The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-10
rar TnPnACHlrrrT.

THE IMPEACHHENT.
We are nos st all surprisedAA tie attitude Of
the Senate on the impeachment question.
We would have been surprised had hen IN
thai body any grsaa degree Of hvoe dAovn 70
the project. The action Of the House in the
premises was like that of shsalsd political
body. Mr.. Wilson, of our own district, chair
man of the Judiciary Committee, exhibited
in the House caucus, the good sense, gravity,
and considersteness that are 20 eminently
characteristics Of him. Many very small men
win be excessively anxious 70 make unduiy
big regulations oot Of the Impeachment Of
Andrew johnson. We shall be very we'll
satisfied If they don't get to do anything of
the kind. We are pleased to see the sensible
manner in which the Senate meets the Ques-
ton. 5eEf
This impeachment matter isn't one TO be
hastily disposed of; to be settled with hur-
rah. 1t is one where the apostolic injunction
"Let everything be done decently and in or.
DER" becomes the imperative rule Of action.
The President of the United States can be
impeached. Andrew johnson can be ims
peached. If, upon due investigation, he were
found guilty, he will be removed. Any blus
ter or brsvado on the part of the Democratic
party, or anybody else, is q clear waste Of
raw material. II the American people de-
mand the removal of Andrew johnson from
his place for NAL administration, they will
enforce their verdict ugon him. He cannot
give the nation nearly the trouble thst JEFF.
Davis did. He hasn't a. many friends as
JEFF. Davis had.
Impeschments are intrsctable things TO man
age. Their rightfnlness, like that Of revolu
ton, is indisputable; they turn largely upon
the question of expedieucy. A people are
rather disposed to suffer ills, so long IS those
ills are siderable, than to resort either TO in
surrection or impeachment There must be
an element Of wisdom in this almost univer>
sal characteristic of humanity; wisdom jus
tilted by the i'll fortunes Of those exceptional
peoples that are factionsl and insurrectionary
upon slight provocstion. The precedsnts as
to impeachment are not satisfactory. The
most celebrated impeachment case in history
is that of Warren Hastings. 1t enlisted the
genius and splendid eloquence of Burke, Fox
and Sheridaui it dragged its slow length
through several years, and nothing came of
It. The English Parliament impeached Stat
ford. His guilt was clear, his administration
as odious as Andrew Johnson's. He was
found guilty and sentenced and suffered. So,
too, at the same time Archbishop Lsud.
E.,.it H.. ID.
both were; yet, after the glow of passion sub
sided, it was the judgment of nearly all men
in England, of all parties, that the Psrlia
ments proceedings against these men, il not
a wrong, was, what in Talleyrsnd's estima~
ton is worse, at least q blunder. A more
marked illustration is found in that Parlia
ment's trial of King Charles the First. He
was, if possible, q more odious ruler than
Andrew johnson. His set purpose, persisted
in for years, was 10 override the Constitu>
tisn, and utterly destroy the liberties OF the
English people. To do this he had intrigued
with foreign governments, and armed bis I'D
herents in civil war. His rule was lifelong
and in his family after him, not term of
Office to expire in two years, or four year..
Before the passage Of the Triennial Bill, be
could do away with Parliament, and bear
sole and supreme rule. Yet, now, Liberals,
and Wings, and Tories, unite in condemning
the action Of the Parliament against him.
We are not at all disposed to view An
drew johnson as too good to be impesched
The fact that the Trainers of the Constitution
put that impeachment clause in that instru
ment shows that, in their wise opinion, it was
necessary to shield the people from the en-
croaehments and usurpations Of vicious
executive. During all our history it has
never teen necessary to resort 10 it. That
does not prove that it will never be necessary
hereafter, or may not be so now. The right
of our people TO put out a President that
breaks down the legal limitations of Misplace
is Just as full ard clear as their right to put
him in that place. To say that it shall be
dangerous for them 10 attempt to exercise
the first right as well as the latter, is men.
ace 10 the people that no friends of democratic
government should beguilty of. Itis fright the
people will maintain at all hazards, and If
the Democracy, or Andrew johnson, believe
differently, they viii Ind they have reckoneo
without their host, If so be our Moses is i'm
pesehed.
Congress can 50 impesch him. From our
view Of the situation we do not view the
measure necessary or advisable. To that
body it may, upon sufficient evidence, appear
differently. Let them do their duty and the
people will back them. We only insist that
the matter shall be treated with the gravity
and consideration due it, That il shall be
Conducted not to make nine days reputation
for small bore politicians, but to vindicate
the majesty of the law, of Republican gov.
ernment, and. of free people. That tbs
condemnation shall appear to be, not the
work Of party for partizan purposes, but
the stern, just sentence of q nation wronged
BY usurping executive, reminding him thai
the President is the pubhc's servant, not Mr.
Stewards proclaimed " King