The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-12-10

they been more numerous than in our
own. They haze furnished the bigots
and prosecutors of all times, and their
pathway throug the long line of histo
ry. from its earnest date to the present
time, has been 1arked with carnage and
desola ton. With such men no arrange
ment based upoi the Constitution and es-
tablished laws cn have any ability; they
live and breathein purer and higher
atmosphere, outide of the Constitution
and above the laws. They are teo pure
and immaculate to be fettered by the
restraints of contributions or written laws.
They are law into themselves, and both
men and gods must conform to their
views and Theories or receive their Bit
eerest maledictbns. But our people will
never submit tohave their Chiet Magis-
trates arraigned for offences unknown to
the laws, and which exist only in the ex-
cited brains Of Ter political enemies. 1t
would be Precedent disastrous in its
consequences anl subversive of our po
litical instituti,ns We cannot doubt
that the eviden,e herewith this day ad-
mitted, will be received with one univer-
sal burst of Indignation by the Ameri-
can people. II they retain any just
pride in their country and its institutions,
they will blush to find that their chief
officer of their government has for ten
months been subjected to the scrutiny Of
a Star Chamber inquisition, unparalleled
in its character in the annals of civiliza-
ton. A drag met has been put out to
catch every malicious usurper through
out the land and all the vile vermin who
had gossip or slander to retail, hearsay
or otherwise, have been permitted to ap-
pear and place it upon record for the
delectation of mankind. Spies have
been sent all over the land to find some
thing that might blacken the name and
character of the Chief Magistrate of our
country; unwhipped knaves have given
information of fabulous letters and doc
uments, that like the ignis tatuus eternally
eluded the grasp of their pursuers, and
the chase resulted only in aiding the de.
pletion of the public treasury. That
notorious character, Gen. l.. G. Baker,
Chief OF the Detective force, even had
the effontery to insult the American
people by placing spies within the very
walls of the Executive mansion. The
privacy of the Presidential home, his
private life and habits and most secret
thoughts have not been deemed sacred OF
exempt from invasion. The members Of
his household have been examined, and
the chief prosecutor has not hesitated tc
dive into loathsome dungeons and con
sort with convicted felons for the purpose
Of accomplishing the object Of arraignine
the President On charge of infamou,
crime. When we consider all these facts
and, that the investigation has been a secre
er parte one, that it has been SO persist
ent and untiring, and carried on a. timt
of most unparalleled party excitement
when the masses of the dominant party
were lashed into wild frenzy and led tt
believe that the President was guilty oil
treason; when thousands all over the lane
though thatit would be righteous ac
to get him out of the way, by any means
fair or foul; when be has been hunted
down by partisan malice as no man evel
was hunted down before; it is really won
derful that as little has been ELECTED thai
tends in the slightest degree to tarnist
the fair fame of the President. The
American people ought to congratulate
themselves for the sake Of the reputa
ton of their country thatsthe failure ha.
been SO emphatic and SO complete in whal
we have said of the character of evidence
taken before US, and the means used te
procure it. We must not be understood al
reAectingupon the action of the Committee
or any member thereof. Such an inter,
pretation of our remarks would do great
injustice to us, and to them. Whether
such latitude would have been given il
the examination Of witnesses we will moi
INQUIRE. In an examination before &
Committee !. would be difficult and per.
haps impossiDiis to cOnfne the evidence
to such as would be allowed admissible
before court of justice-iuteeo = may
be questioned whether it would be prop
er so to restrict itand, as perhaps, better
even for the President that those who
were managing the prosecution for the
outside were permitted to present anything
that they might call corroberative evi-
dence, as the world can thus the better
comprehend how utterly destitute ol
foundation is all this clamor that has beer
raised against him. The first witness
examined was General lafayette G. Baker
late chief of the detective police and
although examined on oath time and
again and on various occasions, it i.
doubted whether he has in any one thing
told the truth, even by accident. II
every important statement he is contra.
dicted by witnesses Of uGauestlonable
credibility and there can be no doubt thai
to his many previous outrages emitting
him to an unenviable Immortality, he has
added that of wilful and deliberate per.
jury; aud we are glad to know thatno one
member of the Committee deems any
statement made by him as worthy of the
slightest credit. What blush OF shame
will tinge the cheek of the American
student in future years when he reads
that this miserable wretch for years helc
as it were in the hollow of his hand the
liberties of the American people.
aA- The message is an excellent State
paper but is not sound on the Bono
question. No room for further comment
this week.
~<a Tho renorts Of the Tmneachmen