The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-18
Mr.. Johnson's Farewell Address.


The farewelladdress of Andrew John.
son, on retiring from the presidency OF
the United States, is d N st luminous
and truthful exposition Of our political
condition and powerful viudication Of
the course aud policy Of his adninistra.
ton. While il has not been the Gus
tom Of retiring Presidents to follow the
precedent of General Washington 10
delivering farewell address, yet the
peculiar circumstances Of the times.
and of the relations Of Mr. Johuson's
administration to them aud to Congress,
aud the persistent aud INSCRIPTIONS
assaults which have been made upon
him, would seem to justify him in clos
ing his administration with a farewell
address to the country, ~
This closing communication of Mr.
johnson, in its spirit and Substance, is
worthy place with any Of the able
state papers which have emabatcd from
his pen. So far as it relates personally
to himself, none but the most intolcr Mt
eau deny that he has shown in il that
il has been his constant endeavor 10 NJ
hold constitutional right aud law. aud
that his highest aspirations have been
in this direction, aud not for personal
elevation aud ACKNOWLEDGMENT The
open path for AN Ambitious man to fol
low was to promote by his whole official
influence aud personal energy ex
IRENE policy of Congress, and not To
oppose it, Mr.. johnson threw away
this opportunity from him, aud be>idls
declined the immense addtional powers
which were rendered to the Executive
by the measures relating to civil rights
and the iresdmen's burcau bills, because
he believed them unwarranted by the
constitution. This is certainly not the
course Of au unworthily ambitious man,
seeking TO Increase rprolong his official
power. No rational man can doubt that
if Mr.. johnson had chosen to purchase
his personal advantage and elevation by
becoming the plant tool of partisan
majority in Congress, he would have
been yesterday the incoming instead OF
the outgoing President. Instead of that.
he has taken position, in the one de
partment OF the government which he
represented, III support OF the consttu.
tion, breasting the tide of congressional
usurpatiou and Capitalization. aud of
partisan passion, and struggling with
lusty sinews against it until the last
moment of his official life
The picture which Mr., JohnsoD draws
OF the departure from the letter and
spirit Of the constitution, the immense
absorption Of power by Congr SIS, aud
tho transformation which the govern
meai seems 10 be undergoing, is one OF
remarkable force and solea,niiy. and
may be probably pondcrad by ;he
American people. The President, as
demonstrated by recent occurrences,
cannot prevent entertainments of Com
gress upon the constitution, and the
jurisdiction OF the Judiciary is cireum
suribed When ii was apprehended thst
the courts would correct the usurpations
ofthe legislature. A remedy suggested
by Mr.. johnson 20 meet the demon.
strated ineficieucy of tho veto power as
a defense of the constitution is, when
ever ii is exercised upon constitutional
grounds, the bill vetoed ought to be
Immediately certified to the United
States Supreme Court for decision, to
become a law or otherwise, in conform.
ity with the decision. But an objec
tion which occurs here is the DISPOSE
ton to encroach upon the judiciary as
well as the executive, which is manifest
cd by Congress, which seems to be sit
ting IN permancnce, and its tendency
to modify or even abolish whatever bar
rier exists to the supremacy of its will
10 all Departments of the Cove, umcnt
IL is only v thin fortnight or so that
upon the floor Of the Senate the idea
that that court was TO Interfere and set
aside an act Of Congress was declared to
be intolerable. fta f
There is no part Of this powerful nd.
dress which is more striking aud sug-
gestive than that which refers to the
Indifference, the passive submission
with which the people now look upon
changes which they would once have
believed incredible, and an eloquent
appeal is made that the youthful genes
alton should awaken to the importance
Of observing all the restraints which
the constitution was intended 10 i'm
pose upon party excess aud to resist the
tendency to Capitalization. 10 fine, the
address Of Mr.. johnson exhibits vast
breadth and scope, theoretical aud prac,
ucaL which will give 10 a place among
the great state papers that are recog.
nized as landmarks Of constitutional
rights and liberties - Baltimore San.
A PLAIN MA-TEn.-In his very ap.
propriate reply to the welcome Of his
friends at Lexington, Kentucky, Mr..
John G. Breckenridge said no came
home without personal ambition or as.
pirations, aud without any more Of the
political excitement Of his past years
than If he were ''au extinct volcano"
In this Mr.. Breckenridge is but type
of the public feeling among the better
elements Of society throughout the en-
tire South Why not recognize the
fact and 'let US have pedce."
,l-T-7T7-> III --T-
The Virginia papers say that farms
in that State arc changing hands daily,
and that 1.-THE hunger" for Virginia