The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-10
From. the Old School Republican.

IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.
There are certainly fools knaves, or both,
10 the country than has hitherto come within tho
scope of conceptions, else We should never have
heard of such thing movement, such al that made
in New York, having for its object the impeachment
OF President Tyler for hts eplstoary Interference In
the affairs of Rhode Island. Who but an ignoramus,
would even dream of his impeachment on account OF
his letter TO Governor King None other eicep,
your willy partisan who without perhaps any special
regard for the put in peril by his course wouid
seek that in the absence Of any other, asa vantage
ground from whence TO assa him. That we have
opposed his views OF duty and regretted his partial
interference, is as well known our own view,
of the in question but then we are not desii-
tute Of common sense, of knowledge of the cou-
stitutona rights Of the President of The u. States,
as 10 believe him deserving OF impeachment for writ
ing the letter IN question: even II he had written II
In his official capacity. That il was not official is
ident from the absence of certain official forms,
though il treated by those TO whom il was sd-
dressed but official not, considered, and do
still consider the writing of an impuden and mpor-
per act, premature Interference In the affairs of
member Of the Union, for which We can find no apo
ogy IN the circumstances OF the case we wound
hatter Neptune for his Trident nor Jove for lhls
power to thunder" but then we would not make fools
Of ourselves by talking of impeachng Jove or Nep-
tune without cause-BdH Sun.
The acts of every public servant, ffom the Pfesi-
dent down to the fence-viewer are legitimate SUBJ
jects of comment by the public press. The more ex-
we ID Pieo@
should exercise its right and discharge its duty in
bold and manly expression OF opinion sustaining or
opposing, as CONVICTION indicates.
From the hitherto candid and independent course
of the Sun feel assured its dissent from the Pre-
sdent his of duty touching the delicate and
unfortunate state of things in Rhode Island, is the
| result of honest CONVICTION.
While We freely admit that is a subject upon
which honest difference opinions may exist, we can
Jidy acknowledge, that not wherein the Presi-
dent has departed from the line of his duty he did not
Justly the Government Of Rhode Island, but evident
placed the Executive OF that State in the wrong, as
| the then stood He quoted the Constitution, and
| the laws BY which he felt himself bound. He de-
cared his determination perform his duty whenever
a state OF things existed which mpelled him To- inter-
pose. He declared that he bound to respect and
acknowledge the actual Government, for the reason
| that the obligations imposed upon him by the Constr
tuition and the laws referred alone to instruction
| against the actual Government.
| The question of what would constitute insurrec-
ton against that actual Government he did not under
| take to decide.
The President assuming the ground that he could
not interfere until portion of the people were found
in astai rebellion against the actual Government, and
he put into possession Of the fact in the mode and
manner pointed out by the law, necessarily placed
the constituted authorities IN the wrong, and forced
them to stop in their course and cease to interfere
/ with the constitutional rights Of the people
! On the other hand, the President having Embodied
the Constitution and the laws bearing upon the ques
ton, his letter TO the Governor, Peo-
pie TO take correct view OF the case and dlsabuse
| their own minds-correct the Misrepresentation OF
the designing demagogues, who would In the name
Of liberty, violently break up the existing Govern
ment and hazardng every thing deserving the name
OF liberty, hurry the father and the son to incur the
guilt Of shedding each others blood.
| Such appears to have been the effect. We hear
no more Of the intention of the Governor to prevent
the people from holding their elections which if at
tempted would certainly have resulted in bloodshed
| & hifrar vandn Y
ercise of power by the Governor, would have const
tuted any thing other than OF nsurrection on
| the part of the people.
| On the other hand, we find that many who had pre-
yiousy acted with those in favor of the Illegal or as
It is called the Peoples Constitution, refused to con-
cur in measures previously contemplated to carry It
into operation Thus every thing appears to justify
the belief that the Presidents letter has had most
| salutary effect Indeed that it may have prevented
bloodshed If so, who will not rejoice
| His authority to write the letter is denied 1t IS
contended that he should have been silent 1t needs
| to be borne in mind that he was appealed to by the
| Executive head of sovereign State She had a
right to expect and it the duty, Of the President
to respect that sovereign State Had the president re-
fused to take any notice of the application OF the
Governor-each party left in doubt as to the course
of the Executive in of violent conflict and each
| confidently believing themselves In the right, and
| therefore expecting aid from the General Govern
ment, can fail to see that the probability OF
collision would have been greatly increased.
The President cannot, of course, be held response
BILE for the use made Of his letter AS to the effort to
impeach him. but for the varied forms in which party
| rage had been exhibited within the last twelve
months we should have felt some of the astonish-
ment expressed by the Sun, at the folly evinced by
such conception. But when grown up men expect
and deliberately set about to reach the Presidency by
eating and drinking, fddling and dancing, and quar-
relling and fighting, confess we prepared to
witness any thing which impotent wrath may con-
| ceive, or consummate folly indulge in