is destroyed, both must perish together.  The destruction of the Constitution will be followed by other and still greater calamities.  It was ordained not only to form a more perfect union between the States, but to “establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and 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 outrages upon individual rights, incessant breaches of the public peace, national weakness, financial dishonor, the total loss of our prosperity, the general corruption of morals, and the final extinction of popular freedom.  To save our country from evils so appalling as these, we should renew our efforts again and again.

To me the process of restoration seems perfectly plain and simple.  It consists merely in a faithful application of the Constitution and laws.  The execution of the laws is not now obstructed 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 the rights and all the obligations of States and individuals can be protected and enforced by means perfectly consistent with the fundamental law.  The courts may be everywhere open, and if open their process would be unimpeded.  Crimes against the United States can be prevented or punished by the proper judicial authorities in a 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 it shall be disregarded 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 a perfect union of all the States.

On this momentous question and some of the measures growing out of it I have had the misfortune to differ from Congress, and have expressed my convictions without reserve, though with becoming deference to the opinion of the legislative department.  Those convictions are not only unchanged, but strengthened by subsequent events and further reflection The transcendent importance of the subject will be a sufficient excuse for calling your attention to some of the reasons which have so strongly influenced my own judgment.  The hope that we may all finally concur in a mode of settlement consistent at once with our true interests and with our sworn duties to the Constitution is too natural and too just to be easily relinquished.