North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-03-24
President Johnson,s yaledIctory.

Z
robe of Office, by constitutional limitation
this day falls from my shoulders, to be
Immediately assumed by my successor
For him, the forbearance and cooperation
of the American people, in all his efforts
to administer the government within the
pale of the federal constitution, are sin.
cerely invited. Without ambition to graf.
ify, party ends to sabserve, or personal
quarrels to avenge, at tho sacrifice of the
peace and welfare of the country, my earn.
est desire is to see the constitution of the
republic again the recognized and obeyed
law of the land, and the whole people
north, south, east and west-prosperous
and happy under its provisions.
In surrendering the high Office to which
was called four years ago, in a memora-
ble and terrible crisis, it is my privilege, l
trust, to say to the people of the United
States few parting words in vindication
OF an ofhclal course, so ceaselessly assailed
and aspersed by political leaders to whose
plans and wishes my policy to restore the
Union has been obnoxious. In period
OF dilhculty and turmoil almost without
precedent in the history of any people,
consequent upon the closing scenes of a
great rebellion, and the assassination of
the president, it was, perhaps, too much,
on my part, to expect of devoted partisans,
who rode on the waves of excitement which
at that time swept all before them, that
degree of toleration and nagnanimity
which l sought to recommend and enforce,
and which believe, in good time, would
have advanced us infinitely further or the
road to permanent peace and prosperity
than we have thus far attained.
4 T a.
of my term of Office, unhcsitatingly lent
Its powers, or perverted them, to purposes
and plans outside of the constitution, and
bec',Me an instrument to schemes of con-
fisca,ien. and OF general oppressive dis
qualification, l would have been hailed as
all that was true, loyal, and deserving, as
the head of II party, whatever might have
been as the executive OF nation. Unwil-
ling, however, to accede to the PROPOSE
tiOns Of extremists, and bound to obey ut
every personal hazard, my oath to defend
the constitution, | need not, perhaps be
\ surprised at haying met the fate of others
whose only rewards for upholding consti-
tutional rights and laws have been the con-
seriousness OF having attempted to do their
duty, and await the camcr judgment of
history.
AT the time mysterious providence as
signed to me the Office of president, was
by the terms of the constitution, comman-
der-in.chiei of nearly a million Of men un-
der arms. One of my first acts was to
disband, and restore to the vocations of
civil life, this immense host, md to divest
myself, as far as cond, of the unparalleled
powers then incident to the Office and the
times Whether, or not, in this step,
wa, right, and how far deserving of the
appreciation of all, the people 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 num-
ber of men. The close of our domestic
conflict found the army eager to distinguish
itself in new field by an effort to punish
European Intervention in Mexico. BY
anany it was believed, and urged, that,
aside from the assumed justice of the pro-
ceedings, foreign war, in which both
sides would cheerfully unite to vindicate
the homer of the national flag, and further
illustrate the national prowess, would be
the surest and speediest way of awakening
national enthusiasm, reviving devotion to
the Union. and occupying force concern
ing which grave doubts existed as to its
willingness, after four years of active cam
paigning, at once to return TO the pursuits
Of peace. Whether these speculations
were true or false, it will be conceded that
they existed, and that the predictions O!
the army were, for the time being, in the
direction indicated. Taking advantage of
that feeling, it would have been easy, as
the commander.in.chief of the army, with
all the power and patronage of the presi.
dental Office at my disposal, to turn the
concentrated strength OF the nation against
French interference in Mexico, and to in
augurate a move which would have been
received with favor by. the military and a
+ large portion of the people. 1t is proper
~ this connection, that l should refer to
the almost unlimited additional powers
tendered to the executive by the measures
relating to civil rights and the freedmens'
bureau. Contrary to precedents in the ex.
perience of public men, the powers thus
placed within my grasp were declined, as
being in violation Of the constitution, dan
gerous to the liberties Of the people, and
tending to aggravale, rather than lessen
the discords naturally resulting from on,
civil war. With large army and aug
mented authority, it would have been nc
difficult task to direct, at pleasure, the des
TIMES of the republic, and make secure my
continuance in the highest Office known tc
our laws. Let the people whom | am ad
dressing from the presid initial chair, dur
ring the closing hours of laborious term
consider how different would have beer
the present condition had yielded to tht
dazzling temptation of foreign conquests
OF personal aggrandzement, and the desire
to WELD additional power. Let them, with
Justice, consider that, if have not undul,
saagnitied mine office, the public burdens
have not been increased by my acts, anc
other and perhaps thousands Of tens o
thousands OF lives sacrificed to visions O
false glory. 1t cannot, therefore, be charg
ed that my ambition has been of that or
binary or criminal kind which, to the de-
triment of the peoples rights and liberties
ever seeks to grasp more and unwarrantet
powers, and, to accomplish it's purpose
panders too often to popular prejudice
and party aims.
What, then, have been the aspiration
which guided me in my official acts?
Those acts need not, at this time, al
elaborate explanation. They have else
where b en- comprehcnsively and fully dis
cussed, and become a part Of the nation
history. BY them l ain ready to be judg-
ed,-knowing tfat, however imperfect
they at least show to the impartial min,
that my ambition has been to restore tn
union Of the States, faithfully to execut
the Office of president, and, to the best O
my ability, to observe, protect, and defen,
the constitution. cannot be censured
My efforts have been impeded in the inter
est of party faction, and if a policy which
was intended to re-assure and conciliate tn,
people of both sections of the country, wa
made the occasion of inaaming and divid