Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-08
MEMPHIS APPEAL
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT
JOHNSON.
patriotic Sentiments.

addressed = letter 10 PRESIDENT JOHNSON
asking permission that his name be pre-
scented to the Democratic Convention SIS
g candidate for the Presidency. Mr.,
johnson replied as follows:
WAsHINeToN, D. c., July &, 1853
Gentlemen: To your friendly Inquiry
whether, IL deemed desirable for the pre-
servatiOn and unity of the Conservative
interests Of the country, wou9d permit
my name 70 be offersd as a csnojdate fOr
the Office of President of the United
States, would respectfully reply that 1
am not ambitious for further service
may say, indeed, of further endurance
in that elevated and responsible position,
unless by q call so general and unequiYo-
cal that it would be an Endorsement by
the people of my endeavOrs TO defend the
Constitution and the reserved rights OF
the several commemorative which were
once in fact the Federal Union. OF such
approval in the present temper OF par
ties, I can, perhaps, have no reasonable
men who, liz official position, oppose for
any reason, cherished schemes devised
by factions TO acquire power, usually find
more determined asseilante than open
and earnest defenders. Hence, in resist
ing measures which, although sustained
By Congress, I honestly believed 10 be
encroachments upon the Constitution,
nv task has been made arduOus and
seemingly ungraciOus by an opposition
powerfully well organized and possess
ing q 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, snd to contend
against 8 majority represented by two
thirds Of each house Of Congress, [ have
been unable, while striving TO protect
and maintain the liberties Of the people,
to check the extrsvagaBt expenditures
for objects not contemplated by the Con-
stitution, and to tighten the burdens OF
taxation which now rests go Oppressively
upon the nation. In the midst of these
enbarrassments I have not been discour-
aged. While from the public prints or
from some unusually frank and cut
spoken friend l have heard that | have
no party, the suggestion has only served
to remind me Of q memorable remark
uttered when faction ruled high in
Rome, that Caesar had 3 party and POM
pey and Crossus each had party, but
that the commonwealth had one aiming
only: as the representative Of the people,
May I not Rertinenty make the appli-
cation to my own case? Constrained,
in occupying my position as the Federal
Executive, to abide in silence the wrongs
and encroaehments Of the most insidi-
Gus as well as desperate character, or
sometimes when incapable Of arresling
them, permitted only TO employ the fu
tile prerogative, coupled with only the
privilege Of remonstranee, or the terrible
alternative of counter revolution to re-
sist revolutionary projects, obliged to
stand In the attitude OF a mere spectator
whilst the Invaluable time of the nation
has been wasted in c6useleSs assaults
upon myself and Office for the benefit OF
party, cannot complain OF the people
who, while witnessing, have have not
been able to make my cese thoroughly
their own, the defense of the Constitu-
ton and the laws their own battle. I'm
I'll, however, the peoples representatives
will recognize more plainly the impera
tive needs Of the country by tightening
the burden of excessive and OuerOus tax
alton, and preventing successive imposts
upon the same article, beginning with
its crude state and following it through
the successive stages of manufacture 70
final use and cOst-the people being thus
made to pay extortionately an seeumu-
lated tax till the time appropriated in
Congress to partizsn schemes is devoted
more 10 legislating for the peoples
wants. the nation will have to be con-
tent with the mere delusive hope and
promise of better times. Since mere
party politics will continue 70 be con-
sidsTed of greater moment than the
study and practice Of political economy !;
a. IL
President of more consequence than the
diminution of the national Indebtedness
and return to sound currency and spe-
Gle payment, with the people must rest
the correction Of whatever is wrong in
the respect Indicated; and il their pub
lie servants find them careless of their
responsibility, and the people VIII not do
their duty in seeing that their represent
Rtives perform theirs, then no Executive
viii ever have any power successfully TO
defend their rights, and few Will care to
endure the opposition consequent upon
the attempt. 1 am now, however, as /
have ever been, in the hands OF the
people, and at their disposal My strug
gle for the Union and the integrity of
the Government began long ago; and,
conscious Of having honestly discharged
nv duties, and satisfied that the contest
in which / have been compelled to en-
gage, viii 10 the end at least inDre to the
beneit-snd, indeed, ssfety-of consu-
tutional liberty and human rights, can
well afford, / think, to LOOK calmly on
the present and await patiently the YER
dict of the future. Whilst ! know that
the struggle for the rights OF the people,
and for the defense Of the Constitution,
is not yet over, yet believing that the
late pRlpable failure 10 do violence to
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, eX-
press the hope that 10 the selection by
the Convention of o candidate for the
Presidency, whose duty 1t viii be, II
elected, to preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution, and to execute the
laws made in pursuance Of its proviS-
ions, the public good and leading we'll
established principles must not De sacri-
iced 10 the meegre purpose OF party as
tendency.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me
to thank ven most earnestly for the kind
expression OF your confidence in me as
q public servant, and TO assure you that
the approval of the people is all that ia
requisite TO 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
my course and myself in their hands.
Should the continuance and conclusion
Of the contest to vindieste and preserve
8 Constitutional Government be confided
by them 10 ADLER and more worthy
hands, shall cordially acqUiesee, as has
been my habit, in the decision Of the
American people.
/ have the honor TO be, gentlemen,
Very respectfully, your oesd,t serv't,
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
Try Ne on Leather.
A gentleman once in q stage coach
tried 10 get into conversation with his
only fellow-passenger, but could get
nothing from him beyond 3 disclaimer
OF any knowledge on any OF the subjects
introduced. At last he said, "Sir,
like TO talk 70 pass away the time IN
travelling. Is there anything You do
know anything about?h The silent nan
replied, /" Try me on leather"
We commend this anecdote 70 the
eminent Republican statesmen and the
impatient public who have been trying
and waiting 10 get some opinion on
something out Of Hiram Ulysses. he Is
theirs now for better or for worse, and
they must make the best out of him IS
he Is. He Is not supposed to have many
opinions on many subjects-in fact he Is
NOT positivelv known 10 have anv in