less than by Washington and
Madison. The parting advice o.
the Father of his country, whilC
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 inaugura
words OF President. Jefferson held
up "the preservation Of the gene
raj Government, in its constitution
al vigor, as the sheet anchor of oul
peace at home and safety abroad
The Constitution is the work o
the people of the United States
and it should be as indstructible al
the people.


Is it not strange that the fra
mers of the Constitution, whicl
had no model in the past, shoulC
not have fully comprehended tn
excellence of their own work.
Fresh from struggle against ar
bitrary power, many patriots sui
fered from harrassing fears of al
absorption of the State Govern
ments by the General Governmen
and many from a dread that tn
States would break away from
their orbits. But the very great
ness of our country should ALA,
the apprchensions OF encroach
ments by the general Government
The subjects that come unques
tionably within its jurisdiction
are so numerous, that II must eve
naturally refuse to be embarrassed