Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-10-04
Impeachment.
capacity.

The State Conventions of the Republican
party held since the demonstrations of Pres
dent johnson in removing General Sheridan
and General Sickles. and issuing his amnesty
proclamation, have been significantly in a gree
ment In respect TO the necessity Of disarm-
ing Mr. johnson, by Impeachment if need
be. of his power to delay or defeat the work
of reconstruction. The Massachusetts, Re-
publicans spoke decidedly and emphatcalv,
and the Republicans of New York were
scarcely more qualified in their language.
This is the resolution OF the New York con-
vention
Resoired. That the course of the Congress
Of the United States in carving out meas
ures of reconstruction the basis of free
dom, regardless of the seduction of execu-
tive patronage or the tcrrors of executive
favor. meet our earnest approval, and that
unreseryedlv we do hereby assure them of
our determination to stand by them through
this struggle, and in all measures necessary
TO place liberty and peace on lasting foUnda-
tions, even to the seyerest remcnies known
to the Constitution.
Senator Conkling Of New York presided
at the Syracuse convention. He is reckOned
among the Republicans inclined to be
conservative, and vet in his remarks on TAX
ing the chair he thus urged all constitu.
tionaI methods Of disarIning the President
do not mea D. az some have insisted, that
Congress should remain in perpetual or
traordinarv session, and strain or transcend
the Constitution by taking from him the
Presidential powers vested bv the Constitu-
ton in the Executive alone nor do | mean
that Congress should, by any legislative de-
vice, attempt to circumvent or supersede the
chief Executive Office. As well might
court, because sheriff marshal
faithful. attempt to execute its process itself
The Constitution says the President. not
Congress, shall see that the laws are faith
fully executed. IF the President cannot be
trusted with the functions of this office. if
he has done acts which forfeit his right to
exercise the powers of his place, if he is so
fatally bent mischief that he is not fit TO
be left unmatched or united, the Constitution
prescribes the remedy. 1t is not that Con-
gress shall usurp or curtail the Executive
Office. nor that the two Houses shall crouch
like watch-dogs baying to prevent Executive
action. No such continuance finds place in
the charter of our liberties. No extremity
ever Justify it. Any condition of things
demanding such a resort will demand some
thing more 1t Is not for me TO express, nor
even to form, an opinion of the grounds for
impeachment which may exist. The duty
may in another place be called upon to do
imposes silence and abstinence upon me, and
besides, from the outset it has been my ear
nest hope that the country might be spared
the anxiety and disturbance incident to de-
posing the chief officer of the government.
But NAV be permitted to say that whenever
the acting President cannot be restrained
within loyal limits, except by being shorn of
the constitutional powers of his Office, and
kept continually cowed by sessions OF Con-
gress svowedly maintained for that purpose.
the welfare. the dignity, the judgment, the
conscience of the nation will demand higher
and sterner methods. If, indeed, such
juncture shall ever arise. let the grand in
quest Of the nation present the accused for
bis crimes and misdemeanors let him have
IN impartial trial, and, if found guilty, let
him Be consigned by Judicial sentence, as he