The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-01
President johnson and his Enemies.

the M1ffonM fWsNsVeRc<F ueca~s0s 80.
araons men OF high oflciai station, there az, 49,.
= project for putting the President on. ~ 81
way by Impeachment. Section =, ,,..,S,,.
the Constitution, provides that the ~ - .na
Vice. President, and all civil on'.s.s '.
..united States, shall % remoss. 49,
sson impeachment for and consic.oh VI
:. .on. bribery, or other hign crimes ~.u -
!, S.,s..nors." Section 5, Article !, declares
that the House of Representatives snail nave
the sole power Of impeachment, ana section y
OF same article, that 1.-The Senate shall nave
!. the sole power to try all impeachments
when sitting for that purpose, they shall be
q. on oath or animation. When the President
"of the United States 10 tried, the Chief Jus
"tice shall preside; and no person shall be
convicted without the concurrence OF two
"thirds Of the members present" Section
declares that judgment In case OF impeaeh.
ment shall not extend farther than 10 removai
from once, and disqualification to hold any
ONCE under the United States. Section o. OF
Article 2, provides that I'm case OF the removal
of the President from Office, or OF mis- death'
resignation, or inability TO discharge INC uu'ieS
Of his office, the same shall devolve on the
Vice President; and that Congress may by
law provide for tbs case OF removal, death,
&c. both of the President and Vice. President,
declaring what officer shall then act as Presi-
dent; and said officer shall act accordingly
until the disability shall be removed or Pre-.
sident shall be elected
II the House Of Representatives has the
nerve. 1t has unique stionably the power to i'm
peach the President. 1t must be, however, Tor
treason, bribery, or other high crimes and mis-
demeanors. Which Of these has ANDREW
JoHssoS committed We could scarcely be-
lieve, except upon the grave authority OF the
National haeliigencer, that 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 impeachment. Unless it is treason, or a
high crime and msdemeanor, to veto ON act OF
Congress, and sustain that veto with argu-
ments that which Radicals Of that body are
unable TO answer, we cannot conceive how the
enemies of ANDREW JOHNSON can so much as
initiate a constitutional process for his trial
Still less is 1t possible to understand how they
can anticipate the success of an impeachment,
when two-thirds Of the Senate cannot be
brought even to overthrow his veto.
The President, in his 22d Of February
spsech. intimates that even the desperate and
Internal means of assassination has been con-
templated 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 con-
clusion that passions are excited which might
lead TO such terrible catastrophe. Whata
fearful emphasis does such state OF facts
impart to the words of WAsHINGroN's Fare
well Address, when he said: " Let me warn
lyon, in the most solemn manner, against the
"baneful effects of the spirit Of party gene
orally. This spirit, unfortunately, is insepa-
cradle from our nature, having its roots in
the strongest passions Of the human MIND
1t exists under different shapes in all govern
"ments, but in those Of the popular form 1t Is
seen in the greatest rankness, and is truly
their worst enemy. The alternate DONNA
ton of one faction over another, sharpened
"by the spirit Of revenge, natural to party
"dissensions, which, ia different ages and
countries, has perpetrated the most horrid
enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
but this leads, ut length, to more formal
"and permanent despotism."
There is, indeed, an . earthquake" heaving,
not only under the Capitol. but under the
whole temple Of Republican Government, II
party passion shall not be checked and re-
strained.