The national Republican., 1867-01-21
THE ACTION OF CONGRESS-
WHAT THE RADICAL PRESS
THINK OF IMPEACHMENT
AND OTHER QUESTIONS.

AND OTHER QUESTION:.
Below we give few expressions Of opin-
ion from the leading radical press Of the
country upon the legislation Of Congress,
and especially upon the question Of impeach-
ment. We have, in previous issue, given
the opinions Of the Cincinnati (0hio) Com
mercial and Springfield (Mass.) Republican
two leading, influential journals in the Re-
publican party-dgainst the impeachment Of
The President, as not only unwise but unwar-
ranted.
The Albany EVening Journal, strongly
radical paper, observing the dangerous, head
long tendency Of Mr.. STEVENS in his leader
ship in the National Legislature, says, With
considerable force: -....
"But in recognizing the existing preroga-
tives Of Congress, the people did not intend
TO confer power upon 1t to remodel the Gov.
ernment, reconstruct all the States OF the
Union, or reyolutionize the system upon
which Il has thus far been maintained. If
pret the decision Of the late elections, II will
not take them long to discover that they have
made q supreme mistake"
The Providence (R. ~ Journal, edited by
radical United States Senator, Mr. An.
rHoSY, In On able editorial, says:
"yery few Of our exchanges express any
thing but disapproyal Of the impeachment
movement. Many pronounce II wholly un-
called for. and all, or nearly all, condemn Il
as inexpedient II Is worthy Of notice, how.
ever, that the discussion OF the subject by
the press, as we'll as the initiatory proceed
ings in the House Of Representatives, ap-
pears to take for granted the idea that the
great provision Of impeachment in our insti-
tutions is, after all, little else than mere
political instrument contrivance for get
ting rid Of an officer, especially President,
with whom Congress may have become dis
satisfied. The House Of Representatives,
according to this theory, Il it chances not to
like the occupant Of the Presidential chair,
may at any time appoint committee, and
put It on the scent Of the Administration, or
Of the personal doings Of the President, till
ii finds something that looks like malfeasance
or misdemeanor, and then, il the Senate is
willing to cooperate, proceed to remove him
from Office and put another in his place.
How little is there in all this that cor
responds to the solemnity which should in.
vest the proceedings Of the Grand Inquest Of
the nation, as the House Of Representatives
becomes when II accuses n public officer OF
high crimes and misdemeanors. II seems to
be matter dependent on views Of party ex-
pediency, to be urged forward by party
leaders and to be determined in caucuses
like other matters of party tactics"
"Such a prerogative is most likely to be
prostituted and perverted when employed by
q triumphant party in power, flushed with
recent victory in popular election, and bent
on the overthrow Of an opponent whom II
despises andhates. Should another example
OF this sort be presented,or even approached
in the proceeding which has been begun, it
is not Mr. johnson alone who will be dis
graced, but the Presidential Office and the
Government Of the United States and the
whole American people
The Chicago Post, (radical,) bitter oppo-
nent Of The President, says:
I'VE are not among the number who have
deemed it the part Of wisdom to undertake
an impeachment Of President johnson at the
present juncture."
"In fine, then, if Andrew johnson is to be
| impeached in Accordance with the forms OF
lanS in order TO vindicate great principle, and
in order that the might and majesty Of the
popular will may be ever after respected by
the servants Of the people, the discipline can
not be administered too soon. But let the
day be far removed when the Republican
party shall undertake so dirty O work as to
depose President who will not confer upon
them his patronage, simply to put in his place
another man who will. The recent elections
have demonstrated that it is not Offices the
people are after, but principles"
The Troy IN. W Times (radical) de.
nounces impeachment in the following bust
ness-like way:
Nearly every Republican newspaper of
prominence and inhuence-even including
the Radical Tribune-earnestly opposes the
Ashley movement for the impeachment Of
the President. In the first place it is ILL
timed. Sufficient evidence Of criminality
has not been developed to satisfy the public
mind that the President should be i'm
peached. In the second place, its agitation
is damaging to the country. Business affairs
are in an unsettled condition, and our
finances are peculiarly sensitive to changes.
In the third place, the extreme measure
should not be entered upon in spirit of par
tisanship. Intentional crime should be so ap-
parent that honest citizens of oil parties
would approve the proceeding. In the fourth
place, it should not be undertaken except
under the pressure Of extreme national dan
ger from executive crimes and usurpations.
"The exigencies do not exist to warrant
the impeachment measure. The people do
not approve it. We trust there is the good
Republican judgment in Congress to defeat
this hotheaded and ill-advised attempt.
There is other and important business de-
manding the prompt attention Of our Ma
tional Legislature, and that should now oc-
cupy its time and best efforts"
The Newburgh New York Times, fend-
ish radical paper, utters eight or nine in
famous falsehoods upon which to base the
following dissent to the action of Congress:
The dominant party in Congress have
undoubtedly the authority and power to hurl
him from his position on any one or all Of
these charges. But the country is not in
favor of an impeachment. The people do
not believe that the game is worth the pow
der. They do not care to make political
martyr of Mr.. johnson. They are averse to
further turmoil and excitement when they
can accomplish their aims through peaceable
delay. An impeachment trial would doubt
less drag along for months, and keep the
country in an unhealthy commotion. The
| Of Draai1ant iS N ,,,o,F ,.n,,a