The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-03-11


| judgment Of history. At the time q
mysterious Providence assigned to
me the Office Of President, | was, by
the terms Of the Constitution. the
Commauder.in-Chief of uoarly mil
lion Cf mcn under arms. Ono Of my
6rst acts was to disbaud aud restore
10 the vocation Of civil life this i'm.
mense host, aud to divest myself, a,
far Hs could, of the unparalleled
powers then incident to the Office and
the times. Whether or not in this
step l was right, and how far dcscrv
ing Of tho appreciation Of all the
people, they 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, that at the close OF
our domestic conflict found the army
eager to distinguish itself in new
field, by au effort to punish European
Intervention in Mexico. BY many il
was believed and urged that aside
from the assumed justice of the proc
ccedlugs, a foreign war, in which
both sides would chccrfully unite TO
vindicato the honor of tho National
dag aud further illustrate tho Nation.
al proves, would be the surest aud
speediest way Of awakening National
enthusiasm, reyiving devotion to the
Union, AVID occupying force cou-
cerning which grave doubts existed
as to its willingness, after four years
ofactive campaigning, at once to re-
turn to the pursuits Of peace
Whether these speculationS were
true or false, it will bc conceded they
existed, and that tho predictions OF
tho army were, for the time being, in
the direction indicated. Taking ad-
vantage Of that feeling it would have
been cosy, us the Commander in.
Chief of tue army and navy, with all
the power and patronage of the
Presidential Office at my disposal, to
turn the concentrated strength of the
nation against French interference in
Mexico, aud to inaugurate move
ment which would have been received
with favor by tho military, aud a
large portion Of the people 1t is
proper iu this counc, ton that /
should refer TO the almost unlimited
additional powers tended to the Elk.
ccutive BY the measures relating to
evil rights aud the Freedmen's Bu.
reau. Contrary to procedent~ in the
experiences of the public men, the
powers that were placed within my
grasp were declined as being in viola-
ton Of the Constitution, dangerous
to the liberties Of the people, aud
tending to oggrsvato rather than les =
sen the discvrds naturally resulting
from our civil war. With large ar
my anR augmented authority, it
would have been no difficult task TO
direct at pleasure the destinics Of tho
Republic, and TO make secure my
continuance in the highest Office
known to our laws. Let tho people
whom | am addressing from the
Presidential chair during the closing
hours Of a laborious term, consider
how different would have been the
present condition he'd l yielded to the
dazzling temptation Of foreign con-
quests, Of personal uggraudlzement,
aud the desire to WELD additional
power. Let them, with justice, con-
slider that if ] have not uuduly mag
nifcd mine office, the public burdens
have not been increased by my acts,
and other, and perhaps thousands or
tens of thousands Of lives sacrificed
to visions Of false glory. It can not,
therefore, be charged that my am
bition has been Of that ordinary OF
criminal kind, which, to the detri
meat of tho peoples rights and lib
erlies, ever seeks to grasp moro and
unwarranted power, and, to accom-
plish it's purpose, ppnders too often
SO popular prejudice and party aims.
What, then, have been the aspira.
tons which guided me in my official
acts. Those acts need not, at this
time, an elaborate explanation
They have been comprehensively aud
fully discussed, aud become a part of
tho 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 has been to restore the
union of the States. faithfully to ex-
ecute the Office of President, aud, TO
the best of my ability, to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution.
| can not be censured if my efforts
have been impeded ih the interests
of party faction. and if a policy
which was intended to re. assure and
conciliate the people Of both sections
Of the country was made the occasion
Of inaamiug aud dividing still further
those who were only recently in arms
against each other. Yet, as individ-
uals and citizens were desirous, as |
shall ever believe, of burying all hos
tile 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
If / have erred in trying 20 bring
about q more speedy and lasting
peace, to extinguish heart burnings
and enmities, aud to prevent trouble
in the South which, retarding ma
terial prosperity in that region, in
jdriously affected the whole country
l am quite content to rest my case
with the more deliberate judgment
Of the people aud, as l have already
intimated, with the distant future.
The war, all must remember. was q
stupendous aud deplorable mistake
Neither side understood the other
and had this simple fact and its con-
illusions been kept in view, all that
was needed was accomnlish6d bY the