Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-28
president JOHNSON AND HIS Enc
MIES.

The National Iateltigeacer declares that
even among men of high official station,
there exists project for putting the Presi-
dent out of the way by Impeachment. Sec
ton 4, article 2, of the Constitution, provides
that the President, Vice President, and all
civil officers of the United States, shall be
removed from office on impeachment for and
conviction of treason, bribery, or other high
crimes and misdemeanors." Section 8, arti-
Gle /, declares that the House Of Represen-
tatives shall have sole power of impeach-
ment, and section 6, of same article, that
the Senate shall have sole power to try all
impeachments When sitting for that pur-
pose, they shall be on oath or affirmation.
When the President of the United States is
tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and
no person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the members
present. Section 7 declares that judgment
in case Of impeachment shall not extend
farther than to removal from Office, and dis
qualification to hold any Office under the
United States. Section 6, of article 2, pro-
vides that in case of the removal of the
President from Office, or of his death, lesig-
nation, or inability to discharge the duties
of his Office, the same shall devolve on the
Vice-President; and that Congress may by
law provide for the case of removal, death,
etc, both of the President and Vice-Presi-
dent, declaring what officer shall then act as
President, and said officer shall act accord
ingly, until the disability shall be removed,
or President shall be elected
If the House of Representatives has the
nerve, it has unquestionably the power to
impeach the President. 1t must be, however,
for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and
misdemeanors. Which of these has An
drew johnson committed We could scarce
ly believe, except upon the grave authority
of the National Intelligeacer, that a single
member of the House of Representatives
could be found mad enough to allege
against the President of the United States
any of the crimes which the Constitution
specifies as furnishing grounds for impeaeh-
ment. Unless 1t is treason, or high crime
and misdemeanor, to veto ali act OF Con-
gress, and sustain that veto with arguments
which the Radicals of that body are unable
TO answer, we cannot conceive how the enc
mics Of Andrew johnson can so much as in
innate constitutional process for his trial. |
Still less is 1t possible to understand how
they can anticipate the success of an i'm |
parchment when two-thirds Of the Senate |
cannot be brought even to overthrow his |
veto.
The President, in his 22d of February |
speech, intimates that even the desperate |
and internal means of assassination has |
been contemplated by some of his enemies |
to remove him out of the way. The brutal |
ferocity of temper exhibited by some of his
assailants in the newspaper press, would |
warrant the conclusion that passions are ex-
cited which might lead to such a terrible |
catastrophe.
What fearful emphasis does such state
Of facts impart to the words OF Washington's /
Farewell Address, when he said; "Let me
warn you, in the most solemn manner,
against the baneful effects of the spirit of
party generally. This spirit, unfortunately,
Is inseparable from our nature, having its
roots in the strongest passions Of the human
mind. 1t exists under different shapes in
all governments, but in those Of the popular
form il is seen in the greatest rankness, and
IS truly their worst enemy. The alternate
domination of one faction over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural
TO party discussions, which, in different ages
and countries, has perpetrated the most hor-
nd enormities, is itself afrightful despotism.
But this leads, at length, TO q more formal
and permanent despotismn
There is, indeed, an earthquake heav-
ing, not only under the capital, but under
the whole temple of Republican Govern
ment, If party passion shall not be checked
and rsstfained.-Ric Dispatch.
Il