Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-06

stage effect of this irrelevant matter on5
| the prominence given to the Tudors % tLo
Stuarts, and Michael Burns, and much ~
the play will disappear. Settle down mon
the real evidence in the case, that which
Will establish, in view of the ATTENDING Civ
lcumstances, u substantial crime, by makIn,,
plain the elements which constitute II and
the case IN many respects, .dwarfs into 8
political contest.
In approaching a conclusion, we do not
fall TO recognize the stand-points from
whlch this case can be viewed-the legal
and the political. Viewing it from tho
former, the case upon the law and the tes
tlmony fails. Viewing it from the lattar
the case is a success. The President Loa
disappointed the hopes and expectations Of
those who placed him in power. He has
betrayed their confidence, and Joined hanJs
| with their enemies He has proved foIoe
to the express and implied conditions which
underlie his elevation TO power. and in
| our view of the case, deserves the censpro
| and condemnation of every we'll disnosaS
citizen of the Republic. While we ac0nt
him of improbable crimes, we pronounce
him guilty of many wrongs. His contest
with Congress has delayed reconstruction,
and inflicted vast injury upon the people of
the rebel States. He has been blind to the
necessities OF the times, and to the demands
of progressive civilization. He remains
enveloped in the darkness of the past, and
seems not to have detected the dawnipr
brightness of the future. Incapable of an,
preciating the grand changes which the
past six years have wrought, he seeks 70
measure the great events which surround
him Oy the narrow rules which adjusted
public affairs before the rebellion and its
legitimate consequences destroyed them
and established others. Judge him DO
lltlcally, we must condemn him. But the
day of political impeachments would be n
sad one Tor this country. Political unfit
ness and lncapacity must be tried at the
ballot-box, not in the high court of i'm
peachment. A contrary rule might leave
to Congress but little time for other bnsi-
ness than the trial of lmpeachments. But
we are not now dealing with political
offences. Crimes and misdemeanora are
now demanding our attention. Do these
within the meaning of the Constitution,
appear Rest the case upon noJiiicoi
Offences, and we are prepared to pronounce
against the President for such offences are
numerous and grave. If Mexican expe-
rlence is desired, we need have no difficult
ty, for there almost every election is pro-
ductlve OF revolution. If the people of
this Republic desire such result. we have
not yet Deen able to discover it; nor would
we favor 1t II its presence were manifest. -
Whlle we condemn and censure the politi-
cal conduct of the President, and Judge
him unwise in the use of his discretionary
powers, and appeal to the people of the
Republic to sustain US, we still affirm that
the conclusion at which we have arrived ia
correct.
We therefore declare that the case be
fore US, presented by the testimony and
measured by the law, does not declare such
nigh crimes and misdemeanors, within the
meaning OF the Constitution, as require
. the lnterposition of the constitutional
power of this House" and recommend the
'doptlon of the following resolution
ReSoI0ed That the Committee on the
judiciary be discharged from the further
Consideration OF the proposed impeach-
nent of the President of the United States
nd that the subject be laid upon the table.
JAMES F. WILSON,
FREDERICK Il. WOODBRIDGE.