Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-26

mischievous adviser in cases like this in Mis- I
souri-is capable of doing tie country the
greatest harm. If he was animated by any
honest or raight-forward purpose to do the
work which the people have set him to per-
form, he could accomplish the greatest eoneeiv-
able good in securing the advancement of the
republic in liberty, equal rights, and stability of
government But with perversity which it is
impo sible not to charge to malciousness, and
with az obstinacy which refuses to listen to the
wishes of the people as expressed in repeated
elections, he wckediy uses all the power and
prerogatives OF his position to perpetuate ipjus
lice, and to deny to loyal millions the rights to
which by the Constitution and by the laws OF
the land they are entitled. The civil rights
act, which was adopted t. secure to the suffer-
ing loyalists in the South the protection which
/ state laws and state courts denied to them, IL
never invoked or set in operation when these
loyalists complain that they have no security
without it. But when the rebels Of Navy lane
or the bushwhackers Of Missouri ask the Pres
ident to aid them 10 resisting the enforcement
, of state laws which have not yet been declared
uncon stitutioual, and which bear hardly on no.
body but those who h4ve been in rebellion
against state and federal government alike, We
bud Mr. Johnson and his evil genius, Mr.. Sew
, I'd, ready to uasaealhe the na,ionl sword,
aud interpose it to defend rebels from the right
When Gov. Fletcher Gov. Brownlow OF
| CIV. Wells asks the aid of the national troop
| o help in suppressing rebel MODS, the Pres-
deut answers ether with a cold and surly neg
ative OF directs the soldiers wearing the United
States uniform to report for orders to the lead
| ers of the mobs; bat when the friend. of tbs
rebsIs ask his inter )sition, be q: once puts
into their hands every xeapoa 10 the national
armory. He knows no-state rights exc pit such
as strengthen traitors in their oontumacy. and
encourage them TO defiant resistance to every
requirement of Congress, and to every right
eoIs law which would punish them for
| their treason. When laws and constitution.
stand in the way of his plans, he respects them
40 more than as though they we're blank paper /;
nut when be u,s them to aid men yet rsek
ing with treason ani mixing war upoa those
sho have been always iaithful to the govern
nent, he Stimulates the most pious venera:ion
| or the constitution and laws.
Il may not be wise to attempt to imPeach a
President who thus criminally uses the power
given; it may be the more prudent course to
trust to the strong vitality of jastic and right,
sousness in this country, to survive these attacks
from the chief executive of the nation but
hat President Johnson is guilty OF such AZ
abuse of his Office as amounts to tne highes
crime short of open treason, or usurpation
must be the verdict of even the most mercf1
Judgment Of every believer that loyalty i, bet
ter than rebellion, justice more sacred thsr
nj Is,ice, and the obligation to do right one o
the most solemn duties of the Chief Magistrate
OF the nation. No high officer in the republi,
ever snned so wantonly, so grievou.ly, SO def
ant.y, 50 grossly, as President Johnson sni il
the right arm of outraged Justics should oe
barred, and visit upon his head the terrible pun
ishment of impeachment, ne would receive nc
severer chastisenent than his crimes desc rye.