Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-31
impeachment.

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of President johnson. By this action,
however, the House has not definitely
decided to innpeach the President. The
resolution merely authorized the com
mittee on the Judiciary to inquire into
the official conduct of Mr.. johnson and
ascertain and report to the House
whether good and sufficient grounds
really exist for his impeachment. The
country need feel no alarm at the
movement thus inaugurated by the
lower House of Congress. Whether it
is to result in any thing important OF
not, will depend entirely upon the re-
suit of the investigations of the COM
mittee. As yet there is no impeach-
ment. merely a resolution Of inquiry.
And that that inquiry will be conduct
ed with that moderation, solemnity and
impartiality which the grave Importance
of the subject demands, we have no
reason to doubt. Party spirit and po-
litical strife often carry men beyond the
bounds of reason, but in matter OF
such high and national Importance even
partisans must be impressed with a
sense of the high responsibility under
which they act. But this investiga-
ton is not to be conducted by parti-
sans, but by the Standing Committee
on the Judiciary, which is always com
posed of the best talent the House can
afford, both in respect to legal attain
ments and their worth as men and
statesmen. We feel no hesitation,
therefore, in saying that the investiga-
ton will be conducted fairly and i'm
partially, and that if it fails to elicit
facts which LEGALLY warrant an i'm
peachment, no impeachment will be
made.
And while in the event that no
grounds of impeachment really exist,
we should regret that the inquiry had
been instituted as tending to increase
and intensity the strife already existing
between the Executive and Legislative
branches of the Government, yet one
good result at least will follow the in
vestigation. 1t will settle the truth OF
the charge against Mr.. Johnson, and
determine whether his official conduct
has in fact been criminal in the eye OF
the law. If the President ''has been
guilty of acts which were designed or
calculated to overthrow, subvert or cor
rupt the Government of the United
States" 2" if he has committed acts, and
conspired with others to commit acts,
which are high crimes and misdemean-
ors," the country has right to know
it and to demand that the penalty OF
the law in such cases provided be visit
ed upon him. On the other hand, if
these charges of corruption and official
misconduct thus made against Mr..
Johnson have no foundation in fact,
then it is due to him that the charges
be fully investigated and their falsehood
made apparent to the whole country.
His accusers too, of right, should be
heard and given an opportunity to es-
tablish the truth of their charges, as the
responsibility and disgrace of failure
will rest upon them alone. The coun-
try, Mr.. johnson and his accusers have
all an interest in seeing this investiga-
ton go on. The grave charges of cor
ruption, which now hang like mist in
the air, will then either be dispelled or
assume real shape and form. Uncer-
tainty will give place to certainty, the
matter will be sifted down to a ques-
ton of evidence, and the truth at length
appear. Again we say, the country
need feel no alarm. The people are
the nation, the government; if true to
themselves, all will be well.
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