Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-04-04
The Debate upon the Inpeachmenf.

The opening debate IN tn. i1th Con-
grr-- upon the Impeachment re-olu-
fions wa not advantageous Ia that
,nea-uze. Mr. Ashley speech VA,
hurtfnl o. his own reputation and TO
proposition. II Vas mere philippe
80 furious that the speaker Wa com
pellcd 20 call him 20 order. upon "a sub
jet which required the calnic-t and
most temperate statement. MI Ash
ley ACCUSED the President Of melting
fo revolution anil civil war. lIe insin-
ussed = suspicion II his completely IN
the assassination of hi predecessor.
He charged him with u-urpation Of
power He accused him 81 turning
the White UsaI-c into den Of Thieves
and pardon brokcrS. He denounced
Tho President ',irunkru elertioneer-
my tour" H. Described him a. the
moral inculus which has llo'tcd our
history with it, foulcst blot" and he
affirmed that "the nation cries out in
agony" for his removal.
We can not but think that Mr.. \ -h-
lev wa- unduly excited. II j. iInpoSsi-
he not Ia remember that he made the
same charges IN more guarded language
many weeks since. Either lac made
them upon evidence or without evil
d.ncr, and from what Mr.. Phillips call
ell his "in.tincts." Tf hc made them
without cvidenrc Mr.. Ashley commit
tel very grave OfIensc. But IL ne
made chagr- with knowledge hc could
certainly. in tne course OF two months.
have presented the proof 20 "A commit =
tee composed OF Gentlemen who were
certainly not unwilling to impeach.
Vet after the most constant and dlll-
gent Investigation the committee were
not able % report that they hal found
adequate evidence upon which to rec
smmcnd impeachment. Now II sufii-
cicnt reasons for impcaching the Prcsi-
dent could not be discovered by "A viii
ling committee I'm research of two
months are they likely 20 be- found
M ali-
The committee reported. indeed, that
the charges had not been go entirely
neratived IA to admit ofno discussion, ("
and they are of opinion that there II
sufficient testimony Ia demand further
Investigation. hut that l. merely an.
other way 81 saying that, after inves-
tlgating for two months, they can not
find sufficient proof Of the Prcsiden-
tial ofIcnses, against which Mr. Ash
ley declares that "the nation cries out
in agony" 10 justify impeachment AT
present. We certainly have not chang
ed our own opinion. that II IN Inn
parchment did not curry itsclf--if il
were not plain state of necessity
clearly above the charge OF party pur-
poses In the strict sensc-if il were ne
cessary ~ engineer aud contrive il,
then h could only result i'm the dcstruc-
ton ~ those who attempted il. I'm
pcachmentis not measure of parti-
ssn warfare; II isa great Constitutional
remedy for national peril
Does that peril exist? We can not
find any valid proof If II in the speech
90 II Mr.. Ashley. or of Mr.. Phillips,
or Of General Butler; nor have the
Judiciary Committee been able 10 find
u after two months of investigation
That the President has usurped pow
ers IL not denied. But the country,
including Gen. Butler In his letter to
the Faneul Hall meeting, condoned
fhc usurpation at the time, aud has
now provided against IT. evil results
That he has corruptly used the pardon
ing power, OF the appointing power,
or has illegally returned property 10
rebels, Gen. Butler charged in hi-
speech and Mr.. Ashley i'm his. But
the exercise Of the pardoning power
and the use Of the patronage are points
very Ill defined. and Of various prcce-
dent; and unless the corruption were
proved, OF the misuse were fragrant,
the country would not sustain an inn
parchment. Yet, had il been fragrant,
would not the proof have been laid
before the committee during the two
months of investigation:
Gen. Butler, however, discarding all
other charges, declared that ii any
may withstands the progress ~ the
nation he must he removed nv Con-
stitutionai method. But IL any man
does 50 withstand the popuiarpurposc,
he II virtually and Constitutionally
removed by being made harmless; and
that IL the present position Of the Pres
ident. He L. powcrless. The popular
purpose IL thus maintained against
him in the Constitutional way. IfMr.
Ashley or Gen. Butler can show that
ne il endcavoring the overthrow Of
the Government. or the corruption of
Officers. or that he refuses % execute
the LAVE, then he can he a. easily i'm
peached as denounced. But when they
urge his impeachment as an obstacle
they surrender their case. Every Presi-
dent IN opposition il an obstacle Eve
~ majority in the House represents
the purpose Of the people. Impeach
this President because he differs with
this majority, and the precedent pois-
1ons ail our politics. Every opposition