Year: 1867




REFLECTIONS ON RECONSTRUCTION.


Fsllo,o Citizens of the Senate and House Of


Representatives;


The continued disorganization of the
called the attention Of Congress, is yet a
subject of profound and patriotic concern.
We may, however. find some relief from
that anxiety in the reflection that this pain
ful political situation, although before
unfried BIZ ourselves, is not new in the
experience of nations. Political science,
perhaps as highly perfected in our time
and country as in any other, has not yet
disclosed any means by which civil war
can be absolutely prevented. An enlight-
ened nation, however, with a wise and
benefcent constitution of free government,
may diminish their frequency and mitigate
their severity By directing al its proceed
ings in accordance wit. its fundamental
law. When civil war has been brought to
a close, it is manifest the first interest and
duty of the State to repair the injuries
which the war has inflicted, aud to secure
the benefit of the lessons it teaches as
fully aud speedily as possible. This duty
was, upon the termination of the rebellion,
promptly accepted not only by the ,ixecu-
tive Department, but by the insurrection-
AIRY States themselves; and recon struction
in the first moment Of peace was believed
to be as easy aud certain as it was indis-
pensable. These expectations, however,
then so reasonably aud confidently enter
tanned, were disappointed by legislation,
from which felt constrained, by my
obligations to the Constitution, to with
hold my assent. 1t is, therefore. a source
of profound regret that in complying with
the obligation imposed upon the President
by the Constitution to give to Congress
from time to time information Of the state
of the Union, | am unable to communi-
cate any definite adjustment satisfactory
to the American people of the questions
which, since the close Of the rebellion, have
agitaied their minds.


On the contrary, candor compels me to
declare that all this time there is no Union
as our fathers understood the term, and
as they meant it to be understood by US.
The Union which they established, can
exist only where all the States are repre-
sented in both Houses of Congress; where
one State Is as free as another to regulate
its internal concerns according to its own
will, and where the laws of the central
Government, strictly confined to matters of
national jurisdiction, apply with equal
force to all the people of every section.
That such is not the present state of the
Union is melancholy fact, aud we all
must acknowledge that the restoration of
the States to their proper legal relations
with the FEDERAL Government and with
one another. according to the terms OF the
original compact, would be the greatest
temporal blessing which God, in his kind
est providence, could bestow upon this
nation.


1t becomes our imperative duty to con-
slider whether or notit is impossible to effect
this most desirable consummation. The
Union aud the Constitution are insepara-
bic. As long as one is obeyed by all
parties, the other will be preserved and if
one is destroyed. both must perish togeth-
er. The destruction Of the Constitution
will be followed by other and still greater
calamities. Ii was ordained not only to
form a moro perfect union between the
States, but TO establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the com
mon defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves aud our posterity. Nothing but
implicit obedience to its requirements in all
parts Of the country will accomplish these
great ends. Without that obedience we
can look forward only to continual out
rsges upon individual rights, incessant
breaches of public peace, national weak
ness, financial dishonor, total loss Of our
property, general corruption of morals and
the hDal extinction Of popular freedom.
To cave our country from ends so appali-
ing as these we should renew our efforts
again and again. To me the process of
restoration seems perfectly plain and sim
pie. Ii consists merely in faithful ap-
plIcaiion OF the Constitution and laws
The execution of the laws is not now OBJ
strueted or opposed by physical force;
there is no military or other necessity
real or pretended, which can prevent
obedience to the Constitution, either North
or South; all rights aud all obligations Of
States aud individuals can be protected
and euforcet by means perfectly consist
ent with the fundamental law;courts may be
everywhere opened, and if open, their pro-
cess would be unimpeded, crimes against the
United States can bepreyentcd or punished
by proper judicial authorities, in u manner
entirely practicable and legal. There is,
therefore. no reason why the Constitution
should not be obeyed. Unless those who
exercise its powers have determined that
itshall be disresarded and violated, the
mere naked will of this Government, or Of
some one or more of its branches, is the
only obstacle that can exist to perfect
Union OF all the States. On this momen-
tons question aud some of the measures
growing out of il, had the misfortune to
differ from Congress, and have expressed
my conviction without reserve, though
with becoming difference to the opinion of
the Legislative Department.. Those con-
victions were not only unchanged, but
strengthened by subsequent events and
further reflections. The transcendent i'm
portanee OF the subject will be sufficient
excuse for calling your attention to some
of the reasons which have strongly infu-
enced my own judgment. The hope that we
may all finally concur in mode Of settle
ment consistent at once with our true in
terests and with our sworn duties to the
Constitution, is too natural aud too just to
be easily relinquished.


4. oto.~ D.. a,o~abanason that he