The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-01
Charges Against the President.

Inc hOme1y saying Is FerlHeu again, Sntl
falseheod will go league while truth ispuil-
ing on its boots. Circumstances happen to
have illustrated it very forcibly of late in the
case of the President. As the charges of
usurpation, disobedience to the laws by re-
fusinp to execute them, and corrupt practices,
are brought against him, they have fallen to
| the ground one by one. Inasmuch as the
President is the direct representative and
agent of the people of the entire country and
not merely of state or district, his constltu-
ents win feel that the complete refutation OF
such serious charges, and the triumphant
vindication of his character and conduct in
the premises reflect with equal satisfaction
on themselves.
First in order in the list of serious charges
| came the accusation that he had been the
direct means of enabling prisoners to escape
| from righteous punishment, who had been
proyed guilty of the murder of three union
| soldiers in South Carolina. 1t was alleged
| that thew were removed by his order out OF
the military district of Gen. Sickles, and sent
| tn Fort Delaware, and taken thence on
writ of habeas corpus and transferred to the
civil authority. As for the justice or inlus-
tice, the propriety or improperly OF such &C
ton, it is not to the point now that anything
be said; but allowing that it was in reality the
criminal act it was alleged to be, being moth
ing less than using his power as the execu-
tive to defeat the operation OF the laws, 1t
turns out, from the testimony produced, that
he was not responsible for the removal OF
these prisoners at all, but that 1t was done
nv order of Secretary Stanton. That there
he no dispute about the fact, it is established
bv the testimony of Mr.. Stanton himself, be-
fore an investigating committee ofthe house!
The secretary says he was not willing, in
view of the decision of the supreme court in
! relation to trials before the military commits
sions, to assume the responsibility of recon-
mending the sentence of death upon these
n men, and he therefore advised the Presi
t. dent to commute the sentence to lmprlson
J. ment for life;" also that he would have or
- dered the prisoners to be sent to Tortugas
:. but for its unhealthiness, and that, on con
r sderation, he determined to remove them t.
D. Fort Delaware. He testifes that he had NJ
te purpose to bring them within the jurisdiction
, of court, so that the writ of habeas corpu
:, would apply-but that statement does nc
u affect the main one, that the act was solel
to his own, and to quote his own words betor
~ the eommittee-"in the exercise of my be:
judgement and on my official responsibility
No one suggested that place in particula
L. and he had no conversation with anybod
ne but the adiutant general on the subject.
UT So much for his charge, which has bee
be used in the most vituperative phrases OF tt
radical vocabulary, and upon which, as a
important one in the list, the radical leade
relied. to familiarize the popular mind wi
on what they wished to be thought good groun
,es for the Presidents impeachment
-. Next came the accusation that he h.
neglected to enforce the civil rights bill.
make out the charge, all reports of cases
re which persons in the southern states had s,
Din fered in their persons or property as the !
Ito suit of such neglect, we're called for by t
ell senate The President responded wi
ad promptness, having first requested eve
Inn member of the cabinet to furnish instances
any violation of the new law within the &C
nat troll of his department; and the sequel d
-. closed the fact that but three known cases
all obnoxious to such charge could be pl
rs duced, and those of so doubtful a charac,
ed, as to have incurred delay in legal procet
ers ings merely for the sake of more careful {
olp visement. Thus the second serious char
:, has vanished into thin air. The radic
: took great pains to have it impressed on
mt, minds of the people that the President "
wilfully obstructing the law by neglecting
execute it; but most thorough and exhau
DIS i've search for the facts shows that there CT
,at not be produced single instance in viii
= he has either refused or neglected to perfo
VI his whole duty.
lth Charge the third was one of corruption,
that he had approached the senators ell,
bod from Colorado, Messrs Evans and Chaff
not with the proposition that he would affix
ny. signature to the bill making Colorado st.
IN. in the Union, if they would bind themsel,
ion ion to support his restoration policy. These t
uld gentlemen were produced before the judicis
,an committee within very few days, and til
uld testified unequiyocally that afterthe Colora