Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-12

action of legislation by Congress. He de-
mands, in fact, that during war, communis
ties with which we are at war shall send
representatives into our Senate and House
of Representatives, and that Congress has
no right to make laws for them until their
Representatives have seats on the floor. He
demands that rebels shall participate in the
national councils in making those laws
which are to constitute our treaty Of peace
with the rebellion. This is In principle
treason, for it is giving aid and comfort to
the enemies OF the United States. IL Is
saying to them that Congress has no power
to legisate for you until it admits you to
vote in Congress. 1t Is encouraging them
to resist the attemptby Congress to impose
such terms as Congress may deem proper as
the guarantees of future peace. 1t is Civ
Ing the power of the highest officer OF the
Government to the public enemy during a
state of war, and is as much G0orSe than the
treason of Benedict Arnold as the Office Of
President is higher than that Of Major General.
We believe, therefore, that the President should
be impedcted for high treason for his attempts,
by his message, lis UetOes, and other official
acts, to secure The admission of representatives
in Congress from States and communities Nth
tohichhe comedies that The Gopern1sentis is stu at
,0Gr. A second ground Of ofirapeacllnlent, named
in The Constitution Is bribery. lt is not esseli-
tial to bribery that the bribe shall be paid to
the officer himself. Bribery is seldom con-
Quoted in that way. 1t is sufficientif If with
his knowledge and approval it is paid to
some subordinate, or confidant, or intimate
friend, for whom the officer entertaiDs such
personal regard as will induce him, for
whatever reason, to grant the favor for
which the bribe was given. AS nearly as
the public have been permitted to know,
this state Of facts haze prevailed at the White
House, and constitutes the 1ohOLe business Of
pardon Brokerage A pretty ,oonldn, the
sources of whose influence over the Presl-
dent are unknown, but lDhOSe SObriety and
chastity haze both been iDlpugned, holds her
self forth to the world as ready to secure
pardons without the ordinary delays Incl
dent to an examination into the merits of
the case. To test Mr veracity detect
i've pays her her fee, $500, pretending to be
a rebel, and in a few hours receives from
her hand, under the signature of the Presi-
dent, full pardon for crimes never COM
mitted, and for a person that never existed.
The detective is prosecuted, and the tribu-
nails and public substantially acquit him.
Was it any the less the $500 that procured
the pardon, than II that sum had been paid
directly to the President? What Is the re-
suit OF the trial, then, but to convict the
President? But besides treason and bribe-
ry. President is liable 10 impeachment for acts
1ohich do not amount TO dny crime aohdt6Uer, but
are mere miSdenednOrS. Can there be dny more
fragrant nliSdemednOr in a Vice President than
TO dppear in state of mdudlin drunkenness 10
take The oath Of Officer Is it not a misde-
meanor for President of the United States
to tolerate female pardon-broker in the
White House, or to make speech to a
rebel mob, accusing Congress of treason in
resisting his plans of admitting representa-
tives of the public enemy, with whom we
are at war, into the nations councils? If
not the word misdemeaner is surplusage in
the Constitution. Whether it is practical
BILE to impeach the President, and what
would be the consequence of his impeach-
ment, we leave to future discussion. We
believe we have shown that on the sim
pie merits of his action he deserves TO be
fmpedched 6g he House Of Representatives,
tried before he Senate, conuicted and removed
from his office for 'treaSOR, bribery and other
high crimes and misdeD,ednorS." 1-