The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-10
Letter from Fro.ident johnson to Citizens
ofNew York.


The following is the letter which President
johnson addressed to certain citizens Of New
York wbe asked permission to use his name be.
fore the National Democratic Convention:
WASHINGTON, d. c., 1858.
Gentemen-To your friendly inquiry whether,
If deemed desirable for the preservation and
unity Of the conservative interests Of the country
would permit my name to be offered as q candi.
date for the Office Of president OF the United
States, would respectfully reply that am not
ambitious OF further service. may say. indeed,
OF further endurance in that elevated and respon-
sble position, unless by a call so general and IN.
equiyocal that 1t would be an endorsement by the
people of my endeavors TO defend the Constitu-
ton and the reserved rights Of the several CON-
monwealihs what was once, in fact, the federal
Union. OF such approval, in the present temper
oil parties, can perhaps have no reasonable ex-
peetauon. All history proves that men who, in
onclal position, oppose tor any reason cherished
schemes devised by factions to acquire power
usually find more determined assailants than open
and earnest defenders. Hence, Ia resisting meas
ures, which, although sustained by Congress, /
honestly believed to be enoroachments upou
the Constitution, my task has been made
srduous and seemingly ungracious, by an op-
position powerfully well organized and pos.
sessing controlling influence in the halls of
legislation, unprecedented In the history Of the
country. Compelled to devote my entire time to
the issues that have been forced upon me, and
TO contend against majority represented BY two
thirds OF each house OF Congress, / have been un.
able while striving 70 protect and maintain the
liberties OF the people, to check the extravagant
expenditures for objects not contemplated bV the
Constitution and to tighten the burdens Of taxa.
ton, which now rest so oppressively upon the
nation. In the midst Of these embarrassments
have not been discouraged, while from the public
prints or from some unusually frank and ont.
spoken friends, lhave heard that have no party
The suggestion has only served to remind me Of a
memorable remark uttered. when faction ruled
high in Rome that Caesar had party, and PompeV
and Cfesus each had party, but that the com.
monweslth had one aiming only, as the represeu-
tative OF the people TO stand by the rights of the
commonwealth. May not pertinenty make the
application 10 my own case, constrained in Oc.
cuppying my position as the federal executive
10 abide 10 silence the wrongs and enc roachments
of the most insiduous well as desperate charac.
ter or sometimes when incapable of arrestng
them, permitted only TO employ the futile pros
pects compelled, with only the privilege Of re-
onstrance, or the terrible alternative Of counter
revolution TO resist revolutionary projects, obliged
TO stand in the attitude OF amere spectator whilst
the invaluable time Of the nation has been wasted
in careless assaults upon myself and office, for the
benefit Of q party. / cannot complain Of the
people. who, while witnessing, have not been
able to make any case thoroughly their own.
The defense of the Constitution and laws
was their own battle. Until, however the
peoples representatives. will recognize more
plainly the imperative needs of the country by
tightening the burdens Of excessive and OnerOus
taxation, and preventing successive impOsts upon
the same article. beginning with its crude state,
and following it through the successive stages Of
manufacture to final use and cost, the people be-
ing thus made to pay extortionately an accumu
lated tax; till the time appropriated in Congress
10 partisan schemes is devoted more to egislating
for the peoples wants, the nation will have TO be
content with the mere delusive hope and promise
Of better times. Since mere party politics will
ninue to be considered Of greater moment than
the study and practice OF political economy, the
reduction OF tariffs and making president Of
more consequence than the diminution of national
Indebtedness and a return to sound currency and
specie payments, with the people there must rest
the correction Of whatever IL wrong in the respect
indicated, and If their public servants find them
careless Of their responsibility and the people
will not do their duty 10 seeing that their repre-
sentatives perform theirs, then no executive will
ever have aDy power successfully to defend their
rights, and few will care to endure the opposition
consequent upon the attempt. ! AN now, how.
ever, as have ever been, in the hands Of the
people, and at their disposal. Ny struggle for the
Union and The integrity Of the government begun
long ago, and conscious OF having honestly
discharged my duties, aud satisfied that the
contest in which | have been compelled to en-
gage will, in the end, at least, insure 10 the
benefit, and, indeed, safety Of constitutional
liberty and human rights, can well afford,
think, TO look calmly on the present and await
patiently the verdict of the future. Whilst know
that the struggle for the rights Of the people, and
for the defense of the Constitution. s not yet
over, yet believing that the late papable failure
TO do violence 10 that great instrument and the
executive Office the worst that faction can do for
the present has been accomplished. | would
only, In concluding this brief statement OF my
views and feelings, express the hope that 10 the
selection by the convention OF candidate for the
presidency, whose duty il will be, If elected, to
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, and
to execute the laws made in pursuance OF lis pro-
visions, the public good and leading well.estab-
lished principles must not be sacrificed to the
mere purposes Of party asoendancy. Ia conclu
sion, gentlemen, permit me to thank you most
earnestly for the kind expression Of your conf
dence in me as public servant. and to assure
you that the approval Of the people Is all that
Is requisite 10 make me feel that the efforts
have made TO restore the Union on the basis of
justice and Cancellation have not been altogether
In vain, and leaving myself and my course in their
hands, should the continuance and conclusion OF
the contest 10 vindIcate and preserve a constitu-
tonal government be conhded by them TO ADLER
and more worthy hands, shall cordially acqu-
esce, as has been my habit, in the decision Of the
American people.
Ihsve the honor to be, gentlemen,
ef..II. ~