The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-22

the rebels four hundred millions of dollars for
their negroes down 10 his last laundering
manifesto for q universal amnesty, negro suf-
frage or no negro suffrage. OF course he is
frightened out of his wits at this impeachment
movement, from the terrible threatenipgs of
TIE copperheads but he blunders worse than
ever in regard to the course Of the HERALD.
He will have 1t that it was the HERALD that
led poor Pierce and the democracy to their
destruction ON that fatal Kansag-Nebraska
bill; and he fears that in this "malicious
mockery" of the HERALD on this impeachment
remedy we are now leading the republicans
on the road to ruin. Let us assure our fright
ensd philosopher that there is no danger in
this remedy of impeachment, none whatever,
and that in our discussions of the subject we
are looking only at the general interests of
the country and for the shortest, simplest and
most available programme for decisive set
Element with the South.
Does this new departure suggested in behalf
of the President meet the necessities OF the
case, As we understand it it involves the
casting out of the pending constitutional
amendment and the readmission into Congress
Of the rebel States, under their concession OF
negro suffrage, just as they are. Under this
plan within twelvemonth Mason and Slidell
may be back again in the Senate, and most Of
the old secession Southern delegations Of
ls6O-61 may be back again in the House,
agitating State rights once more and the un-
constitutionality of the war for the Union, and
all its debts and obligations. Is it not wiser,
first of all, to fix these obligations in the con-
stitution beyond the reach of reputation
party, and wiser, as the pending amendment
proposes, to let each State for itself take negro
suffrage with negro representation, or give up
the one in Withholding the other? We think
so. At all events we want some other secu-
rites for the future besides Greeley's universal
panaeea Of general rebel amnesty e.ad negro
suffrage.
But the paramount issue which now demands
the functions Of the Executive and the powers
of Congress. Under jackson the latter day
policy of Executive encroachments upon the
exclusive powers of Congress was commenced,
which, from his examples, has been steadily ad-
vancing, until now we find the Executive not
only assuming the highest and most exclusive
powers of Congress, but charging usurpation
upon the two houses in presuming to deny him
these legislative powers and in refusing to en-
dorse his acts done without authority in law.
The constitutional line Of demarcation, there
fore, between the law making and the law exc
cutting branches of the government must now
be fixed and settled. So clearly, too, is this
line drawn in the constitution that Congress
has only to assume and exercise its rightful
authority in order to settle the question. We
guess that the amendment, added to recon-
struction bill offered the other day in the House,
providing for the suspension Of the habeas
corpus and the re-establishment Of martial law
in the rebel States, has this settlement in view.
Let this thing be passed into law over the
Presidents veto, and then in his refusal, if he
shall refuse to execute the law, the last resort
of impeachment will admit of no further delay.
The prospect is that under this test the Execu-
tive will plead q justification against Congress
from the Supreme Court, in which event, under
the pressure of this great revolution which is
upon u.s. President johnson will be removed
and the court reconstructed, to make way for
the will of the sovereign people as represented
in Congress.