Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-11-02
IMREACH8TEET.

The propriety and feasibility of i'm
peaching the humble individual who
occupies Presidential chair is just
now engaging a good deal ofpublie at
tention. Gen. Butler may perhaps
be considered the pioneer in agitating
the subject, aud it may be confessed
the case made out by him in his re-
cent powerful speeches is exceedingly
strong. The principal offenses for
which Gen. Butler deems Mr.. j ohm
son improbable are-1. Publicly and
disgracefully denouncing the Legisla-
tive branch of the Government and
threatening its overthrow. 2. Wrong
fully using the power of appointment,
in disregard Of the prerogatives of the
United States Senate. 3. Declaring
peace in the insurrectionary States
without the consent of Congress f.
Corruptly using the pardoning power.
Is. Failing to enforce the Civil Rights
Bill. 6. Completely in the riot at
New Orleans.
Such are the charges, and the argu-
ments by which Gen. Butler sustains
them and ifread by the Great Swinger
of Circles in moments of sober con
seiousness ought to make his knees
tremble and his brain grow giddy In
fact Gen. Buffers superior knowledge
of law enables him to show up the
case IN g stronger light than could per
haps any other man in the country,
and the fact that he will be a member
of the next Congress makes the case
for Mr.. johnson still more threaten
ing. Yet no prominent RepU blican
journal urges impeachment as a neces-
sary measure. nor does even Gen. But
Ter. He only presents the possibilities
of the case, and in view ofthe war made
by the President on Congress it is not
strange that this discussion has arisen.
The President has himself forced up
on the country the question whether
all power of the Government, execu-
tive, legislative and judicial inheres in
himself, or whether these are separ-
ate branches over which he can exer-
else only limited control All the
qualified voters of the nation are in
the persons of their Representative
construetively present In the Con-
gressional Halls, and for the President
to overslaugh Congress is practically
overslaughing. the people themselves.
1t is assuming to be their master aud
not their servant. Such presumption
is revolutionary and ought to be re-
buked, but the extreme remedy of i'm 1
parchment should, and no doubt will
be resOrted- only in case the evil be-
comes dangerous. In such oontin- /
gency it is easy to see that the Presi- /
dent IS wholly ia the power of Con-
gress, and may at It's discretion be |
deposed from power. The
House of Representatives may at any
time arraign him before the Senate,
and from the instant of his summons
to appear there the inability which de-
wolves the duties of President upon
the Vice President commences. The
officer who would succeed. Andrew
Johnson would be whomsover the
Senate might select as its President
possibly Thaddeus Stevens who has a
good chance of elect ton to that BODY
In regard to conviction there would
be no difficulty when once a sufficient
cause therefor was established. the
necessary majority of two thirds being
within the limit of the
Republican majority in the Senate.
We have thus shown what n1qv Be
done, but we earnestly hope the nee
esslty for such measures will never
arise. impeachment is revolution.
legitimate to be sure in legal sense.
but not so In political sense exceDt
IN extreme cases. Such case has
hardly arisen yet, but it is well for us
to know what safeguards the Copsti-
tuition has afforded against the possi-
bic usurpatiOns of an accidental Chief ,
who has himseIfthreateDed I
revolution by forcing upon the eoun- {
ny a Congress of his own construction.
md who has already ventured to in /
luire Of the people through the Inns
If one Of his Cabinet officers whether s
hey will have Andrew johnson for I
President or King ?"