New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-04
IMPEACHMENT.
once.

The Vashin1ton Chronicle of Saturday has an
elaborate and vigorous article urging the inn
peachment of President johnson, whereof the
gist is as follows:
James Madison, the leading writer OF The Federalst
was member Of the Virginia Convention called for the
purpOse OF considering the National Constitution, or
which he was chief Trainer and advocate During the
Convention which prepared the National CONSTITUTION
he kent full private notes. aferward published by order
NJ gress and ever regarded nfabe author
ity When the Constitution was submitted to the respect
ried conviction 10 doubling mRds, converting even JET
ferson by their clearness and cogency The virginia Con
yention assembled in June OF 1885, with Mr. Madison as
tbe chief Of the party favorable to the ratl
fication assisted by Marshall, Pendeton, Edmund Ran
dolph and others, and opposed by Monroe, GraysOn,
Henry and Mason This array OF intellectual giants Sud
jected the Constitution to terribly searching ANALYSIS
Their words carefully taken down at the time, are now
preserved among the archives OF the nation and control
statesmen and constitutional lawyers as completely as
the profOundest opinions Of the greatest judicial MINDS
II was after this memorable intellectual struggle that the
Constitution was ratified, by vote OF 80 TO ~ Wem in1
second section OF the second article OF the CONSTITUTION
was under consideration very interesting and thorough
debate took place That section Is as follows:
S 81 1e p s I and Of the %a Of the several
when called into active service Of ne On.ea sa' nc 2 sIt
rens upon any subject relating the duties Of their respective oe
, ana ~ he United statc. except in case, O@psacen
The opponents Of the Constitution alarmed Mt the ex-
F%ccuiiye threw their whole force against it. George
Mason was particularly apprchenslYe lest corrupt anu
fthcss Executive might abuse the preroGayes here so
generousIy bestowed lie contended that the President
aouGHT SoT TO HAVE THE POWER OF PARDoNING, BIZ
Cause HR MAY FREQUENTLY PARDON CRIMES WHICH WIRE
,nyIsFD NY HIMSELF" ar MAY HAPPEN At SOME ~
TURF DAY" said Mr. Mason, "THAT HE WILL ESTABLISH
MoNtRCnY AND DESTROY TIE REPUBLIC. II HE HAS TIE
POWER OF GRANTING PARDoNs BEFORE INDICTMENT AND
CONVICTION, MAY NOT STOP INQUIRY AND PREVENT DE-
TgcTIoS I" Now mark the language reply TO these
weghty objections employed by the Father OF the Con
sttutIon james Madison OF Virginia:
"Mr Madison adverting TO Mr.. Masons, objection
to the Presidents power of pardOnng. said 1t w0nd
be extremely improper 10 vest 1t III the House OF KEEP
rcscntatiyes and not much less to place it in the
Senate because numerous bodies were actuated move
or less by passion and might in the moment OF 49,
aeance forget humanity. IL was an established pac-
tce i'm Massachusetts for the Legislature 10 deter
mine such eases 1t was found says he that two diff
frrent sessions before each of which the question
came with respect To pardoning the de nqnents OF
the Rebellion were governed precisely ny dliiereh,
sentiments: the would execute with nnlNeISai
vengeance and the other would extend general
mercy.
"Therc IS one security in this case to which gentle
men may not have adyertcd. II the President be
connected in any suspicious manner WIN any PeiSon,
and if there be any grounds To believe he viii shelter
him. the House of Representatives, can lnpeach nun
ihey can rcm0rc him u lound guilty; they can suspend
him whol suspected, and ne po'cT irH dcr0ire on me
Vicc President ShoHd he be suspected Also he may Ike
irsc be suspended until he be impeachod and remored ana
The Legislature may make temporary appoIntme" ms
is u great security"
We do not give The Chronicles comments,
since their drift is obvious but we will thank
some one who holds the opposite view to show
wherein and how Mr.. Madison erred i'll suppOs-
ing that the House, in deciding To mpeach n
President, can suspend him if suspected. And
so of the Vice President If an impeachcd
President still retains all the powers incident
10 his station, how came Mr.. Madson-iust
fresh from framing the Federal Constitution
to blunder as nbOvcf