Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-03
Gbt fresman.
MONTPELIER, VT:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1867.
Inlpeacllnlent.

The long struggle between the two House
in respect to the time to which Congress
should be adjourned Terminating in a
agreement to adjourn until July Sd when
unless quorum shall assemble at Washing
ton the presiding officers of the two Houses
shall further adjourn their respective bodies
until December-was fought out principal,
between those favoring an impeachment 0
the President and those opposing it ant
there was much elimination and recriminatiol
between members Of the House on that sub
jcct. Mr.. Woodbridge, of the judiciary Com
mittee, stated that there was sufficient evil
dence before that committee to warrant
further prosecution Of the impeaching in
quiry although, as the inference is that tn.
committee have not yet sufficient evidence
before them u warrant a report in favor O
impeachment it is difficult to understand
wlat grounds the committee have for ex
pecting that such evidence will be hereafter
discovered. Gen Butler thought the com
warrant an impeachment, while Mr.. Bing-
nam. of Ohio, declared they had nothing up
which u found the charge of - high
crimes and misdemeanors.
Tie people are getting tired of this daily
ing with the question Of impeachment, Just
Is they are getting trel of the continued
p)stp1ncment Of the trill Of jeff Davis,
wio Is hell fJr a assassination an | conspiracy,
and has heea DE- nlndins a trial for III )re
than yelr, on b)t1 charges. without sue
cess. NIbo1y. unless it be some one who
1as beel t1rnel olt Of oh.c, wtnts Prcsi-
lent JDhnsJn impeaciel for his abuse of the
,pp)inting and removing power, or the par
ming power. Ifhe has those powers at all ,
le is the sole judge Of the propriety of using
them in any ease. and commits no impeach-
able offence by appointing or removing or
p1rdoning persons for political reasons.
Yet the impeachment business seems to have
leyenerate1 into a search after these little
)fences of the President, members applying
the microscope TO these tribes, when the
great and glaring usurpations and wrongs of
which President Johnson has been guilty
are c0nspicuOusly visible to the unasssted
vision of every beholder The Presidential
origin and III its methods, gross usurpa-
ton by the President of powers not lodged
in the executive Office by the Constitution ;
and if he is not Improbable for such usurp-
alton, why hunt after the minor crimes
which he may have committed What
greater crime in purpose or in fact could the
President commit. than he did when he gave
his sympathy and his aid to the butchers
of New Orleans ? If these acts are not suffi-
cicnt to found an impeachment upon, where
meanors p Yet the Judiciary Committee
have already official knowledge of the Presi-
dents conduct in respect to reconstruction
and in respect to the New Orleans massacre
but they do not report articles of impeach-
ment. The inference is inevitable that
there is no expectation their part of
making report favorable to the impeach-
ment while they are attempting to keep up
the farce of continued hearing for the pur-
pose Of deceiying the public, or for political
hand for the summer months to enable them
to make draft on the - contingent fund
Impeachment Of the first executive Off
Ger in the government is much too serious 4
matter TO be trifcd with. We believe Pres
ident johnson 10 be guilty of more outra-
gcous crimes against both the Constitution
and liberties of the country, than any other
man except jeff Davis and if he cannot be
impeached, the article providing for i'm
parchment NAV as well be stricken out of the
Constitution But these offences were not
done in a corner his crimes have not sought
the friendly cover Of secrecy or darkness.
He has been bold and defiant in his invasion
IF the rights of the people. He seeks no
conccalment. He boasts of his exercise OF
powers not belOn ging to his office A Con-
gress that, after this, seeks for evidence OF
improbable offences. might as well take n
.andle at midnigh: TO aid its microscopic
-ision in determining whether it is dark.
Inc people are impatient of such petty tri-
ling, this hunting for little offences the
telling of a few pence, evidence against
, criminal who is known to have in his pos
'ession the spoil of a whole l1nd. If the
President is not 70 be impeached for his
-rcat crimes, he should not be impeHched a,
I'll and that the committee have no purpose
# impeaching him for his gigantic offcnses
5 now evident enough. They will. there
fpre, we hope put an end to the farce at the
,lrliest possible moment by reporting that
act. and taking the responsibility of ex-
pressing the opinion that a usurpaton which
lttempts, without constitutional power, to
etlblish state governments, contrary to the
wishes of Congress and the people. in ten
.t1tes, is not :. high crime and misde-
meanor." Even such report would be pref
,rable as an exhibition of craftsmanship, to
INV further investigation az at present con-
lucted.
The Special Session.