The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-04-25

L
rebellion and war exists, though with q
suspension of hostilities, it follows that W.
must be at war with somebody, and that
those with whom we are at war, though
| fighting has ceased, are still rebels and enc
mics. There can be no war without OF
enemy, and the mere fact that the enemy
has ceased to fight works only cessation
of hostilities not an end ofthe state oil war
If we arc then in state of war, as the
government assumes, who are our enemies
Not the organization knowa as the Con
federate States of America, for that ha;
ceased to exist. Not the organized armies
lately commanded by Lee, joint n, and
Kirby Smith, for they, as organizations
have ceased to exist. Not the State gov
ernments of the various States which form
ed the Confederate States of America,
for they have ceased to exist. Those who
occupy towards us the legal status of enc
mics are therefore all that portion of the
Southern people who engaged in the rebel,
lion or gave it aid and comfort. If the
state Of war does not end, as the Admins.
tration itself assumes, until the States have
been restored to the Union with the con.
sent Of Congress. then the legal status Of
the position Of the Southern people who
were rebels during the tendency Of past
hostilities continues to be that of rebels
and enemies until peace is thus restored -
But President johnson, while he recogni
yes these people as rebels and enemies in
law. so far as is necessary to clothe him
with despotic powers, yet demands for
them all the rights of American States as
against any action or legislation by Con
gress. He demands in fact that during
war communities with which we are at wal
shall send representatives into our Senate
and House of Representatives, and tina,
Congress has no right to make laws fol
them until their representatives have seats
on the floor. lie demands that rebels shall
participate in the national councils IN ma
king those laus uhich are to constitute on,
treaty Of peace NTH the rebellion. This is
in principle treason, for it is gicing ala
aud comfort to the enemies ofMe United
S'oses. 1t is saying to them that Congress
has no power to legislate for you until it
admits you to vote in Congress. It is en-
couraging them to resist the attempt by
Congress to impose such terms as Congress
may deem proper as the guarantees Of fu.
ture peace. Nis giving the pouer Of the
highest officer Of the government to the
public enemy during a state Of war, ana
is as much Morse than the treason of Ben.
aedict Arnold as the office Of President is
higher than that Of maior-generol. w
bslieps, therefore, that the President should
be impsached for high treason for his at
tempts By his message, his oetoes, and othe,
official acts, to secure the admission o,
Representatives. in Congress from. States
and communities Nth uhicA he concedes
that The government is still at lcar.
This Radical argument is little far
fetched, but it sinks into insignifcanct
when compared with the following proof o.
the Presidents bribery"
A second ground Of impeachment, nan,
ed in the Constitution, is bribery. 1t il
not essential to bribery that the bride shall
be paid to the officer himself. Bribery il
seldom conducted in that way. It is suffi
cient if with lis knowledge and approya
they are paid to some subordinate, or con
fidaEt, or intimate friend, for whom tn,
officer entertains such personal regard a
will induce him, for whatever reason, Il
grant the favor for which the bride was
given. AS nearly as the public have beer
permitted to know, this state of facts have
prevailed at the White House, and consti
tutes the whole business of pardon broker
age. a pretty ,comon, the sources O
Uhose influence orer the President are N,
knoacn, bit achose so6riety and chastit1
hare both been inspugnsd. hoas hersej
forth 10 the ,rorM as ready 10 secure pa,
dons Without The ordinary delays inciden
TO an examination into the merits of III
case. To test her yeracity detective pay
her fee 5000 pretending to be rebel, an,
in few hours receives from her hand, u,l
der the signature Of the President, ful
pardon for crimes never committed, and 70
person that never existed. The detect
i've is prosecuted, and the tribunals and tn
public substantially acquit him. Was j
any the less the $500 that procured tn
pardon, than if that sum had been paid di
rectly to the President? What is the RI
suit Of the trial, then, bit to conuict til
President? But besides treason and bri
berry, President is liable to Impeachment
for acts which do not amount to any crime
whatever, hut are mere misdemeanors.
MIR. johnson doubtless has great man
faults, and probably some vices, but W
never heard before that the crusty oil,
gentleman, who has seen sixty-two sum
mers, could be influenced in the discharg
of his official duties by the wiles and ma
chinations ola pretty woman" of ques
tionable chastity. This is one Of the item
OF gossip ofthe polite and refined societ,
of Washington which we have never befor
had ti:ulged. for which we are indebted t
this Black Republican journal, which ex
eltad itself in favor of the election of An
drew johnson to the Vice Presidency G
the United States. But besides Treason
and bribery, this Radical organ-grinder say
the President is guilty also Of other "mis
demeanors." Hear him:
Can there be any more fragrant ,nisd.
meaaor in a Fice-P President than to al
pear IN a state of naase0in Drunkenness
take tie oath Of office? 1t is not msde
meanor for O President Of the Unite
States to tolerate female pardon broke
in the White House, or to make a speec
to rebel mob, accusing Congress of trea.
on in resisting his plans of admitting n
representatives. Of the public enemy, Wit
whcg re are a. w1. into the ration