Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-03-10
Catalogue of the Wrongs Inflicted upon
the Nation by the Party in Power.

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The robe of Office, by constitutional lin
itation, this day falls from my shoulders,
to be Immediately assumed by my successor.
For him the forbearance and cooperation
of the American people in all his efforts to
administer the government within the pale
of the Federal Constitution, are sincerely
invoked. Without ambition to crafty,
party ends to subserve, or personal quar-
rels to ayenge, at the sacrifice of the peace
and welfare of the country, my earnest de-
sire is to see the Constitution of the repub-
lie again recognized and obeyed as the su-
preme law of the land, and the whole peo-
pie, North, South, East, and West pros
porous and happy under its wise provisions.
In surrendering the high Office to which
was called four years ago, at a memorable
and terrible crisis, it is my privilege, /
trust, to say to the people of the United
States few parting words III vindicatlon
of an official course so ceaselessly assailed
and aspersed by political leaders, to whose
plans and wishes my policy to restore the
Union has been abnoxious. In period of
difficulty and turmoil almost without pre-
cedent in the history of any people, conse-
quent upon the closing scenes of a great re-
bellion and the assassination of the then
President, it was, perhaps, too much on
my part to expect of devoted partisans,
who rode ON the waves of excitement,
which at that time swept all before them,
that degree of liberation and magnanimity
which sought to recommend and enforce,
and which believe 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 / at the commencement of my term OF
office unhesitatingly lent its powers or per-
verted them to purposes and plans outside
of the Constitution, and become an instu-
ment to scheme of confscation and of
general and oppressive disqualification, /
would have been hailed as all that was true,
loyal, and discerning as the reliable head
of party, whatever l might have been as
the Executive of nation. Unwilling, how
ever, to accede to propositions of extrem-
its, and bound to obey at every personal
hazard my oath to defend the Constitution,
l need not, perhaps, be surprised at having
met the fate of others, whose only reward
for upholding constitutions! rights and
laws have been the consciousness Of having
| attempted to do their duty, and the calm
| judgment of history. At the time that a
mysterious providence assigned to me the
Office of President, was, by the terms Of
| the Constitution, the commander-in-chief
| of nearly million of men under arms.
One of my first acts was to disband anu re-
| store to the vocaticns of civil life this i'm
mense host. and to divest myself, so far as
| L could, of the unparalleled powers then in
| cident to the Office and the times Wheth-
er, or not i'll this step ] was right, and how
| people, all can now, on reflection, judge,
| when reminded Of the ruinous 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 a new field by an eff
fort to punish European intervention 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 'cheerfully unite to vindi-
cate the honor of the national flag, and fur
| ther illustrate the national prowess, would
be the surest and speediest way af awaken
| ing national enthusiasm, renewing devotion
to the Union, and occupying a force con-
cerning which grave doubts existed as to
its willingness, after four years of active
campaigning, at once to return to the pur-
| suits of peace Whether these speculations
were true or false it will be conceded that
they existed, and that the predictions of
the army were for the time being in the di-
rection indicated. Taking advantage of
that feeling, it would have been easy, as
the Commander-in-chief of the Army and
Navy, and with all the power and patronage
of the Presidential Office at my disposal, to
turn the concentrated strength of the ma
ton against French interference in Mexico,
and to @inaugurate a movement which
would have been received with favor by the
military and large portion of the people.
1t is proper in this connection that / should
refer to the almost unlimited additional
powers rendered to the Executive by the
measures relating to Civil Rights and the
Freedmen's Bureau. Contrary TO most pre-
cedents in The experiences Of public men, the
powers thus placed within my grasp
were declined as being in violation of the
Constitution, dangerous to the liberties of
the people, and tending to aggravate rather
than lesson the discords naturally resulting
from our civil war. With large army
and augmented authority, it would have
been no difficult task to direct at pleasure
the destinies of the Republic, and to make
secure my continuance in the highest of
fee known to our laws. Let the people,
whom am addressing from the Presiden-
tial chair during the closing hours of Ia