Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-05
cred or exempt from invasion.

cutor has not hesitated 10 dive into
loathsome dungeons and consort with
convicted felons for the purpose Of ac.
oomplishing the object Of arraigniuc
the President on charge of infamous
crime.
When we consider all these facts,
and that tho investigation has been a
secret and en- paue one that II has
been so persistent and untiring aad
carried on at time OF most unparal-
leled party excitement, when the
masses Of the dominant party were
lashed into a wild frenzy and led to
believe that the President was guilty
of treason; when thousands all over
the land really thought that it would
be righteous act to get him out OF
the way, by any means, fair or foul ;
and when he has been hunted down
by partisan malice as no man was ev-
er hunted down before, il is really
wonderful that so little has been elici-
ted that tends in the slightest degree
to tarnish the fair fame of the Presi-
dent. The American people ought to
congratulate themselves, for the sake
of the reputation of their country,
that the failure has been so emphatic
and complete.
In what we have said of the charao-
ter of the evidence taken before us
and the means used to procure it, we
must not be understood as rejecting
the action of the committee or any
member thereof Such an interpreta-
tion of remarks would do great injus-
tce to us and to them. Whether such
latitude should have been given in the
examination of witnesses we viii not
now inquire.
In an investigation before committee
it would be difficult, and, perhaps, i'm
possible TO confne the evidence to such
as would be deemed admissible before
a court of justice. Indeed, it may be
questioned whether it would be proper
so to restrict il; and it is, perhaps,
better for the President that those who
were managing the prosecution from
outside, were prompted to present any
thing that they might call or consider
as evidence, as the world can thus the
better comprehend how utterly desti-
tute of foundation is all the clamor
that has been raised against him.
The first witness examined was Gen
eral Lafayette C. Baker, late chief of
the Detective Police, and although ex-
amined on oath, that again and on
various occasions, it is doubtful wheth-
er he has in any one thing told the
truth, even by accident In every i'm
portant statement he Is cUnJradicJed
by witnesses of unquestioned credibil-
ity, and there can be no doubt, that to
many previous outrages, emitting him
to an unenviable immortality, he has
added that of wilful perjury. We are
glad TO know that no one member Of
the coinmitte deemed any statement
made by him as worthy Of the slight
est credit What a blush of shame
will tingle the cheek of the American
student in future ages, when he reads
how this miserable wretch for years
held, as it were, in the hollow of his
hand, the liberties of the American
people that clothed with power by
administration and with his
hordes Of unprincipled tools and spies
penetrating the land everywhere, with
uncounted thousands of the peoples
money placed in his hands for his vile
purposes that creature not only had
had the power to arrest without crime
or writ, and imprison without limit,
any citizen of the Republic, but that
he actually did so arrest thousands all
over this land and filed the prisons all
over the country with the victims of
his malice or that of his master.
This whole system, such an outrage
upon the Constitution and every prin-
ciple of FREQ government, anti, Ameri
can aud anti-republiean, has, with its
and supporters, thank God,
been damned to eternal infamy; and
it is pleasant 20 reflect that not only
the system but its INSCRIPTIONS agent,
will 60 down to posterity loaded with
infamy an followed by the curses Of
millions.
1t sometime happens that the ad-
of the most dangerous US
urpation is placed in the hands Of men
30 respectable for character and talent
ms to disarm suspicion, and conoiliate
even those whose liberties are endan-
gered. We have reason TO be thank
iul to an ever-kind aud merciful Prov
lenco, that the worst feature of the
worst despotism, when the attempt
was made, in an unhappy hour, to
transplant il TO our free American soil,
was placed, for its admistration, in the
hands of class OF men so destitute of
and character as TO arouse
Lbe undying scorn of the entire people;
and as these infamous outrages were
not sanctioned by any precedent in
our own country, it is hoped and be
icved that they willnever, through
Dut all time, be deemed worthy OF imi-
.ation.
II is not our purpose now TO at
Tempt an analysis of discussion Of the
evidence taken before US, or to point
out the gross absurdities and inconsit-
snoy Of very large portion oft IL
will be read and be considered by the
A American people, and we cannot doubt
what their verdict will be when those
who have been attempting to load with
disgrace and iniamy the Chief Magis-
tratc of our country, shall statan pill
.oried in The undying scorn an indig-
nation of great people.
He, after passing through this fiery
ordeal, we have no hesitation in pre-
dieting, viii have, and retain, all over
the land, even 10 a greater extent than