Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-03-13
Farewell Address of President Johnson.


dress TO the people OF the United States,
from which We extract the following:
The robe Of Office. by constitutional
limitation this day falls from my shout
ders. 10 be immediately assumed by my
successor. For him the cooperation and
lorbesrance Of The American people, in all
his efforts 10 administer the Government
within the pale Of the Federal Consllu-
ton, are sincerely invoked. Withou! am
bi,ion TO crafty, party ends to subserve,
or personal qusrrels TO avenge al the sac
rlfce of the peace and welfare OF the
country, nv earnest desire is to see me
Constitution, as defined and limited by
the fathers of the Republic. again recog-
nized and obeyed as the supreme law OF
the land, and the whole people. North,
South, East and West prosperous and
bsppy under its wise provisions.
The history OF late events in our coun.
try, as well as Of the greatest Govern.
mea,s of ancient and modern times teach
es that we have everything to fear from a
departure from the letter aid spirit of the
Constitution, and The undue sscendency
OF men allowed TO assume power in what
are called desperate emergencies. Sylla,
on becoming master Of Rome, at once
adopted measures to crush his enemies,
and 10 consolidate the power OF his party
he established military colonies through
out lIaly, deprived OF the full Roman
franchise the inhabitants OF the Italian
towns who had opposed his usurPs'ions.
confscsed their lands and gave them TO
his soldiers, aud conferred citizenship on
great number of slaves belonging TO
those who had prescribed him, thus crea-
ting in Rome kind Of a body guard for
his protection. After having given Rome
over 10 slaughter and tyrraRuies beyond
all example, over those opposed 10 IN
and the lesions, his terrible instrument OF
wrong, Syla could Se. feel safe IN laying
down the insignia of powerso dreadiully
abused, aud in mingling freely with the
fsmllies and friends OF his myriad victims.
The fear which he inspired continued al
ter his voluntary abdicau0n, and even III
re,iremen, his will vas a law 10 a people
who had permitted themselves to be en-
shaved. What but a subtle knowledge
and conviction that the Roman people
had become changed, discouraged and Ut
ierIy broken in spirit, could have Induced
This daring assumption ! What bet pub
lie indifference to consequences so errlbls
IS to leave Rome open TO every calamity.
which subsequently, oefel her, could have
justified the conclusions OF the dictator
and lyrsnt in his startling experiment
We find that in the time which has since
elapsed, human nature and exegencies IN
Governments have not greatly changed.
Who. few yeas past, In conseD pia'ing
our future, could have supposed mat IN
brief period Of bitter experience every
thing dem anded in the name OF military
emergency, or dictated by caprice. would
come TO be considered as mere matter oil
course That conscription, conhscailon,
loss of personal liberty, the subsection Of
States 10 military ruls and disiranchise-
men,. with The ex,enlion of the right OF
suffrage merely TO accomplish personal
ends, would receive the passive suhmis-
sion if not acQuiescence OF the people o!
the Republic |. has been cleSr y de-
mons,rated by recent occurrences maj en-
oroschments upon The Constitution can
not be prevented By the President alone
however devoted or determined he may
he, and that unless the people lntrpoSe'
,hers il no power unJer The Constitution
10 check dominant majority oil TWO
Thirds in the Congress Of the Uni'en
States. An appeal To the nation. howeV-
er. is attended with to much delay 10 meet
onanerosucy. " lille if LEI, free 10 act
the peonle would correct in time sueh
evils as might follow legislative uSuTpa-
ton. there is danger that the same
noyer which disregards the Constitution
,.,Il denriye them Of the right TO change
their rulers except by revolution we
have already seen the Jurisdiction Oh Inc
judiciary circumscrbed when IL was aP-
o,sbenjcd that the courts would decide
ao,;ns, laws having for their sole object
The supremacy Of party, while the veto
mower lodged in the Executive oy tne
Constitution Tor The interest and proiec-
uon of the people. and exercised oy
Washington and his successors, has oeeh
rendered nugsiory By PariSan majority
of two thirds it, each branch OF me ma
tional Legislature. While Puolic s'ten'
ZION has been carefully and constantly
turned to The pas. and exPis'ed sins OF the
Sou,h. the servants OF the people in high
places have boldly betrayed their irusis'
broken their oaihs Of obedience 10 The
Constitution, and undermined The very
foundations Of liberty, justice and GOOD
government. When the rebellion was
being suppressed by the volunteer serVi'
ces oC ps,Iiotic soldiers amid the dangers
Of the battle field. these men crePi Win
on, question into place and power III
the national councils. After oil The DAM
Ger had passed.; when no armed ioe re-
Sa;ned: when famished and rePenians
neopls 10 wed their heads TO the flag and
Ienewed their allegiance 10 the Govern
usn, of the United States, then il was that
pretended patriots appeared before Inc
nation and began to pirate about the 'hous-
ond. If lives and millions OF treasure sac
I,6csd in The suppression OF the rebellion
They have since persis'enIly sou!h' 10
ipA,me the prejudices engende'eu oe-
,ueen the sections, TO retard the reStors-
ton of pesce and harmony. and by every
,o ~ keen open and exposed 10 me