Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-09-20
fWHOLE NO. 299.

traying their trusts; malyersation and
neglect in cfiice have been grounds fol
impeachment; official oppression or extor.
tions; the putting Of good men out Of Of
fee, and advancing bad men,"
The purpose, use, and occasion for tho
exercise Of this provision of our Consfitu-
ton, derived from that Of Great Britain
was adopted by us with these historic H.
lustrations that have been named and with
many others Of a like charactcf In the
absence of any legal provisions or usages
OF our own contravcning these, they nm
questionably furnish the true interprsfa.
ton. We have enacted no laws scoutra;
vening the precedents Of Parliamenthfy
history, and our usages have conformed
thereto, such for instances of impeachment
as our history furnishes. Congress has
adopted the conclusion that no previous
statute is necessary to authofite any i'm
peachment for official misconduct.
Under the law as il thus unquestionably
appears to be, has not President Johnson
been VIGOROUSLY guilty Of official 'crimes
and misdemeanors" of the highest and
most aagrant character In the attempted
reconstruction Of the disorganized rebel
States, he usurpcd the exercise of, powers
belonging exclusively to the legislative de.
partmen: Of government, thus "attempt-
ing to subvert the fundamental laws"
He has publicly villifed Congress be-
fore the people, for the purpose of destroy
ing the respect and confidence Of the peo.
pie in that department Of Government.
He has, without authority of law. be-
slowed the public property Of the United
States upon individuals and corporations;
with an aggrayation of the crime, that
these upon whom the bestowals were made
had recently been in open, armed resist
ance to the authority Of the Government
lie has, without Just reason or cause,
removed from Office good and loyal men,
and put in their places men who but re-
Gently were known and open enemies Of
the country.
He has abused the pardoning power By
the pardon of men guilty Of reasonable
crimes. who had subsequently, to their
crimes given no proofs Of loyalty to the
Government; thus absolving criminals
from the just and legal penalties impend-
ing over them.
He has disgraced the nation, by his i'm
moralities aud shameless debaucheries,
rendering him unfit to discharge his pub
lie duties.
lie las violated the law by disregarding
the legal and constitutional prerogatives
of the Senate, in the appointment and re-
moval Of officers.
lie is required by the Constitution and
bis oath Of pface to execute the laws. MT
withstanding which, by every means in
his power, be has opposed the reconstruc-
ton laws Of the country, and labored to
defeat their execution, endeavofihg 10 en-
force strange and unnatural interpretations
of the same, contrary to his undoubted
knowledge Of the meaning and intent Of
those laws; and to defeat them he has cap
tiously removed faithful public officers,
solely for the reason that they we're faith
full to their duties.
An officer chosen by the people, who,
in SO many particulars, wilfully and mali
ciously misrepresents their known wishes
and policy, and audaciously disregards
and violates the laws Of the land, should
not longer be permitted to insult On out
ragged people, but should speedily be hurl-
ed from the elevated station which gives
the chief efficiency to that malign infu-
ence he exercises to the disgrace and con-
temptuous defiance Of the nation.
A. WoLcorF.