Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-03-11
FAREWELL ADDRESS OF PRES
DENT JOHNSON.

johnson, as one of his last official acts, issues
the following address to the people of the
United States:
The robe of Office, by constitutional lin
itation, this day falls from my shoulders,
to be Immediately assumed by my success
sor. For him the cooperation and for
bearance Of the American people in all his
efforts to administer the government with
in the pale Of the federal constitution are
sincerely invoked.
Without ambition to crafty, party ends
to subserve, personal quarrels or to
avenge at the sacrifice of the peace and
welfare of the country, my earnest desire
is to see the constitution as defined and
limited by the fathers of the republic
again recognized and obeyed as the sn-
preme law of the land, and the whole peo-
pie, North, South, East, West, prosper
Gus and happy under its wise provisions.
Surrendering the high Office to which l
was called four years ago, at a memorable
and terrible crisis, it is my privilege, I
trust, to say to the people of the United
States few parting words in vindication
of an official course SO ceaselessly assailed
and aspersed by political leaders to whose
plains and wishes my policy to restore the
Union has been obnoxious.
In a period of difficulty and turmoil al
most without precedent in the history of
any people, consequent upon the CLOSING
scenes of a great rebellion and the assassi
nation of the then President, it was, per-
haps. 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 l sought to recon-
mend and enforce, and which [ believe in
good time, would have advanced US infni.
tely further on the road to permanent peace
and prosperity than we have thus far at
tanned.
Doubtless had [ at the commencement
of my term of Office, unhesitatingly leat
its powers or perverted them to purposes
and plans outside Of the constitution, and
become an instrument to schemes of con-
6scation, of general and oppressive dis
qualifications, would have been hailed as
all that was true, loyal and discerning, as
the reliable head of party, whatever
might have been as the Executive of the
nation Unwilling, however, to accede to
the propositions Of extremists, and bound
to adhere, at every personal hazard, to
my oath to defend the constitution, need
not, perhaps, be surprised at having met
the fate of others whose only reward for
unfolding constitutional right and law
have been the consciousness of having at
tempted to do their duty, and the calm
and unprejudiced judgment of history.
At the time mysterious Providence as
signed to me the Office of President, I was
by the terms of the constitution the COM
mander-in chief of nearly million of men
under arms. One of my first acts was to
disband and restore to the vocations of
civil life this immense host, and to divest
myself, SO far as [ could, of the unparal-
leled 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. 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 a vast num-
Der of men,
The close of our domestic conflict found
the army eager to distinguish itself in
new field by an effort to punish European
Intervention in Mexico. By:many it was
believed and urged that, aside from the as
sumed justice of her proceeding, foreign
war, in which both sides would cheerfully
unite to vindicate the honor of the nation
al flag, and further illustrate the nation
al proves, would be the surest and speed
lest way of awakening national enthusi-
asm, reviving devotion to the Union, and
occupying force concerning which grave
doubts existed as to its willingness, after
four years of active campaigning, as once
to return to the pursuits of peace.
Whether these apeculations were true
or false, it will be conceded that they ex-
listed and that the predictions of the ar
my were, for the time being, in the slirec-
ton indicated. Taking advantage Of this
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 military strength Of
the nation against French interference in
Mexico, and inaugurate a movement
which would have been received With ia