St. Mary's gazette., 1866-11-15
IMPEACHING TIE PRESIDENT.

Radical orators and organs have talked
so fippantly of impc,ching the President,
have tnlned the most solemn and impor-
tant duty devolviug upon Congress, the
Senate, and the Chief Justice, into such a
common place affair that many people seem
to think the business can be fastened over
with the same facility as law suit i'll a
county court or discussion in country
debating society. They forget that the
Constitution carefully points out the rou-
tine to be followed when a man c.ccted by
the people Of tho United States to represent
them and the power and dignity of the IA
ton at home and abroad is to be tried for
:he silful abandonment of his duty. They
overlook the fact that all the details of such
a trial are presented with a mlnutcness
and accuracy that forbids those engaged
in it from straying from the legal and con
stitutional path The bill of indictment
must be drawn by certain specified form.
The trial must take place before differ
cut body. The Chief Justice of the UIl-
ted States must preside, and the Senators
must be sworn as jurors TO act on the mo-
mcntous occasion, not as politicians, not as
mcu eaLer for an excuse to dcposc Pres
ident by means Of the "block and the axe,
in order to hold the reins of political pow
er and thus be enabled to fill the different
situations with their friends and tools, but
as honest men as patriots with an eye
single to the welfare Of the whole people,
the unity of the Sta'e, and the pro perltT
of the nation.
The same care taken by the trainers OF
the Constitution IN hedging trial OF tho
Chief Magistrate of the nation with due
forms and safeguards, extends to the specl-
6cation of the bodies which are to particl-
pate in the solemn business The House
of Representatives is to prefer the charges.
The Cd section, article | Of the Consutu-
ton thus sets forth the manner in which
this Grand Jury to find bill of lmpeacL-
mcnt against the President is to be drawn
from the nation
The House of Representatives shall Be
composed of members chosen every second
year by the people q the ScDerot States,
and thc electors IN each State shall have
the qualification for electors Of the most
numerous branch of the State LcGisla-
ture.
1t will be observed that by the provl-
sions of the Constitution House of Rep
resentatives. to prefer charges against the
President, shall be" composed Of mem
bers chosen every second year by the peo-
plc Of the several States Now, viii
i be commended that a Congress III which
ten States of the Union are unrepresentcd
not from compuIslon, is such Congress
As the Constitution contemplated to BRING
charres against the President, and send
them to the Senate? If the ten States
mentioned neglected to send delegates to
Congress; if they voluntarily refused to
part .cipatc in the legislative affairs OF the
patton; if they surrendered their rights by
free will choice, the ease would be df1cr-
ent. But they arc now asking to have
their members of Congress admitted
That request has been rcfusca. and a sec
tional majority has deprived Congress OF
power, under tho Constitution, To prefer
charges against the President, because
that body is not composed Of members
chosen by the people comprising tue "sev-
eral States ot the Federal mon.
But II the charges uld DO preferred.
is the Senate Of the United States such
BODY as can be constituted a court to Try
sud sentence the President? Article l.
section | Of the Constitution thus declares
what shall constitute a legal Senate:
The Senate OF the Dnl;ed States S"''t
bs COMPOSED of two Senators from edc'
State. chosen by the Legislature thereof
for SIX years. and each Senator shat have
one vote.
Senators are now absent from ten States
Of the Union They have been elected
and have presented their credentials ana
claims for admission under the Consutu-
ION. But sectional majority has refused
their application. Under this state OF iAe's
viii any reasonable. tair man content 'ha'
IN. Srnate IS composed OF t"o Senators
from leach Statc.' If it Is. not, then IL
cannot try the President; for tie tons'!,u,
ton not only declares that the trial sNa.i
take place before the Scna,e, bat a''o s2eol-
). f~ h9v the ocnstc shall be cons.f1,e4