The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-08
STATE RIGHTS DEMOCRAT.
II. H. ABBoTT. EDITOR.


might do, or attempt TO do, IN certain con-
tingencies. We expressed the belief that
Congress will attempt to impeach Presi-
dent johnson and that if they attempt
it they will be suceessful-not because he
is guilty Of anything worthy Of impeach-
ment, but because Congress SO corrupt
viii readily find the means wherewith to
produce conviction whether guilty or in
nocent. We further expressed the be-
lief that il they should impeach they
will hang him unless prevented by a pow
er greater than their oWn-we mean the
bayonot.
To these opinions we still adhere for
reasons which we have not time now to
give in detail. But there are several
reasons why, if Congress be not entirely
bereft of reason, they viii not attempt to
inpeach johnson. In the first place, it
lis claimed by those who personally know
him, that he is brave man that he has
much of the bulldog in his composition.
If this be true-and we incline to think
it is-it is very unlucky circumstance
for the Radical leaders. We believe that
though they have been loud-mouthed for
blood, they are all towards. Wade, Sum-
ner, Wendell Philips, Andrews, Thadde-
US Stevens, Greeley-where are their mil
itary lanrels 7 For years the war ragged
all around them, SO to speak; the coun-
TRY needed the services of able bodied
men, but in what battle did they first
flesh their maiden swords? The truth is
their coward instincts kept them at home
out of harms way; melting others to GO
and rOusing up irrepressible and inextin-
guishable antagonisms between friend and
friend, and neighbor and neighbor. As
for Greeley, who does not remember that.
some years ago he was publicly caned in
the streets of Washington by Rust, of
Arkansas? So far from resenting the
insult, he merely meekly inquired of some
by-stander: "WhO IS that man that Just
now struck me?" as if he wished to be
formally introduced to Rust ere he pitch
ed into him.
In the second place Congress can gain
little or nothing by impeaching johnson,
and might loseeverything, including even
some of their own heads. Congress has
the power to pass any bill over johnson s
head by two-thirds majority. IF he
were out of their way by having been
hung on "sour apple tree"-and some
plant creature of their own installed in
his place, they could do no more They
can perpetrate any act, no matter how a
trocious and reprehensible, under the cov-
er of law of their own enactment, and
the President is powerless to prevent it,
60 long as he keeps within Constitutional
bounds, as he processes now TO be doing.
Although We believe this Congress is
mad, yet we confess there is much meth
cd in their madness. The leaders are un-
scrupulous, cunning, crafty and cowardIy
They know that the moment they attempt
to impeach johnson, many now luke
warm as to him, VIII be converted into
ardent and jealous supporters; and a
sympathy more or less strong and univer-
sal, will be created in his favor through
out the nation. Persecution nearly al
ways begets sympathy. Charles the |,
though guilty of unparalleled duplicity
and petty tyranny unbecoming the prince
of great nation; yet when he was
tried and finally beheaded, public opin-
ion materially changed in his favor; and
this, too, under the surveillance of an ar
my that, from amid the smoke and din of
an hundred battles, had always emerged
victorious under Cromwell Thus it was
then, and thus it would be again and
none know this better than these aforesaid
Radical leaders.
But there is still another reason why
they will not impeach President johnson
| if they yet have any reason or sense left
IF johnson is the man his friends claim
that he is-if he has the bravery and
nerve attributed to him by them, he will
not remain idle while Congress is trying
him on charge involving his removal
from the Presidential chair, his conse-
quent degradation, and perhaps an igno-
minious death. We should expect, his
enemies would expect that he would a
dopt summary measures. He is, by the
Constitution, commander-in-chief of the
military power of the United States; and
Congress might rest assured that that
power would be welded against them and
in favor of the preservation of the per-
son of the President Congress, on the
other hand, we suppose will try to raise
an army. It is claimed it could easily be
done through the secret political societies
in the interest of the Radicals all over the
the country. OF course all this would
produce war-another terrible and bloody
Civil War. But war cannot long be car
ried on without money. The money-lend-
ers are power in this Government as
well as those in European Governments.
Under such circumstances would they
loan more money? We think not. And