Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-01
RICHMOND WING.
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY i.
MR.. BOTTS' LETTER-IMPEACH
OF THE PRESIDENT
ANiERICUS.

Il -
FRIDAY MORNING, July n.
MR.. BOTTS' LETTER-IMPEACHM
OF THE PRESIDENT.
The country reader will find on the first PAGE Of
our country impression. the ndmra bic letter of Mr.
Bolts to the New York Committee of Invitation
and to it invite the special attention of the pco-
pie Of the United States. To the politicians, VIC
have nothing to say the grave subject referred to
in the latter part of the letter OF MIR B.; but of the
sovereign people-thosc who are, and long have
| becn the victims of a grinding misrule and whose
institutions, under tho operation Of Executive
patton, are being robbed Of every characteristic OF
freedom, we do entreat a calm, and solemn con-
sideraton of the remedy suggested by MIR b. for the
grievances that so heavily nffict the country.
We are no alarmists, nor yet do we belong TO the
class OF sickly sentimentasts, who recoi from the
notion Of impeaching a President of the U. States
We cherish no apprehensons that the infatuated
mbccile, who now bears a ehancc-go,ien sway, can,
IN his day and generation overiun the liberties OF
the Union: but our view is lhis;--For a series Of
years, running through several successive Admins
traiions, Executive Power has been ADVANCING, rs
Stunning, each successive year, n bolder front and
and erecter gait, until grown nudacious from long
impunIty, It has fallen almost into the habit OF ri
Hing with the popular rights anu interc-,-.-Na,S we
say that continued acquiescence the part of the
people, is not only pusillanimous but frivolous in
the extreme. Ii will invite continued aggression,
until the public mind, become callous from constant
repetition and long endurance, md forgetting that
there Is constitutional mode Of redress can never
he roused TO the resentment Of wrong, and the vnd
cation oil the public liberty. There s, indeed, in
the public feeling, an insenSibity which forbodes
no good for the ultimate destiny Of our country-in
an endurance OF ouIrage-a misapplied PATIENCE
which We regard ma any thing hut virtue in free
and spirited people.
We do not halt for n moment in the conviction
that unless the march OF Executive assumption he
nnested-its arrogance be rebuked--our free inst-
buttons destined TO inevitable ruin and the peo
pie TO endless mssovernment and heartiess oppres
sion. Aud VIC much entertain the opinion boldly
avowed 10y MIR Bolts, that Impeachment is the only
remedy this side Of MIR Clays elevation to the Pre-
sdency. We know OF no o;l.sr pcaceable mode
of checking that daring nsoence which has been so
long arosaiing TO itself Executive, Legislative and
Judicial functions, concentrating all power in
single head, and for long years sporting with the
dearest rights and best interests of the people. No
other measure is known to us for bringing TO his
senses the traitor who has dashed the thousand fond
hopes Of an expecting country; nor do we hesitate
10 believe, that an impeachment would go farther
to curb Executive Power, than all other means
combined, and would exert, in NIL future time, the
happiosl influence upon the conduc, of our Rulers.
Had General Jackson been impeaehed for his first
outrage, we had had good Government under his
successor and SO if we orragn the present apology
for President, and drive him with ignominy from
the station he dishonors, his example will prove
solemn warning to all future Chief Magistrates, and
VIC shall hear no more, for years TO come, of Exc
eutive usurpation.
Why has this power of the Constitution been
permitted 10y free people to lie dormant so long,
when so numerous and so pnlpabls occasions for its
exercise have been presented And what but the
dormancy Of this principle, in the midst OF these
occasions, has courtcd, stimulated, and featlully
emboldened Executive oucroaehuen7 Our people
have not sufficiently estimated this feature Of tie
Constitution. Impeachment ought to be, in our
system, exactly what the power to withhold sup.
plies is in Great Britain. II ought to be, and may
be made, the great Executive check. Whenever a
Chief Ma gisirate exceeds his constitutional pre-
roga,ivc, LEI him be brought up TO answer; and n
few examples Of the exercise Of the power would
prove a most effectunl restraint upon Presidential
msJoing. We are glad Mr. Bolts has opened the
subject Tor the consideration Of the people.
Let US not DO told that there arc not adequate
causes for Impeachment. Many outrages has Mr.
Tyler perpelrateJ, which would have cost the King
Of England his Head, or Of France lis throne. At
this time, we will venture no specification, waiting
until the veil be more fully removed from certain
lrnnsacions and for the present, enquirng what has
he not done TO merit impeachment
There arc those, We know, who would censurs
the letter Of Mr.. Bots as savounng Of intolerance
and yiolence but We dispute the justice Of the crit
cism. We have no eensure for a liberty breathing
tyranny hating spirit. VIC arc no admirers Of that
iameness which crouchos to oft-ropeutcd ard gricv
Gus wrong; nor are VIC prepared 10 appreciate thai
craven spirit, which, in these degenerate dogs, o.
often cOnfound5 mannoss with indiscrction. W.
like the true Saxon spirit which brcathos through
SIR BIS letter. i, is the spirit which meets the cris
il public affairs, which can alone save the Republic
re-onstamp upon tho Constitution its primeyal cha
raeier, and bring back the "prima glorlss" Of ih'
U6ion; and thus thinking, VIC cannot withhold IL,
humble need Of our appreciation and encourage
meni from the public man who has the courage {,
exhibi, IL.
leltor VIC subIoin is so expressive OF our owl
views, to save the necessity Of further remark
Il was addressed by distinguished citizen Of New
York 10 Mr. Bolts and IS a we'll deserved oompli
mont 20 tina. gentleman for the manly sentiment
and tone Of his letter; and though are not alto
gether certain that NO are authorised 50 to do, VI
toke the responsibility Of giving il publicity.
l "Rsw YoHs. June 22i, 1872.
Hon. IONS w. norra
lave heard your .oucr real t8 evening NJ Esfiona
Hall the noCffuF ~ nominate Mr. Clay u
neu Pfesticucy anil cannot f1rhcar cHTrcH.nE a. yo
10Y thank of daring % pfcscnlto The People, under y0u
name, the pfnrTicty ~ iupr1chiuf tic Ere adcnf, loh
Tyler. II has been iOokci upon impo blc and BIZ
fsW have thought Of ihc subject n ougli
10 be done. The COMMUNION will nevcf have ~ powe
known unula President 7hau be imPescbej The pecph