The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-11

principally devolve the solemn duty of
perpetuating the Union of the States, in
defense of which hundreds of thousands
of their comrades expired, and hundreds
OF millions of national obligations were
incurred. A manly people will not neglect
the training necessary to resist aggression,
but they should be careful that the civil
be made subordinate to the military
element. We need to encourage, in every
legitimate way, a study of the COnstitu-
ton for which the war was waged. A
knowledge and reverence for those wise
checks, by those so soon to occupy 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 to GENERALIZATION, an outgrowth
of the great rebellion, and be familiar
with the fact that the country consists of
the United States, and that when the
States surrendered certain great rights for
the sake OF more perfect Union, they re-
tanned rights as valuable and important as
those they relinquished for the common
veal. This sound old doctrine, far diff
ferent from the teachings that led to the
attempt to secede, and a kindred theory
that the States were taken out of the Union
by rash acts of cOnspirators that happened
to dwell within their borders, must be re-
ceived and advocated with the enthusiasm
OF early manhood, or the people will be
ruled by corrupt combinations of the com
mercial centers, who, plethoric from
wealth, annually migrate to the capital OF
the nation to purchase special legislation
Until the representatives of the people in
Congress more fully exhibit the diverse
views and interests of the whole nation
laws cease to be made without full discus
sion at the behest of some party leader
there will never be proper respect shown
by the law making power, either to the
| Judiciary or Executive branch of the Gov
eminent. The generation just beginning
to use the ballot-box. it is believed, only
need that their attention should be called tC
these considerations to indicate by theil
votes that they wish their Representatives
to observe all the restraints which the
people in adopting the Constitution in
tended to impose on party excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration o.
the Government, feel that, with sense
of accountability to God, having conscien
tiously endeavOred to discharge my whole
duty, | have nothing to regret. Event.
have proved the correctness of the policy
set forth in my first and subsequent mes
sages. The woes which have followed the
rejection OF forbearance, magnaninimity
and constitutional rule, are known ant
deplored by the Nation. 1t is matter O.
pride and qualification, in retiring from The
most exalted position in the gift of the
people, to feel and know that in a long, ar
duous and eventful public life, my actor
has never been influenced by desire fol
gain, and that can in all sincerity inquire
"Whom have defrauded, whom have
oppressed, or at whose hands have l re
ceived any bride to blind my eyes there
WITH" No responsibility for wars thai
have been waged or blood that has beer
shed, rests upon me. My thoughts have
been those Of peace, and no effort has eve
been wanting on my part to allay conten
tlons among my countrymen. Forgetting
the past, let us return to the first princi
pies of the Government, and unfurlins
the banner of our country, inscribed upor
it in imperishable characters, "the Con
stitution and the Union, one and inseps
rable." ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, March 4, 1869.