The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-07-10
A Letter from the President.

A Letter from the President.
a letter is published from President
JOHNSON in response to one addressed
him by citizens of New York, asking
permission that his name be presented
to the Democratic Convention as can
didatc for the Presidency. We can copy
only portion of it.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., 1868.
Gcntlcmcn---You our friendly inquiry
whether, if deemed desirable for the
preservation and unity of the conserva.
tive interests of tho country, | would
permit my name to be presented to the
Democratic Convention as a candidate
for the office of President Of the Uni.
ted States, would respectfully reply
that | am not ambitious of further ser.
vice-I may say, indeed, of further Ell.
durancc-in that elevated and response.
bic position, unless by call so general
and uncquivocal that it would be an in.
dorsement by the people of my endea.
vors to defend the Constitution and the
reserved rights of the several common
wealths composing what was once in
fact the Federal Union. OF such ap-
prevail, in the present temper of parties
| can perhaps have no reasonable ex.
pectation. All history proves that men
who, i'll official position, oppose, forany
reason, the cherished schemes devised
by factions to acquire power usually
find more determined assailants than
open and earnest defenders. Hence, in
resisting measures which, although sus.
TO itnn h,-I \ 4.
v be cncroachments upon the Constitu.
ton, my task has been made arduou:
and seemingly ungracious by an oppo.
sition powerfully organized and pos.
sessing controlling influence in the
halls of legislation unparalleled in the
history of the country. Compelled to
devote my entire time to the issues that
have been forced upon me, and to con.
tend against majority represented by
two-thirds of each House of Congress
l have been unable, while striving tc
protect and maintain the liberties OF
the people to check eXtravagant expen-
ditures for objects not contemplated by
the Constitution, to Tighten the burden
Of taxation, which now rests so oppres-
sivcly upon the nation. In the midst OF
these mbarrassmCnts, have not been
discouraged. When from the public
prints or from some unusually frank
and outspoken friend. have heard that
| have no party, the suggestion has only
served to remind me of memorable
remark uttered when faction ruled
high in Rome, that Caesar had party
and Pompcy and Crnsus each had par.
ty, but that the commonwealth had
none.
With the people, then, must rest the
correction of whatever is wrong, in the
respect indicated, and if their public
servants find them careless of their re
sponsibility, if the people will not dc
tier duty in seeing that their reprcsen
tives perform theirs, no executive will
ever have any power successfully tt
defend their rights and few will to max,
the apology consequent upon the at
tempt. am now, however, as have
ever been, in the hands of the people
and at their disposal. My struggle fol-
the Union and the integrity of the Gov
ernmcnt began long ago. Conscious O
having honestly discharged my duties
and satisfied that the contest in which
have been compelled to engage, will, il
the end, at least inure to the benefit
and, indeed to the safety of Constitu
tional liberty and human rights, cal
we'll afford, think, to look calmly OF
the present, and await patiently tn,
verdict of the future. Whilst | know
that the struggle for the rights Of til,
people and for Difference to the Consti
ton is not yet over, yet, believing tina
the late palpable failure to do violenc,
to that great instrument and the eXecu
tive Office, the worst that faction can do
for the present, has been accomplished
/ would only, in concluding this brie
statement of views and feelings, expires
the hope that in the selection, by tn
Convention, of candidate for til,
Presidency, whose duty it shall be, i
elected, to preserve, protect and defent
the Constitution and to execute the law
made in pursuance of its provisions, 70
the public good, leading, well define,
principles will not be sacrificed to TIL
meagre purpose of party ascendency
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit m
to thank you most earnestly for tn
kind expression of your abiding conf
dence in me as a public servant, and t,
assure that the approval of the pcopl
is all that is requisite tomakc me fee
that the efforts that have made to re
store the Union on the basis Of justic
and Cancellation, have not been alto
gcther in vain. Leaving my course an,
myself in their hands, should the con
tinuance and conclusion of the contes
to vindicate and preserve Constitution
al government be confided by them t.
ADLER and more worthy hands, / shall
cordially acquiesce, as has been my la
bit, in the decision of the American
people.
l have the honor to be, gentlemen,
Very respectfully, yours,
[Signed,] ANDREW Johnson.
Ihn Il I,.nnI I.laI,.1,LrIia