Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-07-07
g,astcrof President Johnson.

presented to the New York Convention as
candidate for the Presidency
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 2, 1868
GENTLEMEN To your friendly inquiry,
whether. eff deemed desirable tor the preser-
walton and unity of the Conservative interest
Of the country" [ would permit my name to
hc presented to the Democratic Convention as
. candidate for the office OF President OF the
r. s., would respectfully reply that l am
not ambitious of further service-l may say,
indeed of further endurance in that elevated
and responsible position, unless by call so
general and unequivocal that 1t would be an
endorsement by the people of my endeaVors to
defend the Constitution and the reserved rights
Of the several Commonwealth composing what
was once in fact the Federal Union. Ut such
approval, in the present temper OF partles'
can perhaps, have no reasonable expectation;
All history proves that men who, IN otnclsl
position, oppose for any reason the cherlsheo
schemes devised by factions to acquire power,
usually find more determined assallants than
omen and earnest defenders. Hence, IN resist
ing measures which, although sustained by
Congress, I honestly believed TO be encroaoh
ments upon the Constitution, my task has been
made arduous and seemingly ungraclous by an
opposition powerful, well organized, and pos
sessing a 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 q majority represented
by tWo-thirds OF each House OF congress- l l
have been unable, while striving to protect. and
maintain the liberties of the people, to eAeck
extravaganza expenditures for objects not con-
formulated by the Constitution, and to tighten
the burden of taxation which now rests so OPP
nressivey upon the nation.
In the midst OF these endorsements l have
not boen discouraged. When from the public
minis. or from some unusually frank and out
snoken friend, have heard that L have no
narty," the suggestion has only served TO re-
mind me of q memorable remark, uttered when
faction ruled high in Rome, that Cesar had
q n,rtv. and Pompey and Crassus each party,
hnt that the Commonwealth had none. Ann
ing only, as the representative OF the people,
70 stand by the rights OF the Commonwealth,
NAV | not pcrtincntly make the application to
my own case ., -,
Constrained, in occupying my position as The
Federal Executive, to abide In silence wrongs
and encroachmcnts Of the most insldlous as
we'll as desperate character, or sometimes, when
incapable of arrcStiug them, permitted only to
employ futile protests; compelled, With only
the privilege of remonstrancc or the terrible
alternative OF countcrreYolutlon, to resist rey0c
lutionary projects; obliged to stand In the attl-
tudc O! a mere spectator, whilst the Invaluable
time Of the nation has been wasted IN causeIcss
assaults upon myself and office for the benefit
OF party, | cannot complain ii the people,
while witnessing the scene, have not been able
to make my cause thoroughly their own-thc
def noe of the Constitution and laws their own
battle. q
Until, however, the peoples representatives
will recognize more plainly the imperative
needs OF the country, by Tightening he burdens
of excessive and onorous taxation, and pre-
venting successive lmpOstS upon the same az
ticlc, beginning with its crude state, and follow
ing it through its several stages OF manulac-
turc to its final use and coSt-the people being
thus made to pay cXtortlonatcly and runouSly
these accumulated taxes; until the time ap-
propriatcd in Congress to partisan schemes IS
devoted more to lGglSlatlng Tor the peoples
wants, the nation will have to be content with
the mere dclllsivc hope and promise OF better
times, since mere party politics Will continue TO
be considered of greater moment than the STUDY
and practice Of political economy and the re-
ductlon of tariffs, and the making OF Presl-
dent OF more consequence than the dlmlnutlon
OF national, Indebtedness and return 10 sound
currency and specie payments. ,-:.#
With the people, then, must rest the corrGc
ton Of whatever is wrong in the respects midi
Gated and if their public servants find them
careless Of their responslblllty-lt the people
will not do their duty in seeing that their rep,
resentatives perform theirs, no Executive Viii
ever have power successfully to defend their
rights and few will care to incur the obloquy
consequent upon the attempt.
I am now however, as [ have ever been, in
the hands of the people, and at their disposal.
Nv struggle for the Union and the integrity OF
the Government began long ago, Conscious
OF having honesty by discharged my duty, and
satisfied that the contest in which have been
compelled to engage will in the end, at least,
inure to the benefit, and, indeed, safety OF
constitutional liberty and human rights, l can
we'll afford, [ think, to look cal ~ on tho
present, and await patiently the verdict OF the
future. Whilst [ know that the struggle tor
the rights of the people and for reference to
the Constitution is not yet over. yet believing
that with the late epalpable failure to DO Vlo-
lence to that great instrument and the Execu-
tive Office, the worst that faction can tor the
present do has been accomplished. L would
only, in concluding this brief statement of my
views and feelings, express the hope that in
the selection by the Convention Of O. candidate
for the Presidency, whose duty it 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,
and leading and we'll defined principles, will
not be sacrificed to the mere purpose OF party
ascendency. :..,.., r.. ... .r...s .....s.... 8"
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to
thank you most earnestly for the kind express
sion of your abiding confidence in me as pub
lie servant, and to assure you that the approval
of the people is all that is requisite to make
me feel that the efforts [ have made to restore
the Union on the basis Of justice and conellla-
ton have not been altogether IN vain. Leay,
ing my cause and myself in their hands, should
the continuance and the conclusion of the con,
test to vndicate and preserve constitutional
government be confded by them to ADLER and
more worthy hands, I sh all cordially acquiesce,
as has been my habit, in the decision of the