Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-09-17
washington Cor. N. Y. Herald. Sept. IIth.l
IMPEACHMENT.
Political Affairs in Washington.
The President and Congress-Lnpeachment
to be Resisted The Effect Of tie Amnesty
PoOeIamdtiOH-7 The RUn,Or Of tie Presi.
dents Resi9nGtiOn-C Cabinet Changes.

dents ResG9adtiO"-C Cabinet Changes.
There is fercc political storm brewing.
All the Indications point that way and show
that the strife between the President and Con.
gress, which has been growing and increasing
daily, must soon burst out into something
worse than threats aud vitupcration.
After carefully striving to GET ut the truth,
SO far as the controversy between Congress
and the President is concerned, have ar
rived at the conclusion that both Congress
and the President mean mischief The Rad.
icals intend to press impeachment at the next
meeting of Congress, aud the President is
firmly determined to resist it III ct arnlis, by
using all the power and agents under his CON
troll. The Radical leaders have come to the
conclusion that the President is resolved to
carry out reconstruction on terms least OPP
pressive to the conquered Southern people,
aud least in sympathy with the Congressional
negro supremacy plan.
Taking it for granted that the Radical
leaders are in earnest, aud that all their loud
threats are not mere idle boastings, it becomes
a matter Of interest to know how the PRESS
dent will act in the event of his attempted
impeachment.
am reliably informed that he will regard
Radicals having abandoned the idea of irving
him for high crimes and misdemeanors, and
justitying his impeachment merely on the
ground that he is, in the language of Butler,
an impeachment to reconstruction, he will
not recognize their proceedings as legal aud
constitutional, aud will pay no respect to their
resolves and determinations. Should articles
OF impeachment be presented and u resUlu>
ton passed suSpending Mr.. johnson and pro.
hlbitlng him from exercising the functions
OF President; should Wade be chosen to act
as President Gd interim, and, armed with
this color or right and law, command John
son to vacate the White House aud turn over
to him all the property, papers, &c, pertain
ing to the executive office, have reason to
believe Mr.. johnson will decline and defy
Congress TO do its worst. The Presidents
view Of theSmatter is said to be this:
Each OF the three great branches of the
Government Is Tor itself the Judge of the con
stitutionality Of a law. Congress, in the first
place, Is judge. 1t passes law according
to constitutional forms by the requisite ma
jorIty over the Presidents veto According
to the Constitution 1t can only le.i>late on
certain subjects. Well. the law is passed and
1t comes TO the President for execution. He
Is sworn to faithfully execute his Office and
tuition of the United States" Who is to
determine for him whether the law passed by
Congress does not conflict with the Constitu.
ton he is sworn to defend? If he considers
1t clearly in violation of the Constitution, is
he not under the most solemn obligation to
refuse to enforce it? 1t is contended bv
some that the more usual mode is for the
! President to assume 4 law constitutional until
otherwise declared by the Supreme Court
| This the President considers only auplies to
doubtful cases; but where the conflict with
the Constitu ion is clear and undoubted the
President considers it is his duty to decline
its enforcement altogether. Applying this
to impeachment, the following is the result ::
Congress passes articles of impeachment, sus-
ponds the President and orders his arrest
The alleged offence is that he refuses to en-
force the laws which he honestly believes to
be in antagonism with the Constitution.
lie takes one view of the law, Congerss
another. He holds that he can only be re-
moved on conviction Of treason, bribery and
other high crimes and misdemeanors," He
holds that mere difference of opinion as to
the constitutionality Of law between him,
selfand Congress is neither treason, bribery
nor other high crime or msdemeanor. He
holds, therefore, that he cannot be impeached.
Congress insists he can. Then, he cor
slders, Congress places itself in an attitude of
revolution. 1t thus violates the Constitution
by attempting to usurp the executive power,
aud must be put down. How will this be
done The President, acting for the best
interests OF the country and deeming the safe
y OF the republic IN danger, will issue Il pro.
clamatlon prOrOguing Congress, calling for
an election of new members aud invoking the
aid OF the people to sustain him. This, | am
assured, Is the view the President takes of
the impeachment middle and the way he
will act should the occasion arise
Under the Constitution the President has
the power to prOrOGuc Congress only in case
OF disagreement to adjourn. But in a great
public emergency. where the life of the ma
ton Is at stake, the President considers the
exercise OF extraordinary powers Unsuitable
Moreover, Congress by assuming unconstitu-
uonaI powers and attempting to destroy the
EXeuctIve, disqunl flies itself, is no longer a
lawful Congress. but body If usurpers and
traitors. As such they have no rights the
Executive is bound to respect and the Elk
ecutive will deal with them accordingly. The
Presidents theory is that they first inauru.
rate revolution by attempting an act subver.
sIve OF the Government, aud upon them will
rest the responsibility of any strife or con.
fusion that may follow.
The amnesty proclamation was not intend.
cd as mere political dodge to catch the pop.
ular favor and enlist Southern sympathy more
strongly in behalf Of the Johnsouian policy.
The President does not intend that it shall
be merely useless State paper of fine phrases.
but empty effects. He designs it shall work
to the advantage of the Southern whites by
pardOning large cIass-the most intelligent.
wealthy and socially infucntial-aud restor.
ing to them their civil rights, including that
of suffrage. 1t is said he has no power to
grant suffrage to the Pardoned rebels excud-
! ed by the reconstruction nets lie clnims