The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-09

=, were so often repeated that for prophet,
:, sake, II for no other reason, it became,
W. last necessary TO extend to him an unconc
az tional pardon. What more plainly tina
ID this illustrates the extremites Of party maj
To. agement and Inconsistency on the one han.
aud OF faction, yindictyeness and ihtijLi
10 ance on the other? Patriotism viii nJ 4
he br encouraged, when, in such ,Ls mos,
a sees that it's instant reward may 90 s ~, y,
virulent marty abuse and oblo4Vi Nv
nd etip'eu 4'St a"'s; to mike treason odous
= iHS'eau u sao,g 10 have been their
"u II "ou'"r ~ uu." make the defense Of the
'rl P"'Po,'' a,j ne Union crime, and "a
us eo.5,i'u a5I;, % an oath ofoce, if counter
~ Po 'a,,, Jcationt by all tho means at their
~ 'Tarolly for the peace Of the country,
50 be war was determined against the
Ie s.,amed power Of states to withdraw from
/the Union. The institution of slavery also
found its destruction in rebellion com
menced IN its interest, II should be borne
IN mind, however, that the war neither i'm
paired nor destroyed the constitution, but on
the contrary preserved its existence, aud
made apparent its real power and enduring
strength. All the rights granted to the
states or reserved to the people are therefore
intact. Among those rights is that of the
people of each state to declare the uualifica.
ton Of their own state electors.
1t is now assumed that congress can con.
troll this vital right, which can mover be TAX
en- away from the states without impairing
the fundamental principles of the govern.
ment itself. 1t is necessary to the existence
of the states, as we'll as to the protection Of
the liberties Of the peoples for the rightto Sc
lect the electors in whom the political power
Of the states shall be lodged involves the
right of the state to govern itself.
When deprived Of this prerogative the
states will have no power worth retaining.
All will be gone, and they will be subjected
! to the arbitrary will of congress The gov.
eminent will then be centralized if not by
| the passage of laws, then By the adoption
through partisan influence Of an amendment
directly in conflict with the original design
Of the constitution.
! This proves how necessary it il that the
people should require the administration Of
the three great departments of the govern.
ment TO be strictly within the limits Of the
constitution. Their boundaries have been
accurately defined, and neither should be al
lowed to trespass on the other, nor, above
all 10 encroach upon the reserved rights Of
the people and the states. The troubles Of
the last four years will prove to the nation
| blessings if they produce 80 desirable re.
! suit. Upon those who became young men
amid the sound Of cannon and din of arms,
and quietly returned to the farms, the facto-
ries and the schools of the land, will princi-
| pally deyolve the solemn duty Of perpetual.
| ing the Union Of the states, in defeuBe of
which hundreds of thousands Of their com.
rades expired, and hundreds Of millions Of
national obligations were incurred.
manly people will not neglect the train
ing necessary to resist aggression, but they
should be Jealous lest the civil be made sub
ordinate to the military element, We need
to encourage in every legitimate way, a
study Of the constitution for which the war
was waged IA knowledge and reverence for
whose wise checks by those SO soon to oc
cupy the places filed by their seniors, will
be the only hope Of preserving the repub.
lie.
The young men Of the nation not yet un
i der the control Of party must resist the
s tendency to centralylatiou--au outgrowtt
s of the great rebelion--and be familiar with
= the fact that the country consists Of tn,
"a United States, and that when the states sur
II rendered certain great rights for the sake Of
!. more perfect union, they retained rights o.
) valuable and important as those they reliu
, pushed fort the common veal. This sound OLD
y doctrine, far different from the teachings
e that led to the attempt to seCede and kindred
e theory that the states were taken out ofthc
, union blythe rash acts ofcOnSpirators that hap
pened to dwell within their borders, must be
. received aud advocated with the enthusiasm
OF carly manhood or the people will be
ruled by corrupt combinations Of the com
merclel ccnters, which, plethoric from
wealth, annually tmgrate to the capital of
the nation to purchase SPECIAL legislation.
; Until the representatives of the people in
congress more fully exhibit the diverse
views and interests Ofthe whole nation, laws
will continue 70 be made without full discuss
ion at the behest of some party leader, and
there will never be 4 proper respect shown to
the law-makIng power, or rather to the ia.
dlcial or executive branch Of the govern
ment.
The generation just beginning to use the
ballot box, it is believed, only need that
their attention should be called to these con.
. siderauonS to indicate, by their votes. that
they wish their representatives to observe
all the restraints which the pecp'e, in adopt.
ing the constitution, intended to impose up
on party excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration OF
tho go~erument, | feel that with sense Of
" accountability to God, having conscientious.
y ly cndeavored to dichargc my whole duty, |
e have nothing to regret. Events have prov
ed the correctness Of the policy set fourth in
J. my first and subsequent messages The
woes which followed the rejection Of for
n bearance, magnanmity and constitutional
u rule, are known and deplored by the ia
!; ton
1t is a matter of pride and qualification in
retiring from the mOste exalted position 10
the gilt Of the people, to feel and know that
IN long, arduous and eventfll public life,
my action has never been influenced bY
desire for gain, and that can, in all sin.
certify, inquire whom | have defrauded.
, whom have oppressed, or at whose hand
have ! received any bride to blind my eyes
herewith? No responsibility for wars that
have been waged, or blood that has been
shed, rests upon me. My thoughts have
, been oiPeace and my efforts have ever been
; to aI.ay contentious among my country.
c men.
Forgetting the past, let us return to the
ilrst principles Of the government, and nm.
tur!lnC the banner of our country, ingcrihe
upon 1t in Inetiacabe characters The
constitution and the Union, one and nsep.
cradle"
ANDREW Johnson.
Washington D. C., March 4. 1869.
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