Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-03-17
A PARTING SLAP AT The RuMP.
Andrew Johnson's Farewell Address

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Andrew Johnson's Farewell Address.
TO the People of the United States:
The robe of office, by constitutional
limitation, this day falls from my
shoulders, 20 be Immediately assumed
by my successor For him the for.
boaranee and cooperation OF the
American people in all his efforts TO
administer the government within the
pale of Federal Constitution, are sin
cerely invoked. Without ambition TO
crafty, party ends 10 subserve, or
personal quarrcls TO avenge at the
sacrifice OF the peace and welfare OF
the country, my earnest desire is, TO
SEQ the Constitution, as defined and
limited by the fathers of the republic,
again recognized aud obeyed as the
supreme law OF the land, and the whole
people, North, South, East and West,
happy and prosperous under its wise
provisions.
In surrendering the high Office TO
which Twas called four years ago, at
a memorable and terrible crisis, il is
my privilege, | trust, to say to the
people Of the United States few
parting words in vindication of an
official course so ccaselessly assailed
and aspersed by political leaders, TO
whose plans and wishes my policy to
restore the Union has been obnoxious.
In a period of difficulty and turmoil,
almost without precedent in the his
tory of any people, consequent upon
the closing scenes Of great rebellion,
and the assassination of the then
President, il was, perhaps, too much
on my part TO expect of devoted par.
tisans, who rode on the waves of
excitement, which at that time swept
all before them, that degree of tolera.
tion 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 prosper.
ity than we have thus far attained.
Doubtless, had / at the commencement
Of my term of Office, unhesitatingly
lent It's powers, or perverted them TO
purposes and plans outside of tho Con-
stitu.ion, and become an instrument
to schemes of confscation, and Of
general and oppressive disqualified.
tions, ! would have been hailed, as all
that was true, loyal, aud discerning,
as the reliable head Of party, what.
ever | might have been As the Exc
cutive of tho nation, unwilling. how.
ever, TO accede TO propositions Of
extremists, and bound to adhere at
every personal hazard 10 my oath to
defend the Constitution, / need not,
perhaps, be surprised at having met
the fate Of others whose only reward
for upholding constitutional right and
law, have been the consciousness of
having attempted to do their duty,
and the calm and unprojudiced iudg-
ment Of history. At the time a mys-
terious Providence assigned to me the
Office of President, was by the terms
of the Constitution, the Commander
in.Chief of nearly a million of men
under arms One Of my first acts was
TO disband and restore TO the yocations
of civil life, this immense host, and to
divest myself, so far as / could, of the
unparalleled powers then incident to
the Office and the times.
u Whether or not in this step / was
right, and how far deserving the ap-
probation Of tho 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
q new field, 10y an effort to punish
European Intervention in Mexico by
many IL was believed and urged that,
aside from the assumed justice Of the
proceeding, foreign war, in which
both sides would chcerfully unite TO
vindicate the honor of the national
flag, and further illustrate the national
prowess, would be tho surest and
speediest way Of awakening national
enthusiasm, reviving devotion TO the
/ Union, and occupying a force con.
corning which grave doubts existed as
to it, willingness, after four years OF
active campaigning, at once to return
to the pursuits of peace. Whether
these speculations wero true or false,
it will bo conceded that they existed,
and that the predictions of the army,
were, for the time being, in the dircc.
ton indicated.
Taking advantage of this feeling, il
! would have been easy, as the Com.
mander-in.Chief of the Army and
Navy, and with all the power and
patronage Of the Presidential Office a,
my disposal, to turn the concentrated
military strength of the nation against
French interference in Mexico, and "a
/ inaugurate u movement which would
have been received with favor by the
military aud large portion Of the
people. 1t is proper in this connec
ton that ! should refer to the almost
unlimited additional powers rendered
to the Executive by the measure.
relating to civil rights and the Freed
mems Bureau Contrary TO most pro
cedents in the experiences Of public
men, the powers thus placed within
my grasp were declined, as in viola.
ton of the Constitution, dangerous ia
the liberties Of the people, and tending
TO aggravato rather than lessen tho
discords naturally resulting from Out
civil war
With large army and augmented
: authority, it would have been no diih
cult task to direct, at pleasure, the
destinies Of the Republic, and to make
secure my continuance in the highest
Office known TO our laws Let the
people, whom l am addressing from
the Presidential chair during the clos
ing hours of a laborious term, consider
how different would have been theil