The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-03-19
FAREWELL ADDRESS.
Andrew j Johnson to the American
People.

1910. l'Iv. "' People. a.H' ahA
The farewell addressof Andrew John
son, late President of the United States,
has been published and constitutes
most eloquent defense of his admins
tration. We make the following ex-
tracts: ,
H A mysterious providence assigned to
me the Office of President. Iwas, by
the terms of the Constitution, the Com
mander-in-chief of nearly million of
men under arms. One of my first acts
was to disband and restore to the avo-
cations of civil life this immense host,
and to divest myself, as far as could,
of tho unparalleled powers then Incl
dent to the office. Whether or not in
this step was right, and how far de-
serving Of the appreciation of the peo-
pie, they can now, on reflection, judge.
when reminded of the ruinous condi-
ton of public affairs that must have re-
suited from the continuance in the mill
tary service of such vast number Of
military men. The close of our domes-
tic conflict found the army eager to dis
tinguish itself in new field by an eff
fort to punish European intervention
in Mexico. BY many it was believed
and urged, that aside from the assumed
justice of the proceedings of foreign
war, in which both sides would cheer
fully unite to vindicate the honor ofthe
national flag and further illustrate the
national prowess, would be the surest
and specdiest way ofawakening ma
tional enthusiasm, reviving devotion to
the Union, and occupying % force con-
corning which grave doubts existed as
to its willingness, after four years ofac-
tive campaigning, at once to return to
the pursuits of peace, Whether these
speculations 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 that feeling, it
would have been easy as Commander
int Chief of the army and navy, with all
| the power and patronage of the Presi-
dental Office at any disposal, to turn the
concentrated strength of the nation
against French interference in Mexico,
and to inaugurate q 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 un-
limited additional powers rendered to
the Executive by the measures relating
to civil rights and the Frcedmen's Bu-
reau. f.. ...,r .s ,.... ....., '....
The powers that were placed within
my grasp were declined as being in vio-
lation OF the Constitution, dangerous to
the liberties of the people, and tending
to aggravate rather than lessen the dis
cords naturally resulting from our civil
war. With II large army and augment
cd authority, it would have been no diff
ficult task to direct ut pleasure the des-
tinies of the republic, and to make Sc
cure my continuance in the highest Of
flee known to our laws. Let the people
whom am addressing from the Presi-
dental chair during the closing hours
of laborious term, consider how diff
fercnt would have been the present con-
dition of affairs had yielded to the
dazzling invitation of foreign conquests,
of personal aggrandizement, and de-
sire to WELD additional power. s
Let them with justice consider that if
l have not unduly magnitied mine Of
flee, the public burdens have not been
increased by my acts, and perhaps
thousands of lives sacrificed to Wis.,
ions of false glory. 1t cannot, there
fore, be charged that my ambition has
been of that ordinary or criminal kind
which, to the dctriment of the peoples
rights and liberties, ever seeks to grasp
unwarranted powers to accomplish its
purposes and to pander to popular pl G.
judice and party aims.
What than 1,x n h 4 I, o,,,;u
which guided inc in my official acts
Those acts need not at this time an ela-
borate explanation. They have every
where been comprehcnsively and fully
discussed, and become apart Of the ma
tion's history. BY them Tam ready to
be judged, knowing that, however i'm
perfect, they ut least show to the impair
tial mind that my sole ambition was to
restore the Union of the States, faith
| fully execute the Office Of President and,
to the best of my ability, preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution. can
not be censured if my efforts have been
impeded in the interests of party fac
ton, and if policy, which was intend
ed to reassure and conciliate the people
of both sections of the country. was
made the occasion of infiaming and IT.
ritating still further those who were re-
Gently in arms against each other, yet,
as individuals were sincerely DESTROYS,
as shall ever be, of burying all hos
tile feelings in the grave of the past.
The bitter war was waged on the part
of the Government to vindicate the Con-
stitution and save the Union, and if l
have erred in trying to bring about n
more speedy and lasting peace, to eXtin-
guish heart-burnings and cnmitics, to
prevent trouble in tho South which was
retarding material prosperity in that re-
gion and injuriously affecting the whole
country, / amlquite contentto rest my
case with the more deliberate judgment
of the people, and, qs l have already in
timated, with the distant future. g
The war, all must remember, was "A
stupendous and deplorablc mistake.
Neither understood the other and had
this simple factand its conclusions been
kept in view all that was needed was
accomplished by the acknowledgment
of that terrible wrong and the express
ed better feelings and earnest endeavor
at atonement shown and felt in the
nrompt ratification of the constitutional