Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-09
TO rHEPEop1EoF Tue UNITED STATES.

minister the Government within the pale OF
the Federal, Constitution. are sincerely in-'
voked. Without ambition to crafty, party
ends to subserve, or personal quarres TO
layenge ut the sacrifice OF the peace and wel-
fare of the country, my earnest desire Is to
see the Constitution, as defined and Limited
by the Fathers of the Republic, again recog-
nized and obeyed as tho supreme law of the
land, aud the swhale people, North, South.
Last and West, prosperous and happy under
its wise provisions. - 81 -8a.- I'll 20 =
Surrendering the high Office to which l
was called four years ago ut memorable. and
terrible crisis, it is my privilege, thrust, to say
TO the people of the United States q few part
ing words in yindication of an official course
go ceaselessly assaiied- aud aspersed by pollti-
cal leaders to whose rlaus and wishes my pol.
lev TO resto,. the Union has been obnoxious.
r. In a period IF, difficulty and turmoil almost
WITHOUT precedent iu the history OF any ren-
pie, consequent upon the closing scenes of
great rebellion aud the assassination of the
President, it was perhaps too much on my
part to expect of devoted partisans who rode
on the waves of excitement, which ut that
time swept all before them, that degree ut
federation and masnanimity which sought
to recommend and enforce, and which be-
lieve, in good time, would have advanced US
infinitely further on the road to permanent
peace and prosperity than We have thus far
attained. Doubtless had ut the commence
ment of my term Of Office uuhesitutimgly lent
ms powers, or perverted them, to purposes
aud plaus outside of the Constitutions, and
become an instrument to schemes of c0nis-
cation. of general and oppressive dlsqualihca.
tivns, [ would have been hailed US all that
was true, lOya. and discerning, rs the reliable
head of party. whatever L might have been
as the Executive,ui the nation. Unwilling,
however. to accede to the propositions OF cx-
-trenliSrs, aud sbOuud to adhere, at every per-
sonal hazard, to my oath to defend the Con-
stitution. need not, perhaps, be surprised
at having met the fate Of others whose only
rewards for unfolding constitutional right
aud law have been the consciousness Of hav-
ing attempted to 40 their duty, and the calm
and uuprejudiecd Judgment Of history. =
AT the time myterious Providence as
signed to me the office of President was by
the terms of the Constitution, the Comrnan-
der in Chief of nearly million of men uII-
der arms: One of my first acts was To dis
band and restore TO the vacations OF civil life
this immense host, and to divest myself, so
far as 1 could, of the unparalleled powers
then incident to the office and the times
Whether or not, in this step was RI ht, and
how far deserving OF the appreciation OF the
people, all can now, reflection, judge,
when reminded of the ruinOus condition OF
public affairs that must have resulted from
the continuance in the military service ut
such vast number of uien.
The close of our domestic conflict round
the army eager to distinguish itself in new
field. by an effort IN punish European inter
- t.INl1S RI
and urged that aside from the assumed justice
of the proceeding, foreign war, in which
both sides would chcerfully unite 10 vindicute
the honor Of the national flag and further
illustrate the national proves. would be the
surest aud speediest way Overwhelming national
reviving devotion 20 the Union,
and occupying force concerning which grave
doubts existed to its willingness, after four
years OF active campaigning, ut once to return
to the pursuits Of peace. Whether these specu-
latiUus were true or false, it will be conceded
that they existed, and that the predictions
of the army were, for the time being, III the
direction indicated.
Taking advantage of this feeling, it would
have been easy as the COmmander-inC Chief OF
the army aud navy, and with all the power
and patronage of the Presidential office at my
disposal, to turn the concentrated military
strength of the nation against French inter-
ference in Mexico, aud To inaugurarc m,vc
ment which would have been received with
favor by the military aud large portion Of
the people.
1t is proper, in this connection, that |
should refer to the almost unIir'ited additional
powers rendered to the Executive by the
measures relating to civil rights and the Freed
mems Bureau. Contrary TO most prccedents
III the experiences of public men. the powers
thus placed within my grasp were declined as
in violation of the Constitution, dangerous to
the liberties Of the people, and tending to
aggravatc rather than lessen the disc"lds
naturally resulting from oar civil war. With
large army and augmented authority. it
would have been 10 difficult task to direct at
pleasure the destinies OF the Republic. and to
make secure my continuance In the highest
Office known to our laws.
Eet tie people whom am addressing from
the Presidential chair, during the closing
hours of !aborious term. consider how diff
fereut would have hceu their present condi-
ton. had Yielded to the dazzling temptation
of foreign conquest, Of personal aggrandlze>
lnent. anil The desire to WELD additional power.
Let them. wirll justice consider. thst if have
not uuduiy ''magnified mine Office. the pubic
burdens have not beeu increased by my acts.
aud other: and perhaps thousands or tens Of
thousands Of lives sacrificed, to visions OF false
glory
1t cannot, therefore, be charged that my
ambition las been of that ordinary or criminal
kind which. to the dctriment OF the peoples
rights and liberties, seeks TO grasp more and
unwarranted powers, and to accomplish its
purposes panders too often to popular preju-
dices and party aims.
What. then. have been the aspirations
which have guided me in my official acts =
These acts need not at this time an elaborate
explanation. They have been elsewhere com
preheusively slated and fully discussed, and
become part OF the nation S history. by
tLnm [ nm, " illinn tn be inlyed. knowing that