The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-07

other. Patriotism will hardly be ENCOURAGED
when in such record II Is possible that its instant
reward may be the most virulent party abuse ana
obloouy. if not attempted disgrace. Instead OF
seeking TO make treason odious. it would in ruth
seem to have been their purpose rather 10 make
the defence of the consultation and Union q crime
and to punish fidelity to an oath OF Office, II couq
ter to party dictation. by all the means ct their
command.
Happily for the peace Of the country. the war
has determined against the assumed power OF
States to withdraw at pleasure from the Union.
The institution OF slavery also found iis destruc.
zion In the rebellion commenced IN the Unted
States in its interest. It should be borne IN
mind, however, that the war neither imp aired nor
destroyed the constitution, but, on the contrary,
preserved its existence, and made apparent It's
real power and enduring strength. All rights
granted to the States or reserved to the people
are therefore intact. Among those rights IL that
of the people of each STATE TO declare the qualih.
cation of their own State electors. Ii Is now as
sumed that Congress can control this vital right,
which can never be taken away from the State
authority without impairiDg the fundamental prin-
cipes of the government ITSELF 1t is necessary TO
the existence Of States as well as to the protec-
ton of the liberties of the people. for the right TO
select the elector in whom the political power of
the State shall be lodged, involves the right Of
the State to govern itself. When deprived OF
this prerogative, the States will have no power
worth retaining. All will be gone. and they will
The government will then be centralized, IL not
by the passage of laws. then by the adoption,
through partisan influence, Of an amendment d.
rectly in conflict with the original design Of the
Constitution This proves how necessary II il that
people should require the administration of the
great departments of the government 60 be strictly
within the limits OF the Constitution. Their boun-
dsries have been accurately defined, and neither
should be allowed 10 trespass on the other nor.
above all. to encrosch upon the reserved rights OF
the people and the States. The troubles of the
past years will prove to the nation blessings IL
they produce so desirable q result. Upon those
who became young men amid the sound Of can
non and the din of arms. aud who quietly returned
TO the FARMS the factories, and the schools or the
land, will principally devoive the solemn duty OF
perpetuating the union OF the States, In defense
of which hundreds Of thousands OF their com
rades expired, and hundreds of millions OF na-
tionsl obligations were incurred. A manly peo-
pie will not neglect the training necessary TO
sist aggression; but they should be careful that
the civil be made subordinate to the military ele
ment We need TO encourage In every legitimate
wsy study of the Constitution for which the war
was wsged "a knowledge Of and reverencs for
whose wise checks by those soon TO occupy the
places filed by their seniors, will be the ony hope
of preserving the republic. The young men Of
the nation, not yet under the control OF party,
must resist the tendency to Capitalization, al out
growth Of the grestrebelioa, and be familiar with
The fact that the country consists of the United
States, and that when the States surrendered GER
Union, they retained rights as valuable and i'm
portant as those they relinquished for the common
veal. This sound old doctrine, far different from
the teachings that led TO the attempt TO secede,
and q kindred theory that the States were taken
out of the Union by rash acts Of consprators that
happened TO dwell within their borders, must be
received and advocated with the enthusiasm Of
early manhood, or the people will be ruled by
corrupt combinations Of the commercial centers,
which, plethoric from wealth. annually migrate
70 the capital Of the nation to purchase special
legislation. Until the Representatives of the Deo-
pie in Congress more fully exhibit the diverse
views aud interests OF the whole nation, laws
cease to be made without foil DISCUSSIONS, at the
request Of some party leader, there win never be
proper respect shown by the law-making power.
either TO the judicial or executive branch OF the
government. The generation just beginning 10
the ballot pox, il ia believed, only need that
their attention should be called 10 these consid-
erstions 10 indicate by their votes that they wish
their representatives TO observe all the restraints
which the people in adopting the constitution
intended TO impose on party excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration OF the gov
erDmeDt, feel that with sense of accountability
to God, having conscieBtously endeavored to dis
charge my whole duty, having nothing to regret,
events have proved the correctness Of the policy
set forth In my first and subsequent message. The
woes which have followed the rejection Of for
bearance, magnanimity and constitutional rule,
are known and deplored by the nation. It IS a
matter of pride and qualification, in retiring from
the most exalted position 10 the gift of the people,
TO feel and know, that in a long. arduous and
evendu public life my action has never been in
huenced by desire for gain, and that can. in
all sincerity, inquire whom have / defrauded.
whom have | oppressed. or at whose hand have 1
received any bride to blind my eyes there WITH
No responsibility for wars that have been waged,
or blood that has been shed. rests upon me. My
thoughts have been those of peace, and no effort
has ever been spared to sllsy contention among
my countrymen.
Forgetting the past, let us return 60 the first
principles of the government, and, unfurling the
banner of our country inscriDe upon 1t Ia imper.
ishable characters, "The Constitution and the
Union. one and inseparable.n
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 4, 1869.