The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-10-18

cations of its members, and can expel
the obnoxious by two thirds vote,
with no possible appeal or reversal
And, when once assembled and or
ganiEed, the two Houses can go on
with their work as long as they see fit,
with no power of the Executive or the
judiciary to interfere, TO prorogue, or
to d ssolve either House. Congress
can alone exercise the power of Leg.
islatlon. Neither President nor Su-
preme Court can give to any rule the
force of law except by authority of
Congress.
This cumulative aggression of pow
ers and prerogatives in Congress,
crowned by the final absoldtism of ir-
reversible impeachment, shows how
the people of the United States, in
framing their Constitution, have bal
anced and adjusted the several powers
of government, and proves the absurd
ity of the pretention, borrowed from
monarchical countries, OF terming the
Executive Administration "The Gov
ernment."
The Constitution, by requiring a
two thirds vote to convict under an
impeachment, shows the care by which
this supreme and final arbitrament is
secured from being made play.thing
for fools, or dangerous instrument
in the hands CT designing and wicked
men. And the absence Of all other
rules and procedure shows that it was
intended 10 make this the uttimar tio,
tho last resort of the Government, the
repository of that paramount and ir-
reversible prerogativo which human
imperfection renders necessary in the
last resort, to avert the necessity of
revolution as the only remedy for
evils that are no longer possible TO be
borne. Such q power needs to be as
unrestricted as it is final, because it is
designed 10 be put forth in all possible
and all conceivable emergencies, and
must therefore make its own rules from
time 10 time, as the exigency of the
time may require. If it were bound
by preccdents, or limited by forms,
the cnly study of the hostile agents
would bo to keep their mischief out
side of those lines, and the country
would be without remedy.
The limitation of the penalty 10 be
imposed by impeachment to the bare
removal from Office, and disqualified
ton for future trusts, shows the care
with which this terrible. weapon was
guarded against the possibility of be-
ing used as the instrument Of ven
geance or the means Of usurpation.- =
Its leading object is not punishment
: but TO put an instant stop TO abuses o
administration. The removal from of
fee is hardly regarded in this country
. as a punishment, because the peopl,
never look upon the possession of OF
fee as in any sense personal right
If removal were looked upon in th,
: nature of penalty, or as implying {
charge or conviction Of misconduct, i
D would be impossible for the people t.
take 80 quietly the present wbolesal,
removals, made by tho President, o
, men above tho suspicion of wrong, ant
I, for no possible cause except that the,
I continue to agree in opinion with tn
: people, while the President has turne,
S against them. A case is supposable i
Q which any reason which serves for re
c movals by the President would b
| equally valid to warrant removals b.
i mpeachment-the penalty in eithe
Q case being tho same. The use of
d constitutional power in one case, I
y cut short the abuse Of a similar powo
Q in the other, would bo neither anoms
l. lous nor dangerous. The penalty c
o disqualification inflicted by two-third
: vote Of tho Senate would be n NOR
J. serious matter, and not likcly to b
9 lightly applied.
J. That n prerogativc so potent, and S
= easily applied, has SO rarely found @
made occasions for its exercise, prove
IS only the perfection of the machine an
o tho fidelity Of it's management, 30 thf
it seldom brings into action tho fun
= tion Of tho governor and the safety
+ valve It's existence needs to be reca
}. led to mind, and its capabilities shoul
d be occasionally contemplated, tbs
II Needless officials may learn to bewar
!. VI bringing themselves under its opel
II alton, Before they know it, they ma
IF find themselves hurled from the ofiC
n they abused, and forever cut Of fro
y tho highest privileges of citizenship
,t and lbat without romedy.