Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-05
NEW SERIES--y0L. s, NO. 20.

country and p0sterity will be, that
, the crime OF the President consists moi
in violations, but in relusals TO violat,
the law; in being unable to keep pace
= with the party of progress in their
rapidly advancing movements. or t.
step outside of and above the C0nsti
tuition in the administration of the
I government in preferring the Con.
stltutlon Of his country 10 the dcta
ton OF an INSCRIPTIONS partisan ca
bal IN daring to meet the maledic-
tions of those who have arrived at the
accomplishment Of most wicked AID
dangerous revolution rather than to
encounter the reproaches of his own
conscience and the curses of posterity
throughout time =? If the subject wore
not too grave and serious one for
mirth, some of the grounds presented
iorimpeachment by the majority would
certainly be sufficiently amusing.
The President is gravely arraigned
for arraying himself against the loyal
4 people of the country in vetoing the
miscalled reconstruction acts of Con-
gress, when, without dwelling upon
the constitutional right and duty of
the President in the premises, Con-
gress itself has for the same acts Just
received the most whitening and in
dignant condemnation and rebuke of
the entire people from Maine to Cali
fornia
The impeachers, forgetting that
they have been themselves impeaehed,
and that the verdict of the tribunal of
last resort has already been rendered
against them, still persist in trifing
with the peace, safety and prosperity
OF the country, by precipitating upon
IT this dangerous question, at time
so critical as this. 1t is wicked thus
TO trifle with the interests Of a nation,
and disregard the voice of a great peo-
pie, when spoken, as in this case, so
emphatically in favor Of the preserva-
ton Of our constitutional form of gov
ernment, and the rights and liberties
established by our Revolutionary faith
ers.
We should not attempt to add any
thing TO the able, and as we believe,
unanswerable argument just presented
by the Chairman of our committee
upon the law Of impeachment, had
not experience taught US the wonder
ful diversity OF human judgment and
conclusions. We should find it diff
cult TO believe that there could, upon
the questions submitted TO US, posi-
bly, be two opinions among candid and
intelligent men. Blind bigotry and
unbridled partisan rage, il is truo,
can see no crime in the most merito-
rious actions, and mon governed by
these unhallowed passions do not hes
itate to drag to the stake and the tor
turc Of the inquisition,al who viii not
conform 10 their wretchod creeds and
miserable dogmas.
They substitute their own crude
and often crazy theories for truth and
justice, and under pain OF the sevorest
penalties demand all mon TO bow
down and worship the idol they have
erected That their own Judgment
may be fallible, or that other mon,
differing from them, may be equally
wise and honest with themselves, does
not occur to their minds aud they
will, without hesitation, question the
justice even Of the Almighty, if the
ways Of Providence do not conform
to their own crude theories.
This class Of men has constituted
a considerable portion Of mankind in
all ages, and in none hare they heen
more numerous than in our own.
They have furnished the bigots and
prosecutors of all times; and their
pathway through the long line Of his
tory, from its earliest dawn to the
present time, has been marked with
carnage and desolation. With such
men, no argument based upon the
Constitution and established laws can
have any effect. They are too pure
and immaculate TO be fettercd by the
restraint of constitutional or written
laws.
They are Of law unto themselves,
and both men and gods must conform
TO their views and theories, and re
ceive their btterest maledictions.
But our people will never submit to
have their Chief Magistrate arraigned
for trial for ofienses unknown 10 the
laws, and which exist only in the heat
cd brains of his political enemies 1t
would be a aprecedent disastrous in its
consequences, and subversive Of our
political institutions.
We cannot doubt that the evidence
herewith, this day submitted, viii be
received with one universal burst of
Indignation by the American people.
II they retain any just pride in their
country and its Institutions, they will
blush to find that the chief officer of
thoir government has for ten months
boen subjected to the scrutiny Of a Sc
cret star chamber, an inquisition un-
parallelod in its character in the an
mails Of civilization.
A drag,pet has been put TO catch
every malicious whisper throughout
the land, aud all the vile vermin who
had gossip or slandcr TO retail, hear.
say or otherwise, have been permitted
to appear and put itupon record for
the delectation Of mankind Spies
have been sent over the land to hear
something which might blaoScn the
name and character of the Chief Ma
gistratc of the nation Unwhippod
knavcs have given Information OF fab
ulous letters aud documents, that, like
the ignis fatus, etornally elude the
grasp Of their pursuers, and the chase
ever resulted only in aiding the deple-
ton of the public Treasury.