Year: 1867

i.ens," &c. In the present shape of our
political affairs the Chief Magistrate is en-.
titled to full hearing. Long messages
from any one, we dislike-except from So
cial friends-but it il matter of justice
to give Mr.. JOHNSON fair show in these
times Of civil strife. If Andy, the Repub-
lican President does not give arguments
to Congress which the smartest of their
body cannot upset, then we give it up. If
you love your country, read slowly every
word of this able document. Since the
time of Jackson, Calhoun and Nulli6ca-
ton there has been no such plain, practi-
cal. unanswerable state paper. Puppets
may affect to contempt it, and partisans on
either side may find fault, but, little as we
esteem the general course of johnson for
the past years we have too much respect
for Constitutional argument and Union
necessities to refuse our humble award of
ability to President Johnson's Annual
Message.


The continued disorganization Of the Union to
which the president has often called the attention
OF Congress b yet subject OF profound and patriotic
concern. We may, however, fnd some RELIEF from that
anxiety in the reflection that the painful political sit
uation, although before untried by ourselves, not
perhaps, highly perfected in time and
try in any other has not yet disclosed any
BY which civil wars can be absolutely prevented An
| enlightened nation, however with wise and benf-
| cent constitution OF free government may diminish
their frequency and mitigate their severity by direct
ing all its proceedings in accordance with the funda
| mental law. When civil war has been brought to q
close IL is manesty the first interest and duty the
State repair these injuries which has inflicted
and to secure the benefit OF the lessons teaches
fully and speedily as possible This duty was, upon
the the termination OF the rebellion, promptly accept
ed only by the Executive department but by the
States themselves and restoration in
the first Of peace believed be as easy
| and certain as it was Indispensable These expecta
tons, however, then reasonably and confidently en-
tertained disappointed by legislation whch


feel constrained by my obligations to the constitu
ton to withhold ms assent 1t is, therefore,
Of profound regret that in complying with the obga-


On imposed upon the President by the constitution
to give Congress from time time Information of the
state OF the Union, am unable to communicate any
definite adjustment satisfactory to the American pr0
pie the questions which, since the close OF the rebel
lion have agitated the mind OF the country Candor
coMpels declare that in all this time there
Union our fathers understood the term and they
meant it to be understood by US. The Union which
they established exist only where all the States
represented in both houses Of Congress where
State il free smother regulate its internal
according to its will, and when the laws of
the central government are strictly confined to mat


ers Of national jurisdiction and apply with equal
force to all people OF every station. That such is not
the present state the Union is melancholy fact,
and all acknowledge that the restoration of
the States to their proper legal relations with the Fed
| eral Government and with one another according to
the terms OF the original compact would be the great
temporal blessing which God in His kndest provi
de nee could bestow upon our nation 1t becomes our
imperative duty consider whether not it is impos-
sble effect this most desirable consummaton The
Union and constitution are inseparable As long as
obey ed by all parties the other will be preserv-
ed and ii is destroyed both must perish togeth-
The destruction Of the constitution will be follow
ed other and still greater calames 1t ordained
not only to tor a more perfect union between the
States but to establish justice insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare and secure the blessings Of liberty to
| ourselves and our posterity. Nothing but implicit
obedience its requirements in all parts OF the
| try will accomplish these great ends Without that
obedience look forwar only to continual out
RACES upon indv iua ncessant breaches Of the
public peace. national weakness, financial dishOnor
total loss Of property general corruption OF
ais and inal extinction OF popular freedom. To
country from evils 50 appalling as these, We shod
renew efforts again and again. 10 me the process
OF restoration seems perfectly plain and simple. IL
consists merely in faithful application OF the consti-
| tuition and the laws The execution OF the laws is
| not obstructed opposed by physical force
There is military ether necessity real or preten-
ded which can prevent obedience the constitution
either North south. All rights and all obligations
States aud inv be protected and eniorc-
ed by means perfectly consistent with the fundamental
law. Courts may be where opened and II open
ed, their process would be unimpeded Crimes agains,
United States be prevented punished Ly the
proper judicial authorities, in manner entirely prac
| ticable and legal.


There is therefore no reason why the constitution
should not be obeyed unless those who exercise its
powers have detern ned should be disregarded and
| violated. The mere naked Will Of this government
or Of more OF its branches il the only OBJ
stacle that exist to perfect union OF all the States


On this momentOus que stiOn. and some OF the meas
uaes growing out OF it, had the misfortune to differ
| from Congress, and have expressed my conviction
without reserve. though with becoming Difference to
to the opinion OF the legislative department. Those
convictions not only unchanged, hut strengthen
Cd by subsequent events and further reflections. The
trancendent Importance Of the snject will be SUM-
cient excuse calling your attention of the
| reasons which have SO strongly influenced my own
Judgment The hope that we may all finally concur
in mode Of settlement consistent ut with our
true interests and with duties to the consti
tu,ion is too natural and too just to be easily relin-
| pushed
ly in rebellion still members OF the national
ion. When did they cease to te go! The ordinance
Of cy s o snss ,aa
efectual for the purpose intended by their authors
| sweep from un"er our feet the whole ground upon
wards expelled from the Union by the war? The d.
rect contrary averred by this government to be
its parpose, and understood by all those who
gave their blood and to aid in its prOsecu-
ton. 1t cannot be that successful waged for
the pseserv alton oi the Union, had the legal effect o
dssolving it. The victory OF the nations arms was
not the disgrace her policy the defeat Of secession
on the battle field not the triumph Of its lawless
principles nor could congress, with without the
consent OF the executive. do anything which would
have the effect directly indirectly oi separating the
| states from each other


To dissolve the Union Is to repeal the constitution
which holds it together: and that is power which
dose not belong to any department OF this govern.
M MT or to all OF them united. This is plain that
it has been acknowledged by all branches Vt the ted
eral government. My predecessors, Ms well as myself
and the heads of all the departments have uniformly
acted upon the principle that the Union IL not only
undssolved but indissolube. Congress has submit.
ted an amendment Of the constitution to be ratified
by the southern states and accepted their acts Of rat
ication as necessary and lawful exercise OF their
highest junction ii they were not states or states
out of the Union, their consent to change in the
| Fundamental law of the Union would have been
gatory, and congress, in asking it, committed polit
cal absurdy. The judiciary has also given the
of its authority to the same view Of the case the
Judges of tn, supreme have included the south
states In tn. ir circuits aud they are constantly in
Virginia ad elsewhere exercising jurisdiction which
does belong to them unless these states are states
| OF the Union


II the southern states component parts Of the
Unon the constitution is the supreme law for them,
as 10 for all the other states They are bound to
obey it, and 90 are The right OF the federal gov
ernment which Is ce and unquestionable, to enforce
the constitution upon them implies the coreatve OBJ


legation on our par. to ,h IT'S ana
nothing By through and under the constitution, we
| are what 1t makes us. We may doubt the wisdom Of
cannot violate il merely because It seems to confne
our pow srs Within limits than could wish


1t is not question Ut individual class sectional in
terest- much less Of patty predomnance-but OF du-
ty high and sacred duty which we are all sworn to
perform. II cannot support the constitution with
the cheerful alacrty Of those who believe in il, we
must give it, heart the fidelity Of the public
wants who act under solemn obligations and commands
| which they dare not disregard.


Constitutional duty is not only which requires
states to be restored there Is another consideration
which, though OF minor importance. 10 yet OF great
weight. On July ~, 1851. congress declared: by an
almost unanimous vote of both houses, that the war
should be conducted solely for the purpose Of preserv
ing the Union and maintaining the supremacy of the
federal constitution and laws. without inparipg the
dignity equality and rights OF the states or ndividu
| ais; and that, when this WAS done. the war should
caase not the declar alton e personally bind