The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-03-12


fundamental principles of the government it.
self. 1t is necessary to the existence of the
state as to the protection of the liberties of the
people. for the right to select the electors in
whom the political power OF the State shall
be lodged involves the right of the State
govern itself When deprived of this pre-
rog alive, the States will have no power
worth sustaining All will be gone, and
they will be subjected to the arbitrary will
of Congress. The Government willithen be
centralized, if not by the passage of laws,
then by the adoption, through partisan in.
fuence. of an amendment directly In con
hict with the original design of the consti-
tuition. This proves how necessary it is
that the people should require the admins
tration OF the three great departments CT
the government to be strictly within the lin
its of tie constitution. Their boundaries
have been accurately defined, and neither
should be allowed to trepass on the other,
nor, above all to encouch upon the reserved
rights of the people and the States. The
troubles of the past four years will prove to
the nation blessings if they produce so des-
| lrable result.
/ Upon those who became young men amid
the sound OF canon aud the din OF arms,
and who quietly returned to the farms, the
factories and schools of the land, will prin-
ciPally devolve the solemn duty OF erpet-
uating the Union of the States, in defence
OF which hundreds of thousands of their
comrades expired, and hudredS of millions
| OF obligations were incurred. A manly peO-
pie will not neglect the training necessary
to resist aggression !; but they should be
jealous that the civil be made subordinate
to the military element. We need to en-
courage In every legitimate way, study OF
Constitution for which the war was waged
A knowledge of and reverence for those
checks, by those SO soon to occupy the pla>
ces hiled by their senators, will be the only
hope OF preserving the Republic. The
young men OF the nation, not yet under the
control or party, must resist the tendency
to ee ntrallzatlon-an outgrowth of the
great rebelllon-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 a mure perfect union, they re-
tanned rights as valuable and important as
those they relinquished for the common
veal. This sound Old doctrine, far differ
ent from the teachings that led tC the at
tempt to secede and kindred theory,
that the States were taken out Of the I'm
ION by the rash acts OF the consplratOrs
that happened to dwell within their borders
must be received and advocated with the
enthusiasm OF early mat hood, or the peo-
pie will be ruled by corrupt combination
OF the commercial centers, who, plethoric
from wealth, annually emigrate to the cap
Itol OF the nation to the purchas special
legislation. Until the representatives of
the people In Congress more fully EXHIBIT
the diverse views and interest of the whole
| natI lny mill ha ID L
out full discussion, at the behests of some
party leaders and there will never be a
proper respect shown by the law making
power either to the Judicial or executive
branch of the goyeInme The genera
ton just beginning to use the ballot, it
is belived, only need that their attention
be called to those considerations to indi-
cate by their votes that they wish their rep
resentatives to observe all the restraints
which the people, In adopting the Consli-
tuition intended to impose on party ex>
cess.
Calmly viewing my administration of
the Government, feel that with a sense OF
accountability to God, having conscientious
ly endeavored to discharge my whole duty
have nothing to regret. Events have
proved the correctness of the policy set
forth 10 my first and subsequent messages.
The woes which have followed the reject
ion of torbearance, magnanimity, and con
stitutlonal rule, are known and deplored by
the nation. 1t Is matter of pride and
qualification, in retiring from the most ex
allied position in the gift of the nation, to
feel and to know that, in long, arduous,
and eventful public life, my action has
never been influenced by desire for gain,
and that [ can, in all sincerity, inquire,
whom have | defrauded? Whom have ]
oppressed ? Or, at whose hand have !
received any bribe to blind my eyes there
with ? No responsibility fol- wars that
have been waced, or blood that has beer
shed, rests upon me. My thoughts have
been those of peace, and my efforts has ev
er been to alay contention among my
countrymen.
Forgetting the past, let US turn to tn,
first principles of the government, and, un
furling the banner of our country inscribt
upon it in indelble characters, ~ he Con
stitution and the Union One and INSOFAR
able ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington. March 4, 1869.