The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-11-30
THE TRANSCRIPT.
FRIDAY. November so. 1866.
ImpeachIng The President.

IUptdCniHS tht licsiu0h''
The proposition to impeach Presi-
dent johnson for what he has done
in the past is not favored by the great
mass of the Republican party. We
do not now recall any prominent men
except Gen Butler and Hon. John A.
Bingham. of Ohio, who give it their
countenance The President, it is
true, has made number of very fool
ish speeches, which have greatly low
cred himself in the estimation of the
American people, he has used SANDER
ous and sometimes almost traitorous
language, but we hardly believe that
in ali his speeches there can be found
sufficient to justify impeachment. It
is evident that the President can do
no greater harm to the country than
he has done; and the result of the
elections just held, must, to some ex-
tent, have opened his eyes to the fact
that the people are not with him, and
that they are not to be frightened by
anything that he may say or do. Fur
thermore,we think, there arc Slight in
dications OF little yielding on his
part, and a desire not to keep up a
continual warfare with Congress
The following sensible and judieious
article on the subject, we copy from
the Boston journal.
The project of impeaching Presi-
dent johnson for anything in his past
Official career evidently fails to obtain
the requisite sanction of popular sup
port 1t is true General Butler, who
has made himself the great champion
of the proposition, has been heard with
interest in various parts of the country,
as speaker of his original and tren-
chant qualities, discussing novel pc
litical topic, was sure TO have BEEN
But there is no indication that his
cause has gained upon public opinion.
But few other leading men have en-
dOrsed his views even i'll substance
and only very small proportion OF
Republican papers have recommended
the impeachment of the President on
any existing ground General Butler
himself will not be an actual member
OF Congress till March, 1867, and will
not probably have an opportunity for
exercising any of his official powers
TIL more than year from the present
time when the President will be more
than half through his term of Office
and beyond the prospect of impeach-
ment, if it shall not have been under.
taken before.
The only member of Congress who
has been supposed to be pledged tc
initiate impeachment Mt the coming
session is Hon. John A. Bingham OF
Ohio, and he, it will be seen from a
statement copied into our columns
disclaims any such purpose ur less the
President hereafter should QHictaih
declare, what he has heretofore said
nnofficlally, that Congress is an usurp-
ing body, assuming to exercise powers
"Oe AcS"iiy pc'OiiS thS w ~ Nv iN97
ervahon is wise one, for il the Pres.
ident, in his message or any other Of
ficlal utterance, should take that
ground, it would be declaration OF
war by the Executive against the Leg.
islatlve branch of the Government
and the process of impeachment b,
the latter would then become not only
the most obvious measure Of self de
Tense but of protection for the hber-
ties OF the country. But as it is now
the greater part OF the oitenaes o.
President johnson which are said to
make HIM liable to impeachment, are
merely otienses against good breeding
good sense, and sound politics, which
, have been practically redressed by
those qualities in the people operating
! to choose Congress strong enough
! to overrule his yetoes, and wise enough
, to make up for his defects in the gov
| eminent Of the country. Let Con
! gress, then, enter at once upon the
! discharge OF its practical responsible
: ties, laNing aside all revenges and con
troversies not dictated by their great
7 work.
: 1t is reported that Mr.. Stevens vii
propose "A committee of investigation
into the Presidents course during the
era of reconstruction thus far That
may he wise, if undertaken in prop
er spirit, and it will bring forward al
the facts necessary to throw light upon
the national exigency. But our mem
bers OF Congress may rely upon it
that, in comparison with the grand
task of securing the fruits of the ma
tional triumph through the diffusion
of equal rights and the stability OF
peace, the people do not care a straw
about any personal or Presidential
issues and quarrels.