Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-03-12
From the National Intelligencer.
ANDREW JOHNSON,
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE
Z ~ / II r D s II A Il + s .
10 tie People Of the United States


to be Immediately assumed by my success
sor. For him the forbearance and co-ope
ration of the American people, in oil his
efforts to administer the Government with
in the pale of the Federal Constitution, are
sincerely invoked. Without ambition tc
crafty, PARTY ends to subserye, or persona
Quarrels o avenge at the sacrifice of the
peace aud welfare of the country, my ear
nest desire is to see the Constitution, as
defined and limited by the fathers Of the
Republic, again recognized and obeyed rs
the supreme law of the land, and the Whole
people-North, South, East and West
prosperous and happy under its wise pro
visions.
In surrendering the high office to which
I was called four years ago, at a memora
BILE and terrible crisis, it is my privilege,
trust, to say to the people of the United
States few parting words, in vindication
of al official course SO ceaselessly assaulted
and aspersed by political leaders, to whose
plans and wishes my policy to restore the
/ Union has been obnoxious. In period OF
difficulty and turmoil almost without PIE
cedent in the history of any people, conse
quent upon the closing scenes of a great
rebellion and the assassination of the then
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 al before them, that
degree of federation and magnanimity
which [ sought to recommend and enforce,
and which | believe in good time would
have advanced rs infinitely further on the
road to permanent peace and prosperity
than we have thus far attained Doubt.
less had [ at the commencement Of my
term of office unhesitatingly lent its pow.
ers OF perverted them to purposes and
plans ''outside of the Constitution" and
become an instrument to schemes of con
fscation and of general aud oppressive dis
qualifications. [ would have been hailed as
all that was true, loyal, and discerning as
the reliable head of a party, whatever
might have been as the Executive Of the
nation. Unwilling, however, to accede tc
propositions of extremists, and bound te
adhere, at every personal hazard. to my
oath to defend the Constitution. I neec
not, perhaps, be surprised at having me-
the fate of others whose only rewards fol
upholding constitutional right and law
have been the consciousness of having at
tempted to dc their duty, and the calm
and unprecedented Judgment OF history.
} At the time mysterious Providence as
signed to me the Office of Pl esident, was
by the terms of the Constitution, the Com
mander- in. chief of nearly O. million of men
under arms. One of my first acts was tC
disband and restore to the yocatiOns of CT
vii life this immense host. and to dives
myself, so far as [ could, Of the unparal
leled powers then incident to the office and
the times. Whether or not in this step, ]
was right, and how far deserving the OPP.
probation of the people, Gil can now on
reflection judge, when reminded Of tie
ruinous condition of public affairs that
tod
in the military service of such vast num-
Der of men.
The close of our domestic conflict found
the army eager to distinguish itself in g
new field, by an effort to punish European
Intervention in Mexico. By many it was
believed and urged that, aside from the Us.
sumed justice Of the proceeding, foreign
war in which both 9; 'cs would cheerfulls
unite to vindicate tn honor of the nation
al flag, and further illustrate the nationa
proves, would be the surest and speedies
way of awakening national enthusiasm, re
viving devotion to the Union, and occupy
ing force concerning which grave doubts
existed as to its willingness, after four years
of active campaigning, OF once to return tt
the pursuits of peace. Whether these spec
ulations were true or false, It will be con
coded that they existed, and that the pre-
,
being, in the direction indicated. Taking
advantage of this feeling, it would havt
been easy, as the Communicating chief o.
J tho army and navy, and with all the power
and patronage of the Presidential Office q
my disposal, to turn the concentrated mil
itary strength OF the nation against French
interference in Mexico, and to luaugurate
@ movement which would have been re
ceived with favor by the military and
large portion of the people.
. 1t Is proper, in this connection, that
; should refer to the almost unlimited a1 Iii
tional powers rendered to the Executive bJ
the measures relating to civil rights anC
the Freedmen's Bureau. Contrary to mos
precedents in the experiences of publ,
men, the powers thus placed within m,
grasp were declined, as in violation of the
Constitution, dangerous to the liberties @
the people, aud tending to aggravate, rath
er than lessen, the discords naturally re
|, sulting from our civil war. With large
8 army and augmented authority, it woulC
have been no difficult task to direct a
pleasure the destinics of the Republic, ant
to make secure my continuance in thu
highest Office known to our laws.
Let the people whom I am addressing
from the Presidential chair during the
. closing hours of a laborious term con
| Sluef now QluerGDt WOulu nave been tnell
present condition had [ yielded to the
dazzling temptation of foreign conquest
: of personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and the de
sire to WELD additional power. Let them
with justice consider that, if 1 have no
unduly "magnifed mine Office" the pub
3 lie burdens have not been increased by
my acts, and other and perhaps thousand,
or tens of thousands of lives sacrificed K
visions of false glory.
It cannot, therefore, be charged that my
ambition has been of that ordinary OF
criminal kind which to the detriment of the
peoples rights and liberties, ever seeks tc
grasp more and unwarranted powers, and,
to accomplish its purposes, panders toe
often to popular prejudices and party aims.
! What, then, have been the aspirations
which guided me in my official acts?-
Those acts need not, at this time, an elabor.
ate explanation. They have been else
where comprehensively stated and fully
discussed, and become part of the nations
history. By them I am willing to be iudg-
ed, knowing that, however imperfect, they
at least show to the impartial mind that
my sole ambition has Deen to restore the
Union of the States, faithfully to execute
the Office of President, and, to the best of
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