The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-02-27
Impeachment of President johnson.

If the impeachment OF o Preside cnt
were not All unprecedented proceeding
it might be argued chat tho practice
is logically correlativc to tho Labitua Il
carclcasncss Of American elections.
AS severe discipline is necessary in Il
regiment of loose or doubtful cllarac-
ter, liability to punishment may per-
haps be q suitable check on tho ccccn-
tricitios of accidental Presidents. No
retrospective delicacy intcrfcros in the
United States with harsh aud even Ii
bcllous criticism on high mctiouarics
who have lost popular favor. Mr. Jcr-
fcrson DAYS, who has been u Governor
OF q State, Cabinet Minister and u
leader Of q majority in the Senate IS
still accused by jealous Republicans
of completely in base and causcless
assassination.
1t has nevor occurred to his ossail-
ants that the proof of tho charge would
reflect discrcdit OH American institu-
tons nor can Mr. Andrew johnson,
who once countcnanccd the calumny
on Mr.. Davis, expect tcndorer consid-
Grafton for the dignity Of his own office
The Republican parfv opnointcJ him
ice. President, with - con,ino.nt ,i,,,t
OF succession To the Presidency, because
he lad been a vigorous supporter Of TIC
Union during the civil war. 1t was an
element OF las popularity thu, l,n bnd
disreear>led u,l local restraints IN lis nm.
authorized proc,ama,ion or ,hr fro, ,,nm
Of slaves in Tennessee, and in his cstab.
lishment Of a State Goycrnmcnt renrn.
scnting only minority Of The citizens .
and if it had been supnosed ,l,nt his char.
acter would clanoc in ,he oven. ot ns
accession to The PrcS;Icncv no wou,J
probably not have received The non,;pa.
ton of tho party at B,ltmoro Mr. I'm.
coin, whom hc succeeded. had exercised
almost uncontrolled rowcr: and Mr.,
johnson, during the early part of his
term, was cncoura eed to assume dictate
rial functions. He had published a unali-
fed amnesty, he had rccornized the new
governments in the Southern States
and he had decided on the abolition OF
slavery before the majority discovered
that he still adhered to his former Demo.
cratic opinions. Excess and irregulari;y
would have been tolerated ifthe Prrsi.
dent had been supported BY Northern
majority. There is nothing inconsistent
i'll the remedy Of impeachment for II
course of policy which thwarts the gen
eral desire; yet it oddly happens that
the first President who is threatened
with impeachment is supported by far
more than half of the entire population
OF the United States. Tho Object of the
prosecution is 10 assert the sovereignty
of Congress and to break down The pre-.
rogative which has hitherto been the
chef power in the Umon.
H. is st!ll uncertain whether tic House
OF Representatives will eventually vote
The impeachment, and the judicial decis-
ion of the Senate Is still more doubtful.
The most definite Of The alleged charges
is founded on the disturbances which oc.
Cured in New Orleans, when the party
which had been recognized by General
Banks as the constituency Of Louisiana
attempted to hold Convention for The
purpose OF framing Constitution 10
foreigners il may seem that The Pres.
dent Judged rightly in taking tho part
OF the people Of tho State against n small
faction which assumed to itself the char
actor OF the cnllre Commonwealth; but
Americans arc the best jndges OF their
own affairs; and the bloodshcd which
ensued, whether it was misfortune or
a crime, is naturally resented and con.
demned by the Republicans. Yet it.
will be difficult to prove that the Prcsi-
dent can hive directed from Washington
the proceedings OF tho New Orleans po.
lice. although h he may have approved
OF tho tololble dissolution Of the Conven.
ton. The charge Of habi,ual intoxica
tlon viii scarcely be adopted by tho
House or by the managers. The ,m-
pleasant circumstances which occurred
when MI johnson took the oath as Vice
President were hnshed IN by general
consent. It's extremely unlikely tbat
he can have fallen into bad habits for
the t1rst time during his Presidency, nnd
It his 'ntemPerance was notorious before
his election 1t was not thought q dis
QQnilllCaLlOn lOr OtllGc, There will hn n