The Portland daily press., 1866-11-05
The Iulpeach.neuf


The Impeachment.
MIR. EDTToR:-Some of your readers are not
convinced by the logic of your article last
weekin opposition to the Presidents impeach-
ment
For the removal of the President or any
other civil officer of the United States. three
things are requisite; the commission of treason.
bribery, or any other high crime or misdemean-
or:-his impeachment therefor by majority of
the members present and voting thereon in the
House of Representatives-and his trial there
on by the Senate sitting as court and on oath,
and his conviction by two-thirds of the Sena-
tors present. There is no mystery about any
part OF the process, the constitutional provi-
slons being simple and ample, and under them
several judges and other high officers of our
government have been tried without difficulty
and acquitted or convicted according to the
evidence. And 1 am not aware that the Presi-
dents case would be an exception other than
that the Senate and the accused would enjoy
| the beneftof the impartiality and wisdom of
| the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who
must preside at his trial
l. UcHoNo you COuCeuc tIIc ICSiuCHt iietS
committed acts sufficient in law to justify not
| only his impeachment but conviction, but do
not go quite so far as that being content to
leave the question OF guilt to the Chief Justice
| and Senate of the United States, who on his
impeachment before them will be sworn "sol-
EMMY to try the issue presented to them by
the House Of Representatives without fear, ia
vor or hope of reward" But that the Presi-
dents conduct for several months past, espe-
cially his alleged completely with the awful
massacre at New Orleans, merits, nay demands
a solemn examination by the highest court of
the Republic, is it is believed, fast becoming
the general sentiment of the Republican party,
not only in New England, but throughout the
country
And this-not the conviction and remova.,
but the impeachment of the President by the
House and his impartial trial by the Senate, j.
precisely what Gen. Butler pledges himselfto
accomplish, when he promises the people of the
West that he will not leave Andrew johnson
till he has brought him before the bar of the
American people for trial. This, you say, he
will find a more difficult affair than he antici-
pates, but l confess do not perceive any
special difficulty in passing through the House
a resolve impeaching Mr. johnson to the SEN
ate, for it requires but bare majority of that
body.
But you object to Constitutional examina-
ton of the lawfulness of the Presidents acts
and his conviction and removal if found gull
ty, because he has not yet added to his other
high crimes and misdemeanors a coup d etat.
That is, if understand the argument Congress
ought to delay the examination of the case m
til assembled by Mr.. Johnson's ukase in the
Old Capitol prison, when they should impeach
and remove "the dictator" just as the Supreme
Court of France went through the solemn
farce of doing just after the coup a. etat of the
present Napoleon.
Again you suggest as another objection to
the impeachment of the President the fact that
two-thirds of each branch of CONGRESS are Re
publicans and can pass acts in spite of him.
Shall they then wait until there shall be a
majority of his supporters?
The argument is this. So long as Congress
continues to oppose the lawless and treasona-
BILE acts of the Executive, and he permits them
to sit in the Capitol and vote, his impeachment,
conviction and removal are not to be thought
Of no matter how high his crimes or ample the
proof. So extreme measure ought to be
adopted only after all others have failed; that
is the President must not be impeached until
he has majority in Congress or has had time
to imprison the majority and seize imperial
power.
Such, it is believed, is not the dictate of wis
dom nor Of justice. Noao is eminently "the
accepted time" for the final settlement of the
great issue between the President and the
people. He publicly denounces Congress as
usurpers and is as publicly charged with
treachery and blood. The spectacle is disgrace
full to the nation and must not continue 1t ia
due to him as well as to Congress, and farimore
to the people, that these charges should be
promptly investigated and forever settled by
his honorable acquittal or his conviction and
immediate removal. And if the present House,
strengthened by the recent revelation of the
public will, is still unequal to the responsible
ty, let them by statute fix the fourth of March
for the annual meeting of future Congresses, SO
that the Fortieth House, reinforced by such fresh
popular recruits as Gen. Butler, may proceed
without delay to the transaction of this impor-
tant duty. G.