New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-26
ANDREW JOHNSON--THE GREAT I'M
PEDIMENp,

James |. of England, who prided himself
on his skill in "kingcraft," used to say,
. Let me make the judges and care not
who makes the laws" tyrannical motto
whose significance is not without illustra-
ton at the present day. Congress spent
two sessions in connecting the military law
and its supplement They thought they
had completely covered the case I; that re-
construction in these States under these
laws could be accomplished only in &C
cordance with the principles of the denim
ant party in the nation that the power
of the president to do further mischief was
destroyed that the only part left him was
to execute the law. They forgot that
military bill was to be not only executed
by the commander in-chief of the army, but
to be interpreted by the same authority
and that the law being Of itself dead
letter receives all its vitality from the in
depreciation. Let the tyrant appoint the
interpreter and whoever will may make the
law. If such interpreter be a person " of
no conscience or integrity" he will give to
| it what sense he chooses, regardless
whether it be that intended by its trainers
or not We have just witnessed case in
point in the opinion of Mr.. Stanbery and
the order of the president based thereon.
A more fragrant misrepresentation can
hardly be cited, even from the decisions of
the most corrupt judges who pandered TO
the tyranny of the Stuarts. And yet it is
specious and calculated to deceive the I'M
wary.
But let any one apply to it the practical
test of how it would work, and then CON-
pare its certain effects with the well-known
intentions of congress, and the most simple
| can Immediately detect its disingenuous-
ness. That congress will permit the will OF
the people to be thwarted by such coup
| d'etat is incredible. No amount Of personal
! inconvenience could excuse its members
from the duty Of meeting in July next and
preventing the great wrong which is threat
ened by this dishonest act. Look at its
workings. The law is certainly lenient
enough; but of the few disabilities it ere
ates the majority are swept away like cob
webs by the " interpretation and the
whole political power Of the recently rebel
states is handed over to the same old blind
leaders who have led them into their pres
ent position. It is simply Horace Gree
| ley'5 plan of universal amnesty and uni
versal suffrage disguised in military
cloak and everybody knows how repug-
nant that plan was to the patriotism and
common sense of the nation.
This latest development of the presidents
determination to impose his will on the
country instead of being guided by that
of the people, as legally expressed, will,
however, be likely to have q good effect,
1t will show congress that no plan
Of reconstruction acceptable to the
majority can be carried out UNI
| til there has been a reconstruc-
ton OF the executive branch of the govern
ment. Andrew johnson, surrounded and
upheld by a cabinet which, with a single
noble exception is devoted to his wishes
| is the great impeachment to the rehabilita-
ton of these states and the pacification Of
the country. The contest between him and
congress has already been prolonged be-
You'd the point where forbearance ceases
to be virtue Nothing but his impeachment
and consequent removal can give harmony
to the government or tranquility to the
| country. The people are not only pre-
pared for this action on the part o.
congress they demand it. OF wha
avail for the national legislature to meet
in extra session and explain the existing
laws or enact others when the same usurp
| ing power has the Interpretation of them
1t is mockery OF law and justice. 1t is
| making the legislative department of the
government by-word and laughing
stock before the world, which sees
the president ride through their en-
actments as if they were ropes
of sand. impeachment, and that alone, is
the cure for our present national diff
fculties; and it is time that congress should
realize the fact. As for the idle reports Of
irresponsible scribblers that personal mo-
tives on the part of certain presidential
aspirants have caused the withdrawal Of
this measure, so important to the welfare o.
the country, we cannot believe them
and feel confident that their falsitJ
will be demonstrated in due season
The will Of the people cannot b,
safely thwarted by the Vaccinations of per
sonal ambition. If the majority of tn
nation see the necessity of chang
in the executive department of the gov
eminent, see that the usurpations and NAL
feasance thereof have caused incalculabl,
mischief already and will inevitabl!
cause much more, If they demand the con
stitutional remedy, it must, it will be ap
piled.
| IRIsHMEN.