Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-12-04
The Majority Report.

On our hrst page, to-day, we puoiisn the
majority report of the Judiciary Committee,
which iavors the impeachment OF President
johnson. In referring to this report the
Philadelphia Press, of November 9th, says:
Impeachment under our Constitution is
not punishment for crime, butonlya means
to protect the nation against Executive
treachery, userpation, or imhecility The
majority report OF the Judiciary Commit
lee, recommending the impeachment of
Andrew johnson, is merely an expression
of their opinion that the safety of the coun-
try demands the removal of the President
from position where he is capable of much
mischief, and in which he has committed
wrongs that cannot be remedied or in future
prevented by ordinary means.
The manner in which the country has
received this most momentous report Is the
strongest evidence OF our national strength
and integrity that could be given. In 9TH
er countries and In other times the removal
of the chief executive has never been accom-
plished except in convulsion and ruin. The
attendant circumstances of such change
have always been war, blood-shed and dis
aster. s "laa
Here we calmly look such prospect in
the face unmoved. Business is not distsrb-
ed !; men are not excited even gold, that
tremulous pulse of the nation, does not fuc-
tuate. The people are prepared to discharge
their presidential agent, and there is less
feeling or excitement throughout the coun-
try than is aroused by an ordinary county
murder trial. There could be no greater
tribute to our national power 81
''It is evident from this fact, if nothing
more, that whatever is done by the Ameri-
can people In this case will be done as a
matter of duty, and not in anger or passion,
although they have much to be justly angry
with, and the blood of hundreds of thou
sands calls for vengeance. ~st.
1.-The report of the Judiciary Committee
presents some thirty counts, specific high
crimes and misdemeaHors, on which they
ground their recommendation for impeach
ment. On some of these, as, for instance,
the usurpation of the functions of Congress
IN attempting to reconstruct the Southern
States, in 1865, in his own dictatorial way,
the evidence is matter of common fame. and
all are familiar with it. On many of the
other points the public will demand to see
the testimony taken before the committee
about twelve hundred pages, we believe
before they are ready to pronounce their
judgment.
I'm the calm and unimpassioned manner
in which the press of the country has ad-
dressed itself to the great question we have
an earnest of determined and honest action.
This movement for impeachment has not
been mere party game or cry raised to ear
ry festing point: 1t is significant that
the change ofa uote IN the committee ,oh,ch
Determined their report an fdror of inpeach-
n,e'rt rus made after the zeIections. This
speaks volumes. The Republican party in
this thing are acting solely from sense of
duty to the patton. They. are not swayed
by party passion or prejudice, they will not
be Aoyerned by party disaster Conscious
that our audience is posterity, and that what
ever we do viii pass into history and the
law books as rule of action for the future
government of the land, we are certain that
decorum and dignity, prudence, and even
moderation, will mark the progress of this
great trial-for such it is-eveB if the Grim
inal should not be formally arraigned.
Impartial justice is what the country
now expects to see neted out to Andrew
johnson, and it will not do for Congress to
finch from or avoid the demand The in
flexible determination of the people on this
point, and their reso!ute intensity of purpose,
is manifested in the passionless and unexci-
ted frame of mind with which they view
the proceedings so far r - .re