Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-16
ADDRESS
OF
A ANDREW JOHN SON. /.
TO THE
People of the United States.
ADDRESS

To the People of the United States:
The robe of office, by constitutional limita-
ton, this day falls from my shoulders, to be
Immediately assumed by my successor. For
him the forbearance and cooperation OF the
American people, in all his efforts to admins
ter the Government within the pale of the
Federal Constitution, are sincerely invoked :
Without ambition to gratify party ends to sub
serve, Or personal quarrels to avenge at the sac
riicc of the peace and welfare of the country,
my earnest desire is to see the Constitution, as
defined and limited by the fathers of the Re-
public, again recognized and obeyed as the su-
preme law Of the land, and the whole people
North, South, East, and West-prosperous and
happy under its wise provisions.
In surrendering the high Office to which |
was called four years ago, at memorable and
terrible crisis, it is my privilege, trust, to say
to the people of the United States few part
ing words in yindication of an official course
so ceaselessly assailed and aspersed by political
leaders, to whose plans and wishes my policy
to restore the Union has been so obnoxious. In
period Of difficulty and turmoil almost with
out precedent In the history of any people,
consequent 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 all before them, that degree of toleration
and magnanimity which sought to recommend
and enforce, and which 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 commencement of my term of Of
fee unhesitatingly lent its powers or perverted
them to purposes and plans outside Of the
Constitution, anu become an instrument to
schemes Of conGscation and Of general and op
pressive disquali6cations, [ would have been
hailed as all that was true, loyal, and dlscern>
ing as the reliable head of party, whatever
[ might have been as the Executive of the ma
ton. Unwilling, however, to accede to propo
sitions of extremists, and bound to adhere, at
every personal hazard, to my oath to defend
the Constitution, | need not, perhaps, he sur~
prised at having met the fate of others whose
only rewards fer uphoding constitutional right
and law have been the consciousness Of having
attempted to do their duty, and the calm and
urprejudlced judgment of history.
At the time mysterious Providence as
signed to me the office of President | was, by
the terms Of the Constitution, the Commander
in-chief of nearly a million of men under arms.
One of my acts was to disband and restore to
the vocations of civil life this immense host,
and to diVest myself, SO far as | could, Of the
unparalleled powers then incident to the Office
and the times. Whether or not, in this step,
| was right, and how far deserving the appro~
baton of the people, all can now, on reflection,
judge, when reminded of the ruinous condition
of public affairs that must have resulted from
the continuance in the military service Of such
vast number of men.
The close of our domestic conflict found the
army eager to distinguish itself in a new field,
by an effort to punish European Intervention
in Mexico. By many it was believed and urged
that, aside from the assumed justice of the pro-
ceedlng, foreign war, in which both sides
would cheertuliy unite to vindicate the honor
Of the national flag and further illustrate the
national prowess, would be the surest and
speediest way Of awakening national enthu-
siasm, revivng devotion to the Union, and oc~
cupying force concerning which grave doubts
existed as to its willingness, after four years of
active Campaigning, at once to return to the
pursuits of peace. Whether these specula-
tions were true or false, it will be conceded that
they existed, and that the predictions of the
army were, for the time being, in the direction
indicated. Taking advantage of this feeling,
it would have been easy, as the commander in
chief of the army and navy, and with all the
power and patronage of the Presidential Office
at my disposal, to turn the consecrated military
strength OF the nation against French interfer-
ence IN Mexico, and to inaugurate movement
which would have been received with favor by
the military and large portion of the people
1t is proper, In this connection, that should
refer to the almost unlimited additional powers
rendered to the Executive by the measures re-
lating to civilrights and the Freedmen s Bu-
reau. Contrary to most precedents in the ex-
periences of public men. the powers thus
placed within my grasp were declined, as in
violation OF the Constitution, dangerous to the
liberties of the people, and tending to aggra-
vate, rather than lesson, the discords naturally
resulting from our civil war; With large
army and augmented authority, it would have
been no difficult task to direct at pleasure the
destinies of the Republic, and to make secure
my continuance in the highest Office known to
our laws.
Let the people whom [ am addressing from
the Presidential chair during the closing hours
OF a labOrlous term consider how different
would have been their present condition had [
yielded to the dazzling temptation of foreign
conquest. of personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and the
desire to WELD additional power Let them
with justice consider that, if | have not ''un-
duly nagnifed mine Office the public burdens
have not been increased by my acts, and other
and perhaps thousands or tens Of thousands of
lives sacrificed to visions of false glory.
bltion has been of that ordinary or criminal
kind which, to the detrlnent of the people S
rights and their liberties, ever seeks to grasp
more and unwarranted powers, and to accom-
pllsh It's purposes, panders too often to popular
prejudlces and party aims.
What, then, have been the aspirations which
guided me in my official acts? Those acts need
not, at this time, an elaborate explanation
They have been elsewhere comprehensively
stated and fully discussed, and become part
of the nation S history. BY them | am willing
to be judged, knowing that, however imperfect,
they at least show 10 the impartial mind that
my sole ambition has been to res, ore the Union
OF the States, faithfully to execute the office of
President, and, to the best of my ability, to
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
| cannot be censured if my efforts have been
lmpeded In the interests OF party faction and
if policy which was intended to reassure and
conclliate the people Of both sections Of the
country was made the occasion of Infamng and
dividing still farther those who, only recently
In arms against each other, yet, as individuals
and citizens, were sincerely desirous, as shall
ever believe. Of burying all hostile feelings in
the grave OF the past. The bitter war was waged
on the part of the Government to yindicate the
Constitution and save the Union and if |
have erred in trying to bring about more
speedy and lasting peace, to extlnguish heart
burnings and enmities, and to prevent troubles
in the South which, retarding material pros
perity in that region, injurously affected the
whole country, | am quite content to rest my
case with the more deliberate judgment of the
people, and as have already intimated, with
the distant future.
The war, all must remember was stupen-
-dous and deplorable mistake. Neither side
understood the other; and had the simple fact
and its conclusions been kept in view, all that