The Portland daily press., 1869-03-05
Mr.. johnson makes his final bow to de-
lighted public TINS.

AA' oonnson makes his hnal bow to O de-
lighted public thus:
we need to encourage in every legitimate
way study of the Constitution for which the
war was waged. A knowledge and reverence
Ior whose wise checks by those SO soon to oc-
cupy the places filled by their seniors. will be
the only hope of preserving the Republic
The young men of the nation, not yet under
the control of party, must resist the tendency
" centrallzation-an outgrowth of the great
rebellion-and be familiar with the fact that
the country consists of the United States; ana
| that where the States surrendered certsin csni
| great rights for the sake of more Perieet
union, they retained rights as important as
those they relinquished for the eonmon weai.
| This sound old doctrine-far dinerent rom
| the teachings that led to secession, and kin
dred theory that the States were taken out of
| tbe Union by the rash act of conspirators
| ;bat happened to dwell within their borders
| must be received and advocated with the en-
thusiasm of early manhood, or the people will
| be ruled by corrupt combinations of the COM
| mercial centres, which plethoric from wealth
annually migrate TO the capital of the Iation
to purchase special legislation.
Ontl the Representatives of the people in
Congress more fully exhibit the diverse views
and the interests of the whole nation. and
laws cease TO be made without full discussion,
AT the 0ehest OF some party leader, there will
never De proper respect shown by the law
making power either to the judicial or execu-
i've oranch OF the government
The generation just beginning TO use the
ballot, II is believed, only need that their at
tention should be called to these eonsidera-
| tions to indicate by their vote that they wish
| their Representatives to observe all the re-
| straints which the people in adopting the
| Constitution intended to impose on party
| excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration of the
| government, l feel that with a sense of ac-
countability to God, having conscientiously
| endeayored TO discharge my whole duty,
| have nothing to regret Events have proved
| the correctness of the policy set forth in my
| first and subsequent messages. The woes
| which have followed the rejection of forbear
ance, magnanimity and Constitutional rule
are known and deplored by the nation.
1t is a matter of pride and qualification, il
retiring from the most exalted position in the
| gift of free people to feel and know that in Q
long, arduous and eventful public life, my ac
| ton has never been influenced by desire fol
gain, and that can, in all sincerity, inquire
Whom have defrauded? Whom have op
pressed, or at whose hand have received an,
bribe to blind my eyes thereWith? No respon
| sibility for wars that have been waged, o.
blood that has been shed, rests upon me- M
| thoughts have been those OF peace, and my eff
| fort has ever been to allay contentious among
my eountrymen.
Forgetting the past, let us return to the frs
| principles of the Government, and unfurline
the banner of our country :nscribe upon it il
ineffaceable characters, "The Constitution ant
| the Union, one and insep arable."
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON