Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-03-15
JOHNSON.
His Farewell Address to
the People OF the uni.
ted states.
YlAOlCATi0A OF THE COURSE OF
MS ADMINISTRATION.

NAVIGATION OF TIE COURSE OF
MS ADMINISTRATION.
Of abe Majority in
Cong ress.
WAsniSurox, March 4. - To Tie People II
the Un,ted States--1hc robe OF office, by
limitation. this falls from my
sh oulders, TO be Immediately assumed by
my successor. For him, the forbearancs
and cc-opsrsticn Of the American psop.e
in I'll bic Efforts to adwinistsr the covers
ment within the pale Of the Federal censti
tuition, are sincerely invited. Without ann
bitten to crafty, party ends to suLssrve,
Or pes sosel Qvafrels 70 avsnge. q tho sac,
rife u The pcsss and welfare Of the covn
Try, my earnest desire 10 10 see the consti
tu,ien Of the republic again the recognized
and ebsy ID NV Of the land, ssd the whole
seutb, sass and west
prosperous and hsppy under its provir
ions.
In surrendering the high Office to which
was called four years ago,ia memorable
and terrible crisis, it is nv privilege, |
trust, 10 say to the people OF the United
States few parting words 10 yindicatlon
OF an official course, SO ceaselrsstv assailed
and asperscd by political leaders 10 whose
plans and wishes my policy to restore the
union has been obnoxious. In a period 81
difficulty and turmoil almost without pre-.
cedent in the history OF any people, conse
quent upon the closing scenes OF great
rebellion and the assassination Cf u e Press
dent, II was, perhaps, too much, en- ny
pnr,, to expect Of devoted .pertirans, who
rsds on the waves Of % citemnt which At
that time swept oil before them, that de-
gree Of federation and magnimity which |
sought to recommend and enforce, aud
which / believe, in good time, weuld haze
sdvaeced % Infinitely further On the road
to permanent peace and prospect 7 than
W have thus far attained.
Doubtlesr. had ], At the commencement
Of ny term Of Office, unhesitatingly lent
It's power, 81 perverted thsu, to purpose
and plans outside Of the constitution, and
become an instrument to schemes OF con-
ii seating, and Of general aud oppressive
disqualifi cations, ! would have been hailed
a. all that was true, loyal. and deserving,
as the head Of party, whatever | nigh,
have bcsn - tho executive Of . nation.
Unwilling, however, to accede to tho prop
ositions Of extremists. and bound to obey,
at every personal hazard, my oath TO dc
fend the constitutions. need not. perhaps
be surprised a having met the fsts Of
others whose only reward for unfolding
constitutional rights and laws have been
The consciousness Of having attempted 70
DO their duty, and the calmer judgement Of
history.
Al Tho time . mysterious providen GO -.
81 med to me tho oiiics of Pre- dent, I wa,
by the terms Of tho consii II ion, the com
mander. 10. chief Of nearly million msu
under arms. One of my first acts was t.
disband. and restore to the vocNinnS O
eisil life, this immenss host, and to divsal
oysslf. - fafas could, Of the unparalleled
powers then incident to the efiic. anc
lines. Whether, or not, in this step, Iva,
!, sht, and how far deserving tfthe appro,
baton CT all, the people can now, on 70.
Il, c TO-, Judge, when rem indcd 81 the su
Gus condition ef public affairs that must
have re,ulted fem the continuance in the
military service ef such . vast number oil
men, The close ol our domestic c,nflic,
tound the army eager to distinguish i,seli
in nav field by an effort to punish Euro.
pean Intervention in Mexico. BY many i,
was believed and urged, that, aside ftsm
the assumed justice Of the pre- ceedings, q
foreign war, in which both tides would
cheeituliy unite to vindicate the honor a.
the national flag, and further illustrate III,
| national prowess, would be the surcst ant
| spesdi est way Of awakening national enthu
-iasm. rsvivipg devotion to the union, ant
occupying force concerning which grav,
doubts existed - to its willingness, ate
four yesrs Of active campaigning. u once I,
return TO the pursuits Of peace. Whsthe
these spsculatisus wsrc true or false, u vii
BE- concs dsd that they existed and that Oh,
predictions Of the army were, for the tim,
being. In the direction indicated. Taking
advantage Of that feeling. il would hsv
been easy, - the commandsr>in. chiti o tn,
army. with oil the power and patronage o
the Presidential efiics ct my dispossl, I,
turn the concentrated strength Of the M
tisn aGainst Essnch interference 10 Msxics
| And 70 inaueusats amsysosnt which weul,
' nave been received with favor by the mill
casy and large portion Of the people.
- proper, IN this connection, that shcui.
refer 10 the almost unlimited additiona
powers rendered to the executive by til,
measures relating to civil rights and III.
frssmsn's bureau. Contrary to precedent.
IN the experiences Of public men, the pow
ers thus placed within my grasp were de,
clinsd, ~ being in violation Of the consti
tuition. dangerous to the liberties Of tn,
people, and tending to aggravate, rathe
than lesson, the discords naturally rssullin,
from our evil war. With large army am
augmented authority, 1t would have beer
no difficult task 70 direct, At pleasure, th,
destiniss OF the Republic, and make secure
my continuance In the highest office known
to our laws Let The people whom an
addrsesing from the Presidential chair, dur
NJ the clos,ng hours Of laborious term
considss AoW different would have beer
the present condition had yielded 10 III,
iazsling temptation Of foreign ceequssts, Q
perseaal agaranaiasnsns, apd the desire I,
sisld additional pswsr. Let them, will
justice consider that, If have not undul,
mageihsd mine Office, the public burden,
hevs net bssn increased by my acts, %,
other aad perhaps theusands OF tens Q
theusands Of lives sacrificed to visions Q
hjss glerv. Il cannot, therefore, Be chaYge,
that ~ ambition hes bsea Of that ordina
~ o. criminal kind which, to the dssrimen
Of the peoples rights and liberties. eve
eseks to grasp mere and uaWass antsd pew
srs, and. 70 accomplish ito purpose, ponder,
tes sfssn 70 popular prejudiess and party
sas. .vs.ss
What, then, have been the aspiration,
which guided ne in ~ Official acts,
Teessteeee bed not, at THE time a.
slaborats explanation. They have else
~hsre heee ceapeshsa sivsly and fully ~
cuseed, and bessne part or the nation
history. By then an ready to b. iude
ed-knewing that, hswsvsr imperfect
they 81 least sheW to the impartial min,
thst nv ambition has been to reseere ~
restore the sAioA e 0salss. NAjShfeliv /,
execute the sfncs Of President, and. 70 III
beet Of ~ ability. 70 observe, nrotecs. an,
dslsnd the Cesstitution. 1 cannon b,
esnsuae1 0Qy egegls have ben iupuaet
in The teseeots 81 pasty faction, and n ,
pelicy vhieA We intended to reassure And
ssseait1ee thee ~ 6esh esstie6a Of ths eoun
try, vss 0ads The sseasisn Of inflamip,
and dividing seil ssrthSr those Who. col,
sseenuy y etpe aeaiass each sther. Sst I.
iadividsals and citisans, we're sinserely
dosireoa - ! sAAll ever bslisve. Of bvrvips
q! he:sils fss,ings In The grave Of the psss
Ns elnae woe w.. WAgsl On the pass d
Suo &ovoI0W0D1 - VindinnHo ~ Can.s;s,,