, 1867-10-18
I,,,,..cbment Of The President.

IN. rsaieal press, including the whole pack,
r,.v blanche. Sweetheart and all, are now in
fuli,sboru, demanding the impeachment Of the
p.a.,dsnt The removal of Stanton, the spy,
from tie Cabinet, seems to have been the signal
for this outbreak of partisan mslignity. IL Is
po,sibis that the radical reverses IN the ia'e
elections may have atendency to arrest move
nan, that looks to another civil war. But OF
this there is no certainty, and hence 1t is wen
that the country should understand the impen-
ding peril. With the assembling OF Congress
IN November there can be little doubt but that
articles of impeachment will be presented, and
an attempt made to place the President on trial
before packed Senate. An attempt OF this Kind
is sure to be resisted, and then will come the tug
of war. The New York Herald, paper that
lattsrly has been supposed to foreshadow the
Presidents policy, gives an outline Sf the course
President Johnson is likely to pursue. 1t says:
uTbe President holds that each Of the three
orsat branches of the Government is for itself
ihe indpe of the constitutionality of alaw. Con-
Oress. in the frs: place, is judge. 1t passes a
law according to constitutional foms by the
reouisite majority ever the Presidents veto.
According to the Constitution it can only legis-
late ON certain subjects. Well, the lew is passed
and il comes to the President for execution. lie
In sworn to faithfully execute his sofhce, and
nnreserys. protect, and defend the Constitution
| Of the United States" Who is to determine for
him whether the law passed by Congress does
mot conflict with the Constitution he is sworn to
defend? If he considers it clearly in violation
of the Constitution, iS he not under the most
! solemn obligation to refuse to enforce it? It is
lcontended by some that the more usual mode is
tfor the President to assume a law constitutional
Iuutl otherwise declared by the Supreme Court.
! This the President considers only applies to
doubtful cases but where the conflict with the
! Constitution is clear and undoubted- the Presi-
| Dent considers it his duty to decline its enforce
| nent altogether. Applying this to impeAch~
| nent, the following is the result; Congress
passes articles of impeachment, suspends the
| President and orders his arrest. The alleged
ohense is that ne refuses to enforce the laws
which he honestly believes to be in antagonism
| with the Constitution.
He takes one view of the law, Congress anoth-
er. He holds that he can only be removed on
| ''convictiou of treason, bribery, and other high
| crimes ard misdemeanors." lie holds that a
mem difference Of opinion as to the constitution
alitr of law between himself and Congress is
neither treason, bribery, nor other high crimes
or misdemeanor. He holds, therefore, that be
| canpot be lmpeacheui suspenueui OF removed
from office.
Congress insists he can. Then, be considers,
Congress places itselfin an attitude ofrevoution.
1t thus violates the Constitution by attempting
| to uslrp the executive power, and must be put
down. How will this be done2 The President,
acting for the best interests Of the country, and
deeming the safety of the Republic IN danger,
will issne proclamation prorogulng Congress,
| calling for an election of pew members, aud in
vokng the aid of the people 10 sustain him.
This, ] am assured, is the view the President
takes of the impeachment muddle, and the way
| he will act should the occasion arise.
Under the Constitution the President has the
power to prorogue Congress only in case OF a
disagreement to adjourn. But in great public
emergency, where the life of the nation is at
stake, the President considers the exercise of
extraordinary powers justhable Moreover, Con-
| grsss by assuming unconstitutional powers and
attempting to destroy the Executive, dIsqualIfes
ITSELF is no longer a lawful Congress- but a
! body of nsurpers- and traitors As such Ihey
have no rights the Executive is bound to respect
and the Executive will deal with them accord
ingly. The Presidents theory is tnat they first
inaugurate revolution by attempting act sub
versiye OF the Government, and upon them will
rest the responsibility OF any strife or confusion
that may follow.