The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-23

will probably be retorted; but turbulence and
bloodshed are on all accounts, to be deprecated,
and should be reserved as last appliance when
all other remedies have failed. The riqht of the
people TO resist usutpau0n and tyranny by arms
IS plainly written in tue Constitution. In the
declaration that ''the right of the people To hear
arms shall not be- infringedn But this is a right
to be used only in the extremity of otherwise
remedilPss oppression.
We are quite of Mr.. Greeley's opinion that i'm
peachment will recoil against the Republican
party, and open for 1t "a short road from ma
iOrity TO q minority Assuming this ooinion
TO be correct there will be no necessity for
violent redress The imreachment win rouse
ana agitate the country; but where the
bailot-boxes are open and elections free an in
Censed people seldom need have recourse to
arms. Outrages iiagrant enough to stir up po-
pular passions TO armed resistance, can be used
to much better effect in strengiheninp and
animatiDg political opposition. To retain Mr.
johnson in Office by force would be far less
signal triumph for the Democracy than To re.
store him to office by regular election If he
is deposed next spring or summer there must
be an immediate Presidential election to fiji the
vacancy, and the Republicans would leave their
opponents no choice in the selection of can
date.
1t would be due to justice that Mr.. Johnson,s
character should be vindicated against uniust
aspersions, and no vindiCation would be so
triumphant, or would give him such standing
IN the eyes of Europe and of posteritv as q
restoration to Office by the free sufrages of an
honest and outraged people. The instructive
love OF fair play which runs in the Saxon blood
easily makes hero of the victim OF malignant
persecution, without much regard to his per.
sonal qualities. The English people have little
respect for the character of John Wilkes but
when they saw him wronged and the English
Constitution violated in his person. they bore
him back IN triumph to the Parliament from
which he had been elected. The radical may
unwlthngly render Andrew johnson similar
service.
Mr.. johnson If impeached, will not be tried
by a secret Star Chamber, but by the Senate IN
open sessions. The public are Just as Compe-
tent to judge of the evidence as the Senate
Itself. And they 1G1N judge. The evidence will
be discussed in every Independent journal in
Europe and America, and the conscience of
tairminded men will make a just decision,
whatever may be the verdict of the Senate. By
putting the President on his trial, the Repu0li-
cans Will subordinate political considerations
to the question of personal guilt; and the con-
science of the country Will be shocked and out
ragged If he Is condemned as a criminal on ac-
count OF his honest political views-views which,
II will be shown on the trial, he shares with his
immediate predecessor in Office, and with all
our most eminent jursts and statesmen. 1t will
not suffice for the prosecutors to contute Mr..
Johnsons political opinions; they must esta-
bllsh his personal guilt.
Whether his opinions are right or wrong is
really nothing to the purpose. In any fair
judgment. these Will be laid quite out of the
case, and nothing be considered but whether
tie President has been guilty of treason,
bribery, or other high Grim mes or misdemeanOrs.'
1t is not the policy of the officer but only the
guilt OF the man which can form any Just
ground OflmpeaChment, and If he is condemned
for his policy without any evidence of crime
(as he will be, if condemned at ALL, the Coun.
try will sit in review on the proceedings of the
Senate and reverse its judgment.
If the Senate give MI. johnson fair hearing,
through such counsel as he may select, the
Democracy would make a fatal mistake if they
should attempt to interfere with the proceed
ines, or to resist the sentence, instead of await
ing the verdict of the country on the result
The Republicans are apparently about to com
init a stupendous blunder. Instead of inter
posing between them and political suicide, it is
the business of the Democracy TO take advan-
tage of their folly, when they have gone too fal
to retreat.