The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-08-23
UNION REPUBLICAN, MOTIVATION
WILL JOHNSON BE IMPIAoHEp ?

WILL JOHNSON BE IMPEA0HED ?
Prior to the extru session Of Congress in
July, those In 6vor OF removing johnson
by impeschmeos wcro comparatively few.
Not that the number was few who believed
him a Disgrace 10 the nation, or IN unsafe
man rs Chief Magistrate but they though,
that il would DO better to endure tho inflie.
ton than to run the risk Of unsettlins af.
fairs and subiecting the country to the ex-
element which they fancied would follow
his removal. In July his impeachment was
again urged, but more considerats men held
back, hoping that no would not force them
into displacing him, by his rash and treason
able designs, and the public feeling Of the
country sustained that consideration. To-
day, if not thoroughly convinced that i'm
peachmeut is the only course to be pursued,
the country Is Ease approaching the conclu.
sion that the only way to secure tranquility
and prosperity, is to remove Johnson from
the Office that he now holds and disbonors.
We sec this opinion gaining ground among
men who have hilheuo doubted its expedi.
ency, and among conservative Republican
newspapers who now realize the damage
of longer delay. ...... ...e
For ourself we have never advocated i'm.
parchment; bot we are frank to confess
that we now anticipate no peace to the
country, and consequently no immediate
or soon return to the commercial prosper.
ity we ought to be now enjoying as the
fruits Of peace, until Johnson Is removed.
Why not That he has seriously disgraeed
the Office Of President, in his drunken fer
yor, not sober man in the nation will do.
ny; that his drunken orgies flushed into
series Of misdemeanos, consti tutionally in
dictable, when he 'swung around the cir
Gle" from Washington to St. Louis, is a
matter Of history that In his war upon
Congress he has violated the spirit and let
ter Of the Constitution, in the contempt he
has exhibited towards branch Of the gov
erpment constitutionally co-equal, at least.
with the Presidency, is patent and true. Tie
has usurped the legislative powers granted
To Congress, in appointing provisional gov
ernmen,s for rebel Estates" lie has at
tempted to thwar the law-making power
Of Congress, in obstructing the execution
Of laws constituiionally passed, by all the
means in his power. He has encouraged
resistance to all laws Of the land passed for
speedy reconstruction. No matter what
may have been his opinion in regard to the
policy Of Congress; when that policy as
sumed the shape of constitutionally enact
cd law, further resistance on the part Of the
Executive was a high crime, and an i'm
peachal,lo oflense. To these and other
specifications which we need not add here,
we will also not add the removal Of Sec.
Stanton and Gen. Sheridan in direct viola
ton Of the intention and spirit Of the re
construction and the civil tenure laws,
since the legality Of the removal Of Sec.
Stanton Is nm open question to he very soon
decided by the United States Senate. --..g
According to the tenure Of Office net re-
ferred to, the President Is required to file
specific charges for the removal or suspen,
sion OF any officer included within It's terms,
within twenty days after the assembling Of
Congress. If he fails to so present, or if
his charges are not sustained, the officers so
removed, or suspended, rc-assun,e the du-
ties Of their office. The Senate viii not
allow Mr.. Johnson to prefer charges OF any
rnulfeasance in Office prior to the adjourn
ncnt Of Congress, unless such malieasance
was unknown to him nj that time. Isthere
n probability that during the few weeks
that have passed since the adjournment,
Mr.. Stanton, a lawyer whose knowledge
Of law is admitted by all to be hardly
surpassed by any in the country,-is Il
probable that he, knowing that the least err
ror would be magnifed into gigantic proper
tons, has violated law in such manner as
would Justify such an extraordinary act as
that Of Mr.. johnson in removing him ~ Il
armisf Further; is there doubt, on the
knowledge which the country now pos.
sesscs, what viii be the verdict or the Sen
ate, sitting asa national Court, upon this
net Of the Prc~ident3 And if his specifi.
cations and charges arc not sustained, is
the probability OF his speedy impeachment
thereby lcsscued, 'r. .-
Very many have been driven from the
support Of serving Johnson as he deserves,
Nv their fears Of collision, fearing les,
Johnson, being bull-headcd, rash, devil.
may.carc adventurcr, would attempt to 10.
sis, the edies OF tho Senate? That ghost
may well be laid. Tho appsSi,iou two years
ago may have really presented itself before
the eyes OF tho country, bot BY this time h
has iaded into lcss than insubstantial
fabric. We have seen the people asscr;
and maintain the power and dignity Of
their Congrcss against the entire power OF
wanton Executive. We have seen that
Congress curail the power OF this snme
Executive, conanins him solely to the
power expressly conferred by the Con.
stitution. And we have seen, moro than
all the contempt into which Johnson has
fallen, not only with the people, but
also with the military. All OF this action
was pesbaps necessary in order to insure
asd command tho Obedience which must
follow sf nscesiy. Johnson has no party
90 body Of moal Of any strength or major.
in, whsisvef. 70 sise him support. 81.
How viii his removal b. accomplished?