The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-03-12
PRESIDENT JoNNsoN'S
FAREWELL ADDRESS.

WAsHISGToN, March g.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON has issued the
address
To the People Of The United States:
The robe of Office, by constitutional |
this day falls from my |
to be Immediately assumed |
by my successor. For him the forbear-
ance and cooperation of the American |
people in all his efforts 10 administer
the govcrnm snt within the pale of the
Federal Constitution, are sincerely in
voked. Without ambition to crafty
ends to subserve, or personal quarrels to
avenge at the sacrifice OF tho peace and
welfare Of the country, my earnest de-
sire is, to see the Constitution, as defin-
ed and limited by the fathers of the
again recognized and obeyed
as the supreme law of the land, and the
whole people, North, South, East and
West, happy and prosperous under its
wise provisions.
In surrendering the high Office to
which was called four years ago, at a
memorable and terrible crisis, it is my
privilege, | trust, to say to the people
of the United States few parting
words in vindication of an official
course so ceaselessly assailed and aspers-
ed by political leaders, to whose plans
and wishes my policy to restore the
Union has been obnoxious. In period
of difficulty and turmoil, almost with
out precedent in Il e history of any
people, consequent upon the closing
scenes of great rebellion, and the as
sassination 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 all before them, that
degree of liberation and magnanimity
which | sought to recommend and en-
force, and which l believe in good time
would have advanced us infinitely
further on the road to permanent peace
and prosperity than we have thus far
attained. Doubtless, had |, at the COM
menccment of my term of office, un-
hesitatingly lent its powers, or pervert-
ed them to purposes and plans outside
OF the Constitution, and become an in
strument to schemes OF contiscation,
and Of general and oppressive disquali-
fications, i would haveIbeen hailed,a las all
that was true, loyal, and discerning, as
the reliable head OF n party, Whatever
might nave bcen' AS the Executive OF
the nation, unwilling, however, TO ac-
cede t) propositions OF extremists, and
bound to adhere ut every personal
hazard to my oath to defend the Consti-
tuition, | need not, perhaps, be surprS-
cd at having mot the fate of others
whose only rewards for uphoiding con-
s'itutional right and law, have been the
consciousness Of having attempted to
do their duty, and the calm and unpre-
judiccd judgment OF history. At the
time mysterious Providence assigned
to me the Office OF President, i was by
the terms OF the Constitution, the Com
mander-in-C Chief OF nearly million of
men under arms. One of my first acts
was to disband and restore to the voca-
tions Of civil life, this immense host,
and to divest myself, SO far rs | could,
of the unparalleled powers then incl
dent to the Office and the times.
whetbar or NOT in this step [ was
riobt and how far deserving the appro.
bation of the neonIe. nil can now on re-.
a"a,;a., ,,,Iun ,,,ho, ro,,indnd or Tho
rni,,o,,. oon5i,;on ar ,nhIic affairs that
49," 1, r,,,,n .a,,,,t,,I f.nn, th. continn.
- 49, ,r,i,;,nr,, ,oryice or cuch -
"ne. ',net ,',ho.nr :" ,iIo ~ ,non Thn cIo.a nf our
,''ss 'u'''oo, siat a. romnd tho nrmv oarer
io',ioa.'o ,'1,., oo",''I ;.'o'r , ~ naw ta,d hv
W u,S'','s u'an 49, Ur.onaan int.ryen.
I 80 ~ rI.''. W 49,, ,,',n,, n ,yoe bel;oy-
w o'1, a', ~ - ,aJ thnt o.ide from the as.
ou,,oa 1T ~ the proceedi,y a
sDna, -, n,hich both sidos ,vouId
aI'oats,',i,, nnito tn yindic,to tha honor
er A. ',,annI aao aud ,nrthor i,Ius.
VI ."' '''' a.,.,,I ,'.,,,,,o',, ,ro,II ho
.'oo.S. 49, w" anI snoodiost w,y ~ owol,.
49,. o.;anoI onthusi.o,n reyivino
iHe n' ~. rT,ia,, AMI ooo,nyi,%
y f,rao a,noorniro which grave doubts
avis,od a. =, its wilIingness after four
vaars of ootiyn camnoigninp nt ono, ia
yoturr to tbe nrrsnits Of ncace. Wheth.
o. tho,o srocnlotions we're true or Gl,e
:, ,',iII ha o,noodod tho, thoy oxistod
a.d .hat ~ tho nrodiIoctions of tbe army
We're for the time being, in the direc