Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-27

Of the usual custom amongst country prln-
ters, and omit the publication of the REPoR-
TER for one week, The next issue will there
fore be dated January 10, 1867.
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.
While we do not think that any consid-
cradle number of republican members of
Congress seriously think of imp eaching
President JOHNSON, or that any force among
the people would justify it, there are still
some who are urging this measure upon
the attention of both Now, in our way of
thinking, next to abandoning the Constitu-
tional Amendments, and adopting General
Amnesty, the impeachment of JOHNSON, for
| anything he has thus far done, would be
the most unfortunate procedure our party
could adopt. Aside from the fact that the
| Executive would use all his power to de-
| fend himself, and call into requisition the
army in retaliating measures, thus inaugu-
rating another civil war, there is the i'm
portant consideration, that in such a con-
| test as an Impeachment would awaken,
| Congress would be forced into the adop-
ton OF many expedients of doubtful pro-
prety, if not some of positive usurpation
and wrong /; and who does not see that
this would call down on us just censure,
and materially weaken US before the conn-
Try We must not forget that JOHNSON eau
he can say of us, or do against US. 1t is
only our own mistakes and errors that can
ipjure u.s. So too, with JOHNSON, he hurts
himself most in striking at us.
No one condemns more heartily than we
do the miserable betrayal, or been more
disgusted with the little, mean, spiteful con-
duct of the Executive, and under excite
ment provoked by bis perverseness, have
at times felt, as if hanging was too 2 ood
for The miserable migrate who could, as be
has done, torture his benefactors but so
her thought asks What do we gain by
quarrelling with or retaliating upon JOHN
SON his dirty work?7 And the answer comes
back, Nothing but loss"
We must not forget that the government
is in the hands of the republican Congress,
and that the nation expects Congress to at
tend to the public veal and if ibis Con-
gress gets up a fight with the President,
(and an impeachment will stir up d desper-
ate one, how can it atten d to the public
interests And to neglect the public in
terests merely to attend to quarrel with
an officer of the government, will, OF itself,
carry with it condemnation.
Aside from this, we aver that is no tang
ibe ground on which to found an impeach-
rntnt. Tie Presidents bad faith with US,
his vulgarity, his profanity, his occasional
drunkenness, and shameful abuse Of Con.
gress, are really not impeachable and
his gross, lawless usurpations in the ap.
pointment of Provisional Governors for the
rebel states, aud other acts OF their recog
milton as states, together with the villain
GUS abuse OF the appointing power, during
the recess of Congress, can all be justified
on the ground of precedent. No impeach
ment, therefore, can rest on any OF these
acts. To sustain an Impeachment legally
aud before the country, there must be IL
trumped up charges, but bold and clear
ly defined crime and when this is found
we will not only sustain an Impeachment
but will insist upon the institution of i'm
mediate process. In the present condition
of affairs however, we as positively insist
that there shall be no thought O. such a
thing as party measure, and this because
our safety rs a party depends upon for
bearance and moderation with the Presi
dent. He is coordinate branch of the
government, and our duty calls for consid
Grafton, beciuse its responsibilities rest:
npon us ana if it suffers in any of it's in
tt rests, because we are intractable, will
we not be the losers? No, the sentimen
of the republicans is, everywhere, thai
Congress is in the right, and it has the ap
proval Of the people, and can tn eretore, af
ford to be abused, and be unresentiul, anc
even magnanlmOus. ......