Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-05


oally, we must condemn him, but th,
day OF political impeachments would
be sad one for this country. Poiti
cal unfitness and incapacity must b,
tried at the ballot-box, not in the higl
court of impeachment. A contrar,
rule might leave to Congress but lit
tic time for other business than tn,
trial of impeachments.
But we are not now dealing witt
political ofienses. Grimes and misde
meanors are now demanding our at
tention, so they, within the meaning
OF the Constitution, appear. Rest thc
case upon political offenses, and W,
are prepared to pronounce against the
President, for such ofienses are nu
merous and grave. If Mexican expe
rienee is desired, we need have nc
difficulty, for there almost every elec.
tion is productive of revolution. II
the President of the Republic desires
such a result, we have not been able
to discover il, nor would we favor it il
its presence were manifest. While
we condemn and censure the political
conduct of the President, and Judge
him unwise in the use of his disere-
tionary powers and appeal TO the peo-
pie of the Republic TO sustain him, we
still affirm that the conclusion at which
we have arrived is correct
We therefore declare that the case
before us, presented by the testimony
and measured by the law, does not
declare such high crimes and misde-
meanors, within the meaning of the
Constitution, as requires the interpo-
sition of the constitutional power of
this House, and recommend the adop-
ton of The following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on
the judiciary be discharged from the
further consideration Of the proposed
impeachment OF the President of the
United States, and that the subject bo
laid upon the table.
(Signed) JAMES F. WILSON.
FREDERICK K. WooDBRIDGE.
VIEWS or MEssRs. MARSHALL AND IL
DRIDGE-Democrats.
The undersigned, agreeing with our
associates of the minority of the com
mittee in their views of the law, and
in the conclusions that the evidence
before the committee presents no case
for the impeachment of the President,
might, If they had stopped there, have
been content simply TO have joined in
the report which they have submitted.
But as they, as well as the majority,
have felt it their duty to 90 further,
and express their ccnsure and condem-
nation of the President, we feel that
il is due TO ourselves, and to the posi-
tion we occupy, to present as briefly
as possible few additional remarks
for tho consideration of the House
and of the country.
Having determined that the evi.
dence does not show that the presi-
dent has been guilty Of any act or
crime for which, under our Constitu-
ton and laws he can or ought 20 be
impeached, this conclusion, il seems
TO us. is the determination Of the whole
question submitted by the House to
the committee. II is the commission
by the President Of an impeachable
offense only that can subject him to
our official Jurisdiction, or justify us,
as a committee of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, or even the House itself,
as such, in challenging his official acts.
As the report of the majority does
not charge the President with any
act recognized by any statute or law
of the land, as a crime or misdemean-
or, we can but regard the charges
preferred as a political or partisan
demonstration, tended and intended
TO bring him into odium and contempt
among the people. Asan unjustifable
attempt to excite their suspicious,
'GSpdrgeTe roces IN Uulgum ambigudS,' =
we utterly deny the right of the com
mittee, or any member thereof as
such, 70 do this. As citizens, as poll
ticians, we may criticise, find fault
with and condemn the entire admin
istration of the President but as
committee Of the House, considering
the charge referred 10 it as members
of Congress, acting officially, we have
no such right, power or jurisdiction.
The Executive is one of the co-ordi-
nate departments of this government,
invested with certain defined consti-
tutional powers and prerogatives, over
which the Legislature has no control,
and with the constitutional exercise
of which the Legislative Department
has no right to interfere. The origin
nj source of all executive and legisla-
tive power is the same-the people
the warrant and measure of those
powers the same-the Constitution.
In his constitutional and Legislative
sphere; in the exercise and conduct
Of his department, the President Is as
free to act and as independent as the
Congress.
While acting within the bounds pre-
scribed for it by the Constitution, be
is no more accountable or responsible /
to Congress than Congress is to him.
Congress has no more authority TO
censure and condemn him than he has
to censure and condemn Congress.
His discretion exercised within the
bounds of the Constitution, is no more
subject TO the animadversion orreproof
of Congress than are the constitutional
and discretionary acts of Congress to
his.
Neither Congress or the President
has any powers or authority not de-
rived from and found in the Constitu-
ton. The only question with refer
ence to which the committee were |