Year: 1867

come. But IN this case the end


itself is evil, as we'll as the means.


The subjugation of the States to


negro domination would be worse


than the military despotism under


which they are now suffering. 1t


was believed before hand that the
people would endure any amount


of military oppression, for any
length Of time, rather, than de-
grade themselves, by subsection
to the negro race. Therefore they
have been left without a choice.
Negro suffrage was established by
act Of Congress, and the military
officers were commanded to super
intend the process Of clothing the
negro race with the political
privileges torn from white men.


The blacks in the South are en-
titled to be we'll and ,~humanely
governed, and to have the ,protec-
tion of just laws for all their rights
of person or property. Ifit were
practicable at this time to give
them q government exclusively
their own, under which. they
might manage their own affairs in
their OWL way, it would become a
grave qnestion whether We ought
to do SO, Or whether common hu-


manity would not require us to
save them from themselves. But,
under the circumstances, this is
only a speculative point. 1t is
not proposed merely that they
shall govern themselves, but that
they shall rule the white race,
make and administer State laws,
elect President and members of
Congress, and shape to a. greater
Or less extent the future destiny
Of the whole country,


"We must not delude ourselves.
It will require a strong standing
army, and probably more than
two hundred millions Of dollars
per annum to maintain the supre-
macy of negro governments after
they are established. The sum
thus thrown away would, if prop
erly used, form a sinking fund
large enough to pay the whole
national debt in less than fifteen
years. It is in vain to hope that
negroes will maintain their ascen-
dancy themselves. Withoutsmhi-
tary power they are wholly inca
pabk Of hoIding e in subjection the
white people ofthe South: =


5. The President recommends
the repealof the Reconstruction
acts.


Being sincerity convinced that
these views are correct, I would
be unfaithful to my duty if I did
not recommend the repeal Of the
acts of Congress which place ten
Of the Southern States under the
domination of military masters. IF
calm reflection shall satisfy a ma
jority of your honorable bodies
that the acts referred to are MOI
only a violation Of the national
faith, but in direct conflict with
the constitution, [ dare notpermit
myself to doubt that you will im~
mediately strike them from the
statute book. -.


6. The last important part of
the message, to which we will
call the attention Of our readers,
is W here the President distinctly
intimates his determination, to re-;
sist his being removed from Office
by the impeachers.


:How far the duty of the Pres
ident, to preserve, protect and de-
fend the constitution requires
him to go in opposing an uncon-
stitutional act Of Congress, is a
very serious and important ques-
tion, on which I have deliberated
much, and felt extremely anxious
to reach a proper conclusion.
Where an act has been passed &C
cording to the forms Of the con-
stitution by the supreme legisla-
tive authority, and is regularly
enrolled among the public statutes
of the country, Executive resis-
tance to it, especially in times of
high party excitement, would be
likely to produce violent collision
between the respective adherents
Of the two branches of the govern
ment. IF Congress should pass
an act which is not only in pal
pablo conflict with the constitu-
ton, but will certainly, if carried
out, produce immediate and ire
parable injury to the organic
structure Of the government, and
if there be neither judicial remedy
for the wrongs it inhicts, nor pow
er in the people to protect them
selves without the official aid Of
their elected defender ; if, for in
stance, the Legislative Depart
ment should pass an act even
through all the forms Of law to
abolish q coordinate department Of
the government-in such case the
President must take the high re-.
sponsibilities- Of his Office, and save
the life of the nation at all hazards.


The so-called Reconstruction acts,
+bou1rb oc ,,loin1v unconstitutional