The Van Buren press., 1869-03-30

ministralion of the three great depart
ments of the Government TO be strictly
! within the limits OF the Constitution.
Their boundaries have been accurately
defined, and neither should be allowed to
tresspass on the other. nor, above all, to
encroach upon the reserved rights OF the
people aud the States.
The troubles of the past four years will
prove TO the nation blessings II they pro-
| dpce so desirable a result 49,.
Upon those who became young men
anil the sound Of cannon and din OF
arms, and who quietly returned to the
farms, The factories. and the schools of
the land, will principally deyolve the sol
emn duty Of perpetuating the union OF
the States, in defense of which hundreds
OF thousands of their comrades expired
and hundreds OF millions of National OBJ
! legations were incurred. A manly people
will not neglect the training necessary to
resist aggression, but they should be
jealous lest the civil be made subordinate
to the military element
We need to encourage in every legiti
mate way, study Of the Constitution for
which the war was wagcd; a knowledge
OF and reverence for whose wise checks
by those SO soon to occupy the places
filed by their senator's; will be the only
hope of preserving the Republic. The
young men of the Nation not yet under
the control Of party, must resist the
tendency TO Capitalization, MI outgrowth
of the great rebellion, and be familiar
with the fact that the country consists of
the United States, and that when the
States surrendered certain great rights
for the sake Of more peafect union, they
retained rights as valuable and important
as those they relnquished for the com.
mon veal.
This sound old doctrine is far different
from the teachings that led to the attempt
to secede, and a kindred theory that the
States were taken ont Of the Union by the
rash acts Of conspirators that happened
to dwell within their borders, must be re
ceived and advocated with the enthus-
asm Of early manhood or the people will
be ruled by corrupt combinations of the
commercial centers, who, plethOric from
wealth, annually migrate to the capitol of
the nation to purchase special legislation.
Until the representatives of the people
in Congress more fully exhibit the diverse
views and interests of the whole nation,
and laws cease to be made without full
discussion at the behest of some party
leader, there will never be proper re-
spect shown by the law making power
either to the judicial or Executive branch
Of the Government The generation Just
to use the ballot box. it is be |
lieved, only need that their attention |
should be called to these considerations
to indicate by their votes that they wish
their representatives to observe all the
restraints the people, in adopting the
Mainly reviewing my ADMINISTRATORS
of the Government, feel that with sense
of accountability to God, and of having
conscientiously endeavorcd to discharged
my whole duty, have nothing to regret.
Events have proved the correctncss of
the policy Set forth in my first and subse
quent messages, the woes which have
followed the rejection Of forbearance,
magnanimity and constitutional rule are
known and deplored by the nation.
It's matter of pride and qualification,
in retiring from the exalted position in
the gift Of the people, TO feel and know
that in long, arduous and eyentful pub
lie life my action has never been influ-
enced by desire for gain, and that can
in all sincerity inquire "Whom have |
derrauded y" Whom have Oppressed Y
or at whose hand have l received any
bride to blind my eyes Herewith No re-
sponsiblily for wars that have been
waged or blood that has been shed rests
upon me. My thoughts have been those
of peace, and my effort has ever been to
allay contentious among my countrymen
Forgetting the past, let US return to the
first principles of the Government, and
unfurlng the banner of our country in-
scribe upon it, in ineliaceable characters,
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE uSIox-oSE
AND INsEPARABLE.' , |tr E-..f|
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. c., March A, go.
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