Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-03-27

thus Ial allaiucus hOunASHo N"N =
at the commencement Of my term
Of Office unhesitatingly Lent It's
powers or perverted them TO pur-
poses and plans ''outsldo OF tho
Constitution, and become an in.
sIrumenl 10 schemes OF eOnhseallon
aud OF general aud oppressive dis,
qualifications, ! would have beon
hailed As all that was true. loyal,
aud diseerningi as the reliable head
Of n party, whatever | might have
been AS tho Executive Of tho nation,
Unwilling, however, Ia aeeede 20
propositions of extremists, and
bound to adhere, at every personal
hazard, 10 my oath TO defend the
Constitution, l need not, perhaps,
DO surprised at having met the fate
of others whose only rewards for
upholding constitutional right and
law have been the consciousness OF
having attempted to do their duty,
and the calm and unpreiudiecd Judg.
moht OF history.
At tho time mysterious Provi-
denoo assigned TO mo tho Office OF
President, l was, by tho terms OF
the Constitution, tho Commander
in-chiof Of nearly n million Of men
under arms. Ono Of my first acts
was TO disband and restore TO tho
vocations Of civil life this immense
host, and to divest myself so far as
l could, of tho unparalleled powers
then incident TO tho Office and the
times. Whether or not, in this
step, was right, and how far de-
serving the appreciation Of the pco-
Pic, all can now on reflection judge,
when reminded Of tho ruinous con-
dition Of public affairs that must
have resulted from tho continuance
in the military service such vast
number Of mon.
The close of our domestic conflict
found the army eager to distinguish
itselfin n new field, by an effort to
punish European intervention in
Mexico. BY many it was believed
and urged that, aside from the as
sumed justice of tho proceeding n
foreign war, in which both sides
would chcerfully unite to vindicate
the honor of the national flag, and
further illustrate tho national
prowess, would be the surest and
speodiest way of awakening ma
tional enthusiasm, reviving dcvo-
ton TO tho Union, and occupying a
force concerning which grave doubts
existed as to its willingness, after
four years Of active campaigning,
at once to return to the pursuits Of
peace. Whether these spcculations
were true or false, it will be conced-
cd that they existed, and that the
predictions of tho army were, for
the time being, in the direction in
dicated. Taking advantage Of this
feeling it would have been easy, as
the Commandcr-in-chie of the army
and navy, and with all the
power and patronage of the
Presidential office at my disposal,
to turn tho concentrated military
strength of tho nation against
French Interference in Mexico, and
to inaugurato movement which
would have been received with ia
vor by the military and largo por-
tion of the people.
1t is proper, in this connection,
that l should refer to the almost un-
limited additional powers rendered
to tho Executive by tho measures
relating to civil rights and the
Freedmon's Bureau. Contrary to
most precedents in the experiences
of public men, the powers thus
placed within my grasp wero de-
clined, as in violation Of the Con
stitution, dangerous to the liberties
of the people, and tending to aggra-
vate, rather than lessen, tho dis
cords naturally resulting from our
civil war. With large army and
augmented authority, it would have
been no difficult task to direct at
pleasure the dcstinies of the Repub-
lie, and to make secure my contin-
uance in the highest office known
to our law. ,-.r-t-
Let tho people whom I am ad-
dressing fIom the Presidential chair
during the closing hours of labo-
rious term consider how different
would have been their present con-
dition had ! yielded to the dazzling
temptations Of foreign conquest, of
personal aggrandizomens, and the
desire to WELD additional power.
Let them with justice consider that,
ifI have not unduly "magnified
mine Office" the public burdens
have not been increased by my acts,
and other and perhaps thousands or
ten of thousands Of lives sacrificed
to visions of false glory. ~ -
1t cannot, therefore, bc charged
that my ambition has boon Of that
ordinary or criminal kind which, to
tho detriment Of the peoples rights
and liberties, ever seeks to grasp
more and unwarranted powers, and,
to accomplish its purposes, panders
too often to popular prejudices and
party aims. 1.-
What, then, have been the aspi-
rations which guided me in my Off
cial acts7 Those acts need not, at
this time, an elaborate explanation.
They have been elsewhere compre-
stated and fully discuss
ed and become q part of the nations
history. BY them 1 am willing to
be judged, knowing that, however
imperfect, thoy at least show to the
impartial mind that my sole ambi-
ton has been to restore the Union
of the States, faithfully 10 execute
the Office Of President, and, 10 the
best Of my ability, 10 preserve, pro
tect, and defend the Constitution.
I cannot be ceBsured If my efforts
have been impeded in the interests
Of party faction and IL n policy