The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-10
From the Old Sci col Republics
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.

IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.
There certainly more fools or knaves, or both,
10 the country than has hitherto within the
scope Of conceptions, else We should never have
he ard of such thing movement such that made
n New York, having for its object the impeachment
Of President TYLER for hts epsolary interference in
the affairs of Rhode Island Who, but an ignoramus,
would dream of his impeac hment on account OF
his letter TO Governor King Noae other except
your willy PARTISAN who without perhaps any special
regard for the put peril by his course, would
seek that, in the absence Of any other, as vantage
ground from whence to assail him. That we nave
opposed his views OF duty and regretted his partial
interference, Is as well known our own view,
of the case In question but then not desi-
tute of common sense, of knowledge of the cou
sttutona rights Of the President of the U. States,
TO believe him deserving Of impeachment for writ
ing the letter In question, even If he had written 1t
in his official capacity That official il
evident from the absence of certain official forms,
though treated by those to whom il was ad-
dressed but official not, we considered, and do
still consider the wiring of it imprudent and impor
per act premature interference in the affairs OF
member of the Union, for which we can find no apo
logy the circumstances OF the case. we would
iatte Neptune for his Trident, Jove for this
power thunder )" but then would not make fools
of ourselves by talking of impeachng Jove or Nep-
tune without ause.-BaH Sun.
The acts of every public servant, fIom the Presi-
dent down to the tence-vewer, legitimate sub
jects Of comment by the public press. The more
allied The station the important it that the press
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 Sum- feel assured its dissent from the Pre-
sdent in his views of duty touching the delicate and
unfortunate state Of things In Rhode Island, Is the
result of honest conviction.
| While We freely admit that it is a subject upon
which honest difference opinions may exist, we can
didy acknowledge, that we not wherein the Pres-
dent has departed from the line of his duty He did not
Justify the Government of Rhode Island, but evident
y placed the Executive of that State in the wrong as
the case then stood He quoted the Constitution and
the laws by which he felt himself bound. He de-
claed his determination perform his duty whenever
state of things existed which mpelled him to inter
| pose He declared that he was hound to respect and
acknowledge the actual Government, for the reason
that the obligations imposed upon him by the Const-
tuition and the laws referred alone to instruction
against the actual Government.
The question of hat 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
actual 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 and cease to interfere
with the constitutional rights OF the people
| On the other hand, the President having imboded
the Constitution and the laws bearing upon the ques
tion in his letter to the Governor enabled the 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
Resistance of such arbitrary and unauthorized ex-
ercise of power by the Governor, would have constr
tuted any thing other than case Of Instruction on
the part Of the people.
| On the other hand we find that many who had pre-
viousy acted with those in favor of the illegal
1t is called the Peoples Constitution, refused to con-
cur in measures previously contemplated to carry 1t
into operation. Thus every thing appears to justify
the belief that the Presidents letter has had most
sauary 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 appealed to by the
right to expect and 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 case OF violent conflict and each
confidently believing themselves in the right, and
| therefore expecting aid from the General Govern
ment no one can fail to 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
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, fdding and dancing, and quar-
reing and fighting we confess prepared to
witness any thing which impotent wrath may con-
ceve, or consummate folly indulge in.