Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-09-20
andrew .Johnson's Threats.

Herald, derives significance from the iact
that Andrew johnson has taken that pa
per into his confidence since its latest SOM
ersault into the ranks of the rebe-demo-
cracy:
Taking it for granted that the Radical
leaders are in earnest and that all tne!r
loud threats are not mere idle boastlngs, IL
becomes asmatter of interest to know now
the President will act in the event OF MS
attempted impeachment.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL DO II In
L q PEACHED.G 81. T., .
I am reliably informed that he Will re-
gard the action of Congress as revoluIloh-
airy. The Radicals having bandoned the
idea of trying him for high crimes ana
misdemeanors, and justifying his lmpeacn-
.ment on the ground that he is, In the IAN
guage of Butler, an "impe 1ment TO re-
construction, he will not recognize tnelr
proceedings as legal or constitutional, ana
will paw no respect to their resolves ana
determinations. Should articles OF I'M
peachment be presented and resolutlon
passed suspending Mr.. johnson and pro-
hibiting him from exercising the functions
of President, should Wade be chosen to
act as President adj interim, and, armed
with this color of right and law, command
johnson to yacate the White House and
turn over to him all the property, papers,
&C., pertaining to the Executive office,
have reason to believe MI. Jonson will de-
cline. and defy Congress to do its worst.
The Presidents view OF the matter is said
to be this Each of the three great branch
es of the Government is for itself the judge
of the constitutionality of law. Con-
gress, in the first place, is a Judge ~ pas
ses a.law according to constitutional forms
by the requisite majority over the Presl-
dents veto. According to the Constltu-
ton it can only legislate on certain sub
iects Well, the law is passed and 1t comes
to the President for execution. he is
sworn to faithfully execute his office and
"to preserve, protect and defend the Con
stitution of the United States" Who Is
to determine for him whether the law pass
ed by Congress does not conflict with the
Constitution he is sworn to defend? Ii he
considers it clearly in violation of the Con
stitution, is he not under the most solemn
obligation to refuse to eaforce it? 1t is con
tended by some that the more usual mode is
for the President to assume a law constitu
tional until otherwise declared by the SUI
preme Court This the President consid-
ers only applies to doubtful cases !; but
where the conflict with the Constitution Is
clear and undoubted, the President consid-
ers it his duty to decline its enforcement
altogether. Applying this to impeach.
ment, the following is the result Congress
passes articles of impeachment, suspends
the President, and orders his arrest. The
alleged offense is that he refuses to enforce
the laws which he honestly believes to be
in antagonisrn with the Constitution.
He takes one view of the law, Congress
another. He holds that he can only be re-
moved on "conviction of treason, bribery
and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
He holds that mere difference of opinion
as to the constitutionality of a law between
himself and Congress IS neither treason
bribery, nor other crime or misdemeanor
He holds, therefore, that he cannot be i'm
peached, suspended or removed from OF
fee.
Congress insists he can. Then, he con
siders, Congress places itself In an attitude
of revolution. It thus violates the Con
stitution by attempting to usurp the exec
utive power, and must be put down. How
will this be done? The President, acting
for the best interests of the country, and
deeming the safety of the Republic in dan
ger, viii issue proclamation proroguing
Congress-, calling for an election of new
members and invoking the aid of the peo
Die to sustain him. This, l am assured, is
the view the President takes of the Inn
parchment muddle and the way he wlllact
should the occasion arise
Under the Constitution the President
has the power to prorogue Congress only
in case Of a disagreement to adjourn. but
in q great public emergency, where the
life of the nation is at stake, the President
considers the exercise of extraordinary
powers .iustifable. Moreover, Congress,
by assuming unconstitutional powers and
attempting to destroy the Executive, dis
Qualities itself, is no longer a lawful Con-
gress, but body of usurpers and traitors.
As such they have no rights the Executive
ia bound to respect, and the Executive will
deal with them accordingly. The Presi-
dents theory is that they first lnaugurate
revolution by attempting an act subversive
of the Government, and upon them Will
rest the responsibility of any strife or con-
fusion that may follow. W
n THE PRESIDENTS LATE ACTS,
following one so fast upon the other, natu-
rally has occasioned sensation. First OF
all. in his veto message last July, he warm
ed Congress in the following language :
while I hold the chief Executive author
itv of the United States, while the obliga-
ton rests upon me to see that all the laws
are faithfully executed, Ican never willing
w surrender that trust or the powers given
for its execution"
This was seized upon by Boutwell, and
other Radical leaders in the house at the
time as an evidence of the Presidents In
tention to obstruct the enforcement of the
Reconstruction laws. Everybody recol-
lects the impassioned appeal for lmpeach-
ment made by Gov. Boutwell, on that day.
It produced a great effect, making many
Conservative Republicans Wayer IN their
opposition to impeachment. Since then
enough has happened to stir up the Kadl-
cal blood and warm the moribund lmpeach-
ment monster into new life and strength.
Stanton's suspension, the removal of Sher-
idan and Sicles, and the issuance of extra
ordinary and unlooked-for proclamations
have followed each other SO rapidly that
people scarcely realize the important chan
ges that have occurred IN very lew
weeks.
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
was not intended as mere political dodge
to catch the popular favor and enlist South,
ern sympathy more strongly In behaif OF
the Johnsonian policy. The President
does not intend that it shall be merely
useless State paper OF flne phrases but
empty effects. He designs it shall work to
the advantage of the Southern whites by
pardoning large class most lntelh,
gent wealthy and socially Jaf1uentlal-and
restoring to them their civil rights, lnclud-
: ~ q 10 col q