The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-03-18
). 4 ..Hl3oYT & CO., Proprietors.

closing hours of laborlous term cohs'oef
how different would have been their pre-
sent condition had 1 yielded to the daz,
zlng temptation Of foreign conquest, OIL
personal aggrandizoment, and the desire
to- WELD additional power. Let them
with Justice consider that, if l have not
unduiy "magnifed mine Office" the pub
! lie burdens have not been. increased oy
nv acts, and other and perhaps thousands
of lives sacrificed to visions OF false glory.
1t cannot, therefore, be charged that
nj nv r, ambition has been of that ordinary
or criminal kind which, to tho detriment
of the peoples rights and liberties, ever
seeks to grasp more and unwarranted
powers, and, to accomplish it's purposes,
panders too often to popular pre)uoiccs
and party aims.
What. then, have been the aspirations
which guided mo in my official acts
Those acts need not, at this time, an eiab-
crate explanation They have been else
where comprchensively stated and fully
discussed, and become a part OF the ma
lions history. BY them am willing to
be Judged, knowing that, however lmper,,
feet, they at least show to the impartial
mind that my sole ambition has been to
restore the Union of the States, faithfully
to execute the Office of President, and, to
the best of my ability, to preserve. pro-
tcct and defend the Constitution. can
not be censured if my efforts have been
impeded in the interests of party faction;
and if policy which was intended TO re-
assure and concilate the people OF both
sections of the country was made the
occasion of inflaming and dividing still
farther those who, only recently In arms
against each other, yet, as individuals and
citizens were sincerely desirous, as l
shall ever believe, of burying all hostile
feelings in the grave Of the past The
bitter war was waged ON the part OF the
Government to vindicatethc Constitution
and save the Union and If have erred
in trying to bring about a moro speedy
and lasting peace, to extinguish heart
burnings and enmities, and to prevent
troubles in tho South which, retarding
material prosperity in that region, injurl-
ouslv affected the whole country, | am
quite content to rest my case with the
more deliberate judgment of the people,
and, as have already intimated, with
the distant future.
The war, all must remember, was q
stupendous and deplorablc mistake. Nci-
the: side understood the other; and had
this simple fact and its conclusions been
kept in view, all that was needed was
accomplished by the acknowledgment OF
ND ia ny
better feeling and earnest endeavor at
atonement shown and felt in the prompt
ratification of constitutional amendments
by the Southern States at the close OF the
war Not accepting the war as a con-
tcssed false step on the part OF those who
inaugurated it, was an error which now
only time can cure, and which even at
this late date We should cndcavor to pal
late. Experiencing, moreover, as all
have done, tic frighttul cost OF the arbl-
trament of the sword, let us in the future
cling closer than ever to the Constitution
as our only safeguard. 1t is to be hoped
that not until tile burdens now pressing
upon us with such fearful weight are re-
moved will our people forget the lessons
cf the war; and that, remembering them
from whatever cause, peace between Sec
tions and States may be perpetual.
The history of late events in our coun-
try, as we'll as of the greatest Govern
ments of ancient and modern times,
teaches that we have everything to fear
from a departure from the letter and spirit
of the Constitution, and the undue ascen-
dency OF men allowed to assume power
in what are considered desperate emer-
gencies. Sylla, on becoming master of
Rome, at once adopted measures to crush
his enemies, and to consolidate the power
of his party. He established military
colonies throughout Italy deprived. of
the full Roman franchise the inhabitants
of the Italian towns who had opposed his
usurpations; coniscated their lands, and
gave them to his soldiers; and conferred
citizenship upon great number Of slaves
belonging to those who had prescribed
him, thus creating at Rome q kind of
body guard for bis protection. After
having given Rome over TO slaughter,
and tyrannized beyond all example over
those opposed to him and the legions, his
terrible instruments Of wrong. Sylla could
yet feel safe in laying down the ensigns
of power 30 dreadtully abused, and in
mingling freely with the families and
friends of his myriad victims Tho fear
which he had inspired continued after his
voluntary abdication, and even in retire
ment his will vas law to people who
had permitted themselves to be enslaved.
What but subtle knowledge and con-
Yiction that the Roman people had be-
come changed, discouraged, and utterly
broken in spirit could have induced this
daring assumption? What but public in
difference to consequences so terrible as
to leave Rome open to every calamity
which subsequently bcfcll her, could have
justified the conclusions of the dictator
and tvrant In Lis slartlino eXneriInant