Impeachment contemplates a political offense, among others, and the trial is of necessity a political trial. It need not therefore be strictly and offensively partisan, although, as the members of a great party naturally sympathize upon political questions, it will almost inevitably assume a party aspect. Yet it must be always remembered that the Republican majority refused to impeach the President for betraying the cause which he was elected to serve. He is impeached not for treason to his party, but for violating the law which he had sworn to execute. If he be removed it can not be said that a Republican Congress punished a President because he differed in opinion, but because, against the Constitution, he endeavored to make his opinion law.
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