Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-15
IMPEACHMENT OF JOHNSON.

The originators OF our government
wisely afforded the means of reaching
the President and expelliDg him from
Office for official misconduct 1t was
foreseen that the great office would draw
after it powers intended for other depart
ments, and thus, if unchecked, consoi-
date all authority in the hands of a single
man. Necessarily much discretion must
be exercised, and much done by the
President in matters for which there is
neither precedent nor law. Usage be-
comes law, and precedent authority.
Acts of the earlier Presidents are quoted
TO show what the Executive may now do.
If allowed to stand unquestioned, the
official acts of ANDREW JOHNSON will be
quoted hereafter as authority. Now,
if he can find precedent for what
he has done, drawn from the other
Presidents, impeachment and expulsion
from Office, if not impossible, would, in
his case be revolutionary 1t is only
when positive crime is committed by
so high an officer that the extraordinary
proceeding of impeachment may be re-
sorted TO. 1t will be difficult to make out
a case in which Mr.. JOHNSON has violated
the Constitution or the law, or acted cor
ruptly in Office. The time in which he
presides over the country has cast to the
surface issues which did not and could
not have been determined by any prede-
cessor before LINCOLN Acceding to the
Office at the conclusion Of great war
which left society in a sort of anarchy,
he was compelled to determine questions
that never had before arisen, and for
which there were no guides for his action.
He did the best he could, and for this he
is to be impeached.
The only legitimate cause Of quarrel
between himself and Congress is parti-
san. Failing to follow those bodies into |
the extremes which party tactics sug- |
gested for the retention of power, they |
regard him as if he were iyrant and
usurper, and would hurl him from office.
There is in one house the necessary
numbers to prefer articles of impeach-
ment. and in the other like numbers to |
convict The case is already determined,
for it is not to be supposed that any soil
tary man of the majority is liable to have
his opinions modified. 1t is party
necessity that ANDREW JOHNSON should
vacate the Presidency. And that is all.
LINCOLN assumed responsibilities and
performed acts which would, in
other days, have cost him his
office, if not his head. The
catalogue of these acts is long, but
well remembered He stood above the
Constitution when he deemed that ele-
walton necessary to accomplish certain
ends. Such extremists as WADE and
WINTER DAVIS published to the country
long and earnest protest against what
they regarded as usurpation of authority.
But the tide then flowing swept them on
until their voices were stilled in the grand
murmur of the Radical waters. But LIN
coin was disposed to follow that tide,
and it afforded him indemnity. JOHN
son, little more firm, took his stand on
the Constitution, and defed the billow
that beat against it 1t is from that po-
sition he is to be brought down-brought
down for daring to plant his foot upon it
for daring to protect it The trial of
JOHNSON will bring to light all that LIN
COLIN has done. What then