Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-10-10
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1867.
I'm parchment.

The removal OF Gems Sheridan and
Sickles and other acts by President
Johnson which evince Arm determine
tion on his part to hinder as much ss
possible the reconstruction policy indt-
Gated by Congress In the civil rights,
military reconstruction aud supplement
al bills, is fast leading the majority Of
loyal people, who have heretofore op.
posed the project OF Impeachment, to
believe that there Is no other remedy
for the situation.
The Impeachment OF any officer under
the government is al affair OF the
gravest importance, aud one that should
he proceeded with cautiously and care.
fully; yet how much more guarded
should be the proceedings when the
officer TO be impesched is the chief mag.
Istrate OF the republics Should the
President be impeached at all, and the
leaders Of the movement now appear
sapguine OF il, it must be for political
offenses, and his punishment would be
removal from political office. lie may
be impescb ed and removed without any
literal violation Of the laws on his part,
as be could act within the letter OF, and
at the same time defeat the spirit and
purpose OF the laws OF Congress. II In
doing so he subjects the government to
any serious peril, then Congress has the
power vested in II by the Constitution
to bring him before the proper tribunal
for trial, that he may render an account
OF his actions.
The course OF Mr.. Johnson thus far
has been such as TO render clear to every
thinking man that while he has the
power sufficient to enforce the laws, he
is falling TO execute them to the best Of
his ability, and hence the show progress
made In the work Of restoration. Though
combining himself thus far within the
letter OF the law, he has done great
deal to thwart and embsrrass recon-
struction, and it has, in view of this
fact, become 8 question whether Mr..
Johnson's continuance In the executive
chair, even though watched by Congress,
will not subject the nation TO greater
peril than the process Of impeachment.
When it comes to be fact that Congress
cannot adjourn lest the effect Of its laws
should be nullifed by the action OF the
President, then it would seem to be
high time to charge him st least with
misdemeanor, upon conviction OF which
he may be removed from ONCE.
The effects OF impeachment would at
the oxtset undoubtedly be disastrous to
the country, as 1t could not fail of incit-
ing panic among the foreign holders OF
the national bonds, as well as tend to
somewhat lesson the faith Of portion
OF our own people In these securities ;
gold would go still higher than at present,
and the necessaries Of life advance 10
such an extent as to render suffer
iBg probable in many quarters. Yet
II the exigencies Of the times de-
mand this extreme course, it must be
submitted to. Such action could not be
for the bentft OF any party or the work
OF malice. Crime or misdemeanor would
have to be proven against the President
ere he wss removed from Office, and in
that case his Impeachment would be for
the benefit OF the whole nation, serving
TO promote the permanent establishment
OF the highest liberty OF the government,
the will Of the people.
The sentiment of the people is chang
ing and Is rapidly growing more and
and more In favor OF radical measures,
and while they would probably condemn
hasty or unwsrrsnted action which
would lead to uncertain results they
would questionably sustain the course
OF the judiciary committee should the
case be so presented as to make convic.
tion moral certainty. II there is to be
any doubt upon the subject, we think it
no more than fair to give the President
the beneat OF the doubt, and let the i'm
parchment question remain untouched.