The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-08
President JOhnsOn'S Farewell
Address.

n, N, Peoyle Of the United States: The
,,CoFce by constitutional limitation this
IT, f,ll. from my shoulders to be immedi
ately assumed by my successor For him the
|rhearauce and co operation of the Ameri
can people in all his efforts to administer
,Le Government within the pale Of the federal
constitution are sincerely invoked Without
ambition TO crafty party ends or subserve
T., personal Quarrels, TO avenEe the sacrifice
1ftbe peace and welfare Of the country, my
earnest desire is to see the constitution OF
tle republic again recognized and obeyed as
tEs supreme law of the land, the whole peo
ME. North, South, East and West, prosper.
Gus and happy under its wise provisions
In surreudering the high Office to which /
was called four years ago in memorao.e
and terrible crisis, it is my privilege trust
IN say 10 the people Of the United STATES a
few parting words in vindicauon oil an ON
c,s course so carelessy assaiIed and oppos.
"a bv poRtical leaders, to whose plans and
wishes my policy to restore the Union has
been obnoxious.
In a period Of difficulty and turmoil al.
,,ost rthout precedent in the history OF any
rs5pIe. consequent upon the closing scenes
If great rebellion and the assassination OF
the President, it vas perhaps too much on
nv mart 10 expect Of devoted partisans who
rode on the waves Of excitement which, al
that time, swept all before them that degree
Of liberation and maCnanimity which !
.ought 10 recommend and entorce,a which
believe, in good time would have advanced
.s infinitely further on the road to perma
rent peace and prosperity than we have thu
far staiued.
Doubtless, had !, at the commencement
of nv term Of Office, unheaitahngly lent Il
powers, OF perverted them, TO purposes an
mans outside Of the constitution, and becam
an instrument to the schemes OF conhscauo'
and Of general and oppressive dlsquaIihc'
ton. I would have been hailed as all hi
was true, and loyal and deserving, as u
reliable head Of party, whatever mig
have been as the executive OF nation
Unwilling, however, to Rcceed TO propo
tions Of the extremists, and bound TO OBJ
at every personal hazard, my oath TO deie
tho constitution, / need not, perhaps,
surprised at having met the fate OF othe
whose only rewards for upholdiug consul
tiapal rights and laws, have been the G.
sciousness Of having attempted to DO N
duty, and the cGlmer Judgment ~ hlst
and Of time.
mysterious Providence assigned to
the office Of President. | was, by thu e.
of tue constitution, the commanderlu C.
Of nearly million OF men under arm
One Of my first acts was to disband and
st,re IN the yocatlons Of civil life this
mense host. and divest myself as far
could Of the unparalleled powers
incident to tho office And as
whether or not in this step | was right,
how far deserving Of the appreciation OF
people, | can now, on reflection, Judge,
reminded of the ruinOus condition OF pr
affairs that must have resulted from
continuance in the military service OF 80
vast number Of men that, at the close OF
domestic conflict, formed the army, cage
distinguish itself in a new field, by An e
TO punish European Intervention N
co.
By many it WAS believed and urged
aside from the assumed Justice OF the
Ceeding, foreign war, IN which boih
would cheerflIly unite to vindicate the
ar of the national flag and further Illus
the national prowess, would be the 81
and spcediest way OF awakening natlOna
thusiasm reviving devotion tn the "
and occupying a force concerning
grave doubts existed az to Its wlIhngI
after four years Of active campaigning
once to return to the pursuits OF peace.
Whether these speculations were true
false, IL will be conceded that they oXl
and that the predictions Of the army :
for the time being, in the direction indie
Taking advantage Of that feeling, It "
have been easy, as commander II. chi
tle army and navy, with all the power
patronage Of the presidential oihce a
disposal, 10 turn the concentrated sire
of the nation against French iDhuenC
Mexico, and to inaugurate move
which would have been received with
by the military and large portion OF
people.
1t ia proper in this connection tn
should refer to the almost unlimited
tional powers rendered to the executive
the measures relating to civil rights an
freedmans bureau
Contrary to most precedents, in the
ronce Of public men, the powers that
placed within my grasp were decline
being ia violation Of the constitution,
oprnus To the liberties of the people,
tending to aggravate rather than lessor
discords naturally resulting from our
war.
With large army and augmented n
itv, II would have DHeh no ulluCu'' IA
direct at pleasure the destlmes OF the
lic aud 10 make sure of my conunuan
the highest Office known TO our laws
the people whom | am addressing from
presidential chair, during the closing
Of laboriOus term, consider how al
would have been the present conditloH
Welded TO the dazzling temptation o
pign concuests, Of personal aggraudlz'
nnd the desire 70 WELD additional :
Let them, with Justice, consider that If
not unduly magni6ed mine Office, the
burdens have not been increased by m
nor thousands or tens Of thousands OF
been sacrificed to visions of false glor
cannot, therefore, be CT
ed that my ambition has been of that
nary or criminal kind, which, to the
ment Of the peoples rights aud lh
ever seeks to grasp more and uuwar
powers. and to accomplish its purpose
ders too often to popular prejudice ant
aims.
What, then, have been the asp
which guided me in my official acts
acts need not at this time an elabora
PLANTATION. They have elsewhere beer
prehcnsively and fully discussed, and
part Of the nations history Bv {
am ready to be Judged, knowing that
ever imperfect, they at least show TO
partial mind that my sole ambition h,
TO restore the Union Of the States, ia
10 execute the office Of President,
the best of my ability preserve, prot'
defend the constitution. | cannot
sured in nv efforts. have been il