The union Democrat., 1869-03-13
Farewell Address by Ex-Pre sitlcnf
johnson.

WASHINGTON, March o. Ex-Presideni
johnson has published an address to the
American people. of which the following is a
full synopsis:
After asking the consideration and forbear-
ance of the American people for his successor,
Mr.. johnson enters into an elaborate defence
of his Administration. lie says had he lent
himself to schemes of conh>cation, oppression
and disqualification, he would have been
hailed as all that is loyal, true and desery-
ing but his oath bound him to defend the
Constitution, hence be could not accede to the
propositions of the extremists. As Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Army the first thing he
did was to disband an immense host of SOL
diers. They were eager to distinguish them
selves in new fields and punish European in
terventon in Mexico.
Many urged foreign war as the best means
of uniting the North and South. Taking ad-
vantage of that feeling there would have been
no difficulty in directing at pleasure the des-
tines of the Republic and secure to himself a
continuance of his Presidential career. He
welded not to dazzling temptations of foreign
conauests, and it cannot be said that his am-
bitlon was of an inordinate kind. His only
ambition was to restore the Union, faithfully
execute the Office of President and defend the
Constitution, and he must not be censured if
those efforts were defeated by party faction
The war was stupendous and deplora b e
mis- axe. Neither knew the other. We have
experienced the frightful cost of arbitrament
by the sword. Let us cling in future closer
to the Constitution as the only safegard.
Who would have thought few years ago
that conscrption, confscation, loss Of person
nj Of m rv
rule and dsfranchsement, with an extension
of suffrage to crafty party ends, would have
taken place? 1t is demonstrated by recent
events that the President cannot prevent en-
croaehments on the Constitution. The juris-
diction of the Judiciary has been circumscrib-
ed, and the veto power rendered nugatory by
partisau majority in Congress. He offers
the suggestion that as the veto power is exer-
cised upon constitutional grounds. it should
be. when so applied and returned with the
Executives reasons, referred to the Supreme
Court for decision. If it should decide bill
constitutional, it should then become law
if not. it should fail, without the power of
Congress to reenact it.
He alludes to the history of the majority in
Congress thus: When the rel elton was being
suppressed by patriotic soldiers. these men
crept without question into place and power
in the National councils, and after all danger
had PASSED, then it was that these pretended
patriots appeared before the nation and be-
gan TO prate abou. thousands of lives and
millions of treasure sacrificed in the Ie-
bellion." They have since persistently
sought TO nfame the prejudices engendered
between the sections and retard the restora-
ton of peace and harmony, and by every
means TO keep open and exposed t. the poison
Gus breath of party passion the terrible
wounds Of four years of war.
They have prevented a return to peace and
n restoration of the Union, and in every way
have rendered delusive the purposes, promises
and pledges by which the army was marshal
cd. Treason rebuked and the rebellion
crushed. made the liberties of the people and
the right. and powers of the President the
objects of constant attack. They have wrest-
ed from the President his Constitutional pow
sr and supreme command Of the army and