The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-03-23
PRESIDENT JOHNS0N's FAREWELL
ADDRESS.
r, a, pcopye OF The UNITED Siaits J..

To The People Of the Unt'ed Ssdfs'
The robe of Office, by constitutional
limitation, this day falls from my shout
ders, to be Immediately ASSUMED by my
successor. For him the ioibearance and
CO. operation of the American people IN
all his efforts 10 administer the Govern
meut within the pale of the Federal Con
stitution are sincerely invoked without
ambition to crafty, party ends to sub
serve, or personal quarreis to avcnge to
the sacrifice OF the peace and welfare OF
the country, my earnest desire is to see
the Constitution OF the Republic again
ccognized and obeyed as the supreme
law of the land, and the whole people,
North, South, East and West, prosperous
and happy under its wise provisions.
In surrendcring the high office to which
was called four years ago in riemora.
bic and terrible crisis, it is my privilege,
| trust, to say to the people ofthe United
States a few parting words in vindicstion
of an official course so ceaselessly assaii
ed and opposed by political leaders to
whose plan and wishes my policy TO re
store the Union has been obnoxious In
period of difficulty aud turmoil almost
without precedent in the history OF any
people, consequent upon the closing
scenes of great rebellion and the assas.
sination Of the President, IL was, perhaps,
too much on my part TO expect Of deyo
ted paltisans, who rode on the waves of
excitement, which at that time swept all
before them, that degree Of liberation
and nagnanilnity which | sought to rec
ommend and enforce, and which ! believe
in good time would have advanced US in
initolv further OH the road TO permanent
peace and prosperity than we have thus
far attained Doubtless had !, ut the
commencement of my term of Office, I'M.
hesitatingly lent It's powers or perverted
them to purposes and plans outside OF
the Constitution, and become an mstru-
mentto schemes Of coniscation and OF
general and oppressive disqualitications,
| would have been hailed as all that was
true and loyal, and deserving the re.
liable head of party, whatever might
have been as the Executive the nation.
Unwilling, however, acceoe to the rropo-
sitions of extremists and bound 10 obey
at every personal hazard my oath to de
fend the Constitution, need not perhaps
be surprised at having met the fate Of
others whose only rewards for unfolding
constitutional rights and laws have been
the conscientiousncss of having attempt
ed to do their duty and the calmer jndg.
nient of history and Of time ...
A mysterious Providence assigned to
me the Office Of President. was by the
terms Of the Constitution the Command
cr in Chief of nearly million Of men un,
der arms One Of my first acts was to
..;..n p,'~ ad. sir,,r,o"sn i,,-t dnA 1irnsi
myself rs far as | could, OF the nnpar
relied powers then incident to the office
and the times Whether or not in this
step | was right, and how far deserving
of the appreciation OF the people, they
can now, on reflection, Judge, when re
minded Of the ruinons condition OF public
affairs that must have resulted from the
continuance in the military service of
such vast number Of men. The close
| of our domestic conflict found the army
/ eager to distinguish itself in new field
by an effort to punish Europeanmterven
ton in Mexico BY many it was believed
and urged that aside from the assumed
justice of the proceedings, foreign war
| in which both sides would checrfltlly
unite to vindicate the honor OF the na
tional flag and further illustrate the ma
tional proves, would be the surest and
speediest way of awakening national en-
thusiasm, reviving devotion to the onion,
and occupying force concerning which
grave doubts existed as to its willingness,
after foul years OF active campaigning, at
once to return to the pursuits Of peace,
Whether these speculations were true or
false, it will be conceded that they exist
ed, and that the predictions ofthe army
were for the time being in the direction
indicated. Taking advantage Of that
| feeling, it would have been easy, as with
all the power and patronage ofthe Prcsi-
dental Office nj my disposal, to turn the
concentrated strength of tho nation
against French interference in Mexico,
and to iuaugurate a movement which
would have been received with favor by
| the military AM, large portion Of the
pcople It's nropcr IL this connection
that should refer to the alnGst unliinit.
ed additional poycrs rendered to the
Executive .hv The n,essn~os relative 10
civil Rights and fbe Prccdmon's Bureau,
Contrary 70 most nrecedonts in ,he eypcr.
| ;aroo II ~ ,,,bJ,o ~, M nnwo.. tboy