Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-11-16
"L3S Well Enough Alone ,

This Wholesome Injunction is always in
order. 1t is eSpe tally 50 i'll politics: and
at thi time when some Of The most ardent
AMI fiery of cur parry men are discussing
the leril right to impeach the President.
there are others that are discussing with
equal earilestncs. and with equal good
seIse, to say the least the expectancy of
such an undertaking. We cannot see why
this old rule of action vii, not apply here
with mach force. Let well enough alone
'rhe President raised an Issue with Con
gress. we say he did SO il wanton and
wicked manner, but he proposed to leave
il to the people. and did so. No matter il
he used all the power OF the Executive within
his control to make the issue result a. he
wished, and that he went speech-makinc
through the country dcnounci'ig Congress
and apY,lauding Andrew johnson. These
were exhibitions of i'll temper and want o:
correct official dignity sc, which initiates
against him personally. ebut which helped 10
swell the Union maiorities in tho loyal
states. Wcmay be grieved, or sad. or veX
ed at these multiplying exhibitions Of the
President, but 1t seems TO rs that SO long
rs the verdict of the people is overwhelm-
ingly on the side of the majority OF Con
yress. that We can afford to let the matter
rest there. Congress can carry any meas
ure it plcases by atwo thirds vote. as the
ease stands now. and here the Union party
had better let well enor~!, alone. The Pres
idcnt cannot do much harm, with the coun-
try SO Overwhelmingly against him. And
why array the country in Il hot dispute ov
or the question al the legality OF his many
acts, when this issue will make the Pre.i-
dent friends ont OF mere sympathy. and
distract the Uuion party? We clip the fol-
lowing from the Nation:
But are We because the wisdom Or fairness c (
impeacnment would be doubtful or unwisc. to
u. Fit down undsr this mans dieta,ion and let him
g uin the country if he will. BY no means. lie
las for nine m nths been carrying on IL eontro-
sarsy with C,ngr uader impressions u. 10
his power and duties derived from "a state of
things which has passed away. The country
has been appealed TO decide between them The
verdict has been given against fhe President.
His past course II not only condemned, but he
is Il formed as plainly AZ possible that hc must
mead his ways--tlet he is neither n leader nor
rcstorcr, but simply stop-gap. What we want
at this point is S;st.smcnto take upthe work of
reconstruction. botchctl thougllt be, and COM
pete it on the great principles which the coun-
try n of,cc more affirmed. Whit we do l0'
Naptis Il brvy of sharp attorneys to d's,rT,tt and
rend the nation with tedious and iircica hut
exciting trial. in which we should wait and fret
while counsel wramglcd and chopped logic We
have two-thrd> lpaiority in both Ho!Ises. We
can Iwha'evcr WE think just and eXpedicnt
Let us do II if need lie, over Mr.. John sons head
lie has now received solemn warning that he
j. to execute and not to lcgi>afe. Let u' sec
that he executes faithfully. Should he neglect
or fail 10 do his duty now. he will SIN against the
light. and We can then proceed 10 punish him,
with the con cousncss that we have not taken
him unawarcs, and that we haze not sa,l,lled him
with duties to the discharge Of which neither
his ptlucatiarl nor his head, nor his conscience
/, equal To heal the wounds leff by civil war,
and lin millions Of people out Of hondage and
darkness into liberty and light. Is The most sub
lime and awEi task which was ever imposed on
= legislature. pamomcnt ofweakness, or con-
f,sion or acknowledgements. we all comsiyrd AZ or
,o,,icsced in lis assumption hs one weak, ig,io-
rant and ove.l-slated man.. lie lilsjaied miser-
ahly. LctIls east him a-dc--contclnptously. il
y III will; b. o mereyS sake. d. lnot let NJ
treat the word at SUED, crisis. Ia the paitry aud
degrading s,e liable ola whole nation trying him
;utiiciallv for having been prcsunitous, conceiied
nhstinat,.. us,etitlcated, and for having passed
the flower Of his years ~ little village poiili-
,;,n In nsia,e State All this Is his misfortune
and our shame. but 10 L"yers lohsna' sah eN-
ar make il Out q crime worthy Of ans. heavier
penalty, If heavier penalty there b., than ta'
ton, sssoril aiid rtbuke.