American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-03-13


glory. 1t cannot, therefore, be
charged that my ambition has been
of that ordinary or criminal kind
which, to the detriment of the peo-
pies rights and liberties, ever seeks
to grasp unwarranted powers to ac-
coniplish its purposes, and to pander
to popular prejudice and party aims.
What, then, have been the aspira-
tions which guided me in my official
ACTS Those acts need not at this
timesns elaborate explanation. They
have everywhere been comprehen-
sively and fully discussed, and be-
come part of the nations history.
By them | am ready to be judged,
knowing that, however imperfect,
they at least show to the impartial
mind that my sole ambition was to
restore the Union of the States, faith
fully execute the Office Of President,
and, to the best of my ability, pre-
serve, protect and defend the Consti-
tuition. l cannot be censured if nv
efforts have been impeded in the in
tercsts of party faction, and if a poll
cy, which was intended to reassure
and conciliate the people of both
sections of the country, was made
the occasion of inf1aming and irritat-
ing SIill further those who were re
Gently in arms against each other,
yet as individuals were sincerely de
slrous, as-l shall ever be, of burying
all hostile feelings in the grave of
the past. The bitter war was waged
on the part of the Government to
vindicate the Constitution and save
the Union, and if / have erred in
| trying to bring about a more speedy
and lasting peace, to extinguish
heart -burnings and enmities, to pre-
vent trouble in the South which was
retarding material prosperity in that
region and injuriOusly affecting the
whole country, | am quite content to
rest my case with the more deliber-
ate Judgment of the people, and, as |
have already intimated, with the dis
tant future.
The war, all must remember, was
a stupend0us and deplOrable mistake.
Neither side understood the other,
and had this fact and its conclusions
been kept in view, all that was need
ed was accomplished by the ac-
knoWledgment of the terrible wrong
and the expressed better feelings and
earnest endeavOr at atonement shown
and felt Ill the prompt ratification of
the Constitutional amendment by the
Southern States at the close of the
war. Not accepting the war as a
confessed false step on the part of
those who inauguratad it was an
error, which now only time can cure,
and which even at this late date we
should endeavor to palate. Expert
encInS, moreover, as all have done.
the trlghtful cost of the arbitrament
of the sword, let us in the future
cling closer than ever to the Consti-
tuition as our only safeguard.
1t is to be hoped that not until the
burdens ROW pressing upon us with
such fearful weight are removed.
will our people forget the lessons of
war, and that, remembering them
from whatever source, peace between
sections and States may be perpetu
ated. The history of late events in
our country, as well as of the great
est governments of ancient and mod
ern times, teach us that we have
every thing to fear from a departure
from the letter and spirit of the Con
Stltutlon, and the undue aScendt ncy
of men allowed to assume powers il
what are considered desperate emer
gencies. Sylla, on becoming master
of Rome, at once adopted measures t.
crush his enemies and to consolidate
the power of his party. He estab
lished military colonies throughout
Italy, deprived of the full Roman
franchise the inhabitants of the
italian towns who had opposed hi.
uSurpation, cOnfscated their land.
and gave them to his soldiers, anC
conferred citizenship upon a grea
| number of slaves belonging to thos,
, who had prescribed him, thus Great
ing at Rome kind Of body guart
f for his protection.
r After having given Rome over t,
| slaughter and tyranny beyond all ex
f ample, to those opposed to him ant
the legions, his terrible instrumen
| of wrong, Sylla could vet feel safe il
laying down the ensigns of power s,
: dreadfully abused, and in minglin,
: freely with the families and friend
e of his myriad victims. The fea
g which he had inspired continue,
t after his voluntary abdication, an,
even in retirement, his will was lay
: to people who had permitted them
). selves to be enSlaved. What but
subtle knowledge and conviction tha
y the Roman people had becom
I changed, discouraged and utterl
Il broken i'll spirit could have induce
d this daring assumption What bu
@ public indifference to consequence
l. SO terrible as to leave Rome open t
It every calamity which subsequent
d befell her could have justified tn
h conclusions Of the dictator and tyral
II III his startling experiment "
n find that in the time which ha
IS since elapsed human nature and til
e eXigencies in government have NJ
5 greatly changed. Who, a few yeal
e ago, i'll contemplating our futur,
Il could have supposed that in bri,
period of bitter experience ever,
l. thing that was demanded, in the nam
" OF military emergency, or dictated h
/ caprice, would come to be conSidere
e, as matter of course that coHScril
II ton, cOnfiScation, loss of person;
t. liberty, the subj ection Of States
,e military rule, and distranchiSmem
if with the extension of the right
10 suffrage, III arely to accomplish part
he ends, would receive the passive Sul
" mission, if not acquicScencc, of Il
,e people of the republic ?
e, 1t has been clearly dem onstt ate
he by recent occurrence that cncroacl
lg mentS upon the Constitution cam,
nr be prevented by the President, hoy
le ever devoted or determined he ms
| be That unless the people inte
ct pose there is no power under IL
IL Constitution to check IA domipal
d. majority Of two thirds of the Co
gress of the United States. An a
at peal of the nation is attended wi,
ne foo IIurb lnIny tn Jnaat tI,o a,,o,oo