The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-07
Correspond en- CO Between Citizens OF New
York and tine PTeaIdgnC,

Correspondenco Between Citizens of New
York and Jns PTesIdonC,
The following correspondence explains Itself
Iu the Hon. Andrew Johnson-Slr:-Fhe un-
defsIgut d, citizens of the city OF New YORK,
having observed with Satisfaction your admin
1sirauon of the highest Executive office of the
iidepiiy di to % the Constitution, and tesressness
Wulch have hitherto marked the performance
of yUur official duties are the highest guarantees
as well as the essential qualifications for the
efficient and faithful discharge Of puolic office
for the public good, do respectfully ask whether,
If deened desirable for the preservation and
unity of the conservative interests OF thls coun-
S'SoD To- the Democratic Convention as a candidate
for the office of President of the United States?
Yours with high respect, +. w. Coggill, James
GaiIatin, Thomas Morrell, Robert II. Berdell,
n A. Baldwin William d H. ApPIetIon Lg ); w.
Emil Sauer. City of New York, June 2i, 1868.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.
WAsHINGToN, ID. O., July 2, 1868 Gentlemen:
To your friendly inquiry whether, III deemed
conservative Interests of the country,"I would
permit my name TO be presented to the Demo-
cratic Convention as acaudidate for the ort1ce of
President of the United States would respect
fully reply that am not ambitious of further
serVice-I may say, Indeed, of further endur-
ance-in that elevated and responsible position,
unless by call so general and unequivocal
that II would be an endOrse semenJ by the people
of my endeavors To defend the Constitution
and the reserved rights of the several Com
monweslths composing what was once in fact
the Federal Union. Ol such approval in the
present temper OF parties can perhaps have no
reasonable ex pectat1on.
All history proves that men who In official
position oppose for any reason tue cherished
schemes devised by factions TO acquire power,
usually find more determined aSsailants than
open and earnest defenders Hence the resist
ing measures which, although sustained by
Congress-, honestly believed 10 be encrO ach-
ments NJ on the Constitution, my task mas been
matte arc uous and seemingly ungracious by
an OBJ osltlon powerful, well organized, and
possessing q controlling influence in the nails
OF Lei gis alion Unprecedented III the history of
the country. Compelled to devote my entire
forced
upon me, and to contend against a majority
OF Congress- 1 have been unable, while
STRIVING TO protect and maintain the liberties
Jpres for objects not contemplated by the Con-
stiIution, and 10 tighten the burdens ut taxation
which now rests oppressiVely upon the nation.
In the midst of these embaTrassmenLs l have
not been discouraged, when. from the puoic
prints or from some unusually frank and out
spoken friend, l have heard that II have no
party" The suggestion mas only served TO re-
mind me of memorable le r mark, Ut cred when
party, and Pompey and Crassus each mad a
party, but that the Commonwealth had none"
Aiming only, as the repre- entattve of the people,
to stand by the rights Cf the Common wealth,
may not pertinently make the application TO
Constrained, in occupying my position as the
federal executive, to abide In silence wrongs
and encroachmenis OF tne most lnsidlous as
when incapable of arrestlng them permitted
only to employ futile protests, compelled with
only the privilege of remonstrance or the ter
rlble alternative OF counter revolution to resist
revolutionary projects; obliged TO stand in the
attitude OF a mere spectator, while the valuable
tne OF the nation ht s been wasted in cause
less assaults upon myself AMI office for the
beutfit of party, l cannot complain if the
people, while Witnessing, have not been able to
make my cause thoroughly their own-the
defense of the constitution and laws 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 pre-
nj w W
ing 1T through the successive stages OF manu-
facure to It's final use and cost, the people
and ruinously these accumulated taxes
until the time appropriated in Congress
to partisan schemes is devoted more to legts-
lating for the peoples wants the nation viii
have to be content with the mere delusive
patty politics will continued to be considered
OF greater moment than the study and practice
of political economy and hereduction of tariffs
and the making of President of more conse-
quence than the dtminuJion OF the national tn-
and specie pay yments. With the people, then.
must rest the correction of whatever Is wrong
In the respects indicated, aud if their public
servants md them careless of their responsi
bility, IL the people Will not do their duty In
seeing thst tneiT rePresenIsIlYes perform Ineirs
to defend their rights, and fe Will care to incur
the apology consequent upon the attempt.
am now, however, as have ever Deen. In
the hands of the people and at their disposal
My struggle for the Union and the integrity of
having honestly discharged my duIy and salts
fed that the contest in which have been COM
PEELED TO engage will, in the end at least enure
10 the benefit and indeed safety of constitu.
tional liberty and human rights, l can we'll
afford. think, 10 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 Difference TO the Constitu-
tion is not yet over, yet believing that the late
palpable failure TO do violence 10 that great in
strument and the executive ohce, the worst
that faction can for the present do has been
accomplished.
would only, in concluding this brief state
Ena nj n Vii nua and nos
hope that in the selection by the Convention OF
candidate or 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 its provisions, the
public good ana leading nd we'll defn ned prin-
ciples will not be sacrificed 10 the mere purpose
OF party ascendancy. ANDREW JOHNSON.
CAucussinR OF DoIsg atIOAs.
Fronn The NJ Y. World Of his morning.