Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-27

. 16 iuSdpdUle vi S"SJ
,,rand changes which the past SIX years
ave wrought. he seeks to measure the
reat events which surrounded him Dy the
arrow rules which adjusted public affairs
'efore the rebellion, and its legitimate con-
quences destroyed them and established
hers. Judge him politically, condemn
i'm. but the day of political impeachment
could be sad one for the country. PO-
tical untitness and incapacity must be
led at the ballot box, not in a high court
impeachment. The contrary rule |
right leave to Congress but little
ime for other business than the
rial of impeachments. But we are now,
lisdemeanors are now demanding our at
! ,ution. Do these within the meaning OF
he Constitution appear? Rest the case
pom political Ofenses, and we are pre-
are1 to pronounce against the President,
Or such offenses are numerous and grave.
If Mexican experience is desired, we need
ave no difficulty. for there, almost every
lection is productive of revolution. If
ne people of the Republic desire such
esult we have not yet been able to discover
6, nor would we favor 1t if its presence
we're manifest, while we condemn and CEN
/ ure the political conduct Of the President.
md Judge him unwise in the use of his dis
|; :retionary powers, and appeal to the peo-
pile of the republic to sustain US. We still
affirm that the conclusion at which we have
arrived is correct. We therefore declare
that the case before MS, presented by testi-
mony and measured by law, does not de-
clare such high crimes and misdemeanors
within the meaning of the Constitution as
require the interpOSitiOn OF the cOnStItu-
tional pow wer of this House, and recommend
the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolued. That the committee on the
Judiciary be discharged from the further
consideration of the proposed impeach-
ment of the President of the United States,
and that the subject be laid upon tine table.
| [Signedl JAMES +. WILSON,
FRED. E. WOODBRIDGE.
Messrs. Marshall and Eldridge, in their
report, say of the President: His greatest
offense, we apprehend, will be found to be
that he has not been able to follow those
who elected him to his office, and made as
saults upon and departure from the Consti-
tutional Government of the fathers OF the
Republic, and that, standing where most of
his party prOfessed to stand when they
elected him to his present exalted position,
he has dared to differ with the majority of
Congress upon great and vital questions !;
he has believed in the continuing aid and
binding obligations of the Constitution !;
that the suppression of the rebellion against
the Union was the preservation of the
Union and the States comprising it, was put
down, and the States were all equally enti-
tied to representation in the Congress of
the United States. Planting himself firm
ly and unmovably upon this position. he
| has incurred the fierce and the malignant
hatred and opposition OF all those who
claim. by virtue OF the alleged conquest of
| the territory and subjugatiOn of the people
of the lately rebellious States, the power
and right to dictate to them the
Constitution and laws they shall
live under, and the liberties tthey
| shall be permitted to enjoy. In this differ
| ence between Congress and the President,
and the desire of each for the adoption by
the country of their respective views, is,
| we suspect, to be found not only the cause
| for the movement to impeach, but of his
{ censure and condemnation. Out of it has
. grown the embittered feelings and violent
| hatred of the President by his former
| friends. The majority of Congress aud OF
I the committee have entertained. and have
| been prepared to declare at all times, in
Congress and out of it, even more strongly
| than is expressed in their report, this same
censure and condemnation. This opinion
was not formed upon the testimony taken
before the committee, or upon any facts
ELECTED by its investigation. 1t was po-
litical opinion, growing out of difference
of views upon political questions, it was
/ the opinion with which the majority of
j the committee entered upon the investiga-
tion; it was that which inspired and slim
ulated all its inquiries aud examination,
| but, notwithstanding these pre-eXist-
ing opinions and prejudices, the mi
compelled to find, after the fullest
] consideration and great protracted
deliberation, that the President had COM
mitted no offense for which, under our laws,
he can or ought to be impeached; and hence
none, as we insist, subjecIing him to the
official jurisdiction of the committee OF
the House. The censure and condemnation
\ IS kk,nD 49,
1ty IS without our Jurisdiction, not Justi-
fled by facts, unbecoming one department
| OF the Government toward the other, and
| calculated to bring reproach upon the COM
mittee, House and nation. With all due
| respect to the majority of the committee,
we can not regard the charges made against
| the President as a serious attempt to pro-
cure his impeachment without dwelling
upon their utter failure to point to the
| commission of single act that is recOg-
niZed by the laws of our country as high
crime or misdemeanor.
The President had the sanction of his
Cabinet for every act for which he has been
pecial favorites OF the party of impeach-
! ment. Mr.. Stanton gave his emphatic ap-
! proval to the acts for which the President
] is arraigned, and yet the eX-Secretary is a
I; favorite and popular martyr, and the
! whole country is veXed with clamors for
1 MS restoration TO power and place. Inc
President has used every means within his
power to bring jeff Davis to speedy trial,
| and yet he has been denounced throughout
| the land for procrastination, and prevent
| ing the trial, while the judges and prose-
cutting officers having entire control OF
/ the matter have been deemed worthy
| of the most honOred plaudits.
Were ever inconsistencies more glaring
and inexplicable than these? and can we
! possibly be mistaken when we assert that,
J however honest may be the majority of
the committee, the verdict of the country
and of posterity will be that the crime OF
che President consists not in violations,
out in refusals to violate the laws-in be-
ing unable to keep pace with the party of
progress in their rapidly advancing move
nents, or to step outside and above the
Constitution in the administration of the
Government in preferring the Constitu-
Gion of his country to the dictatiOn of an
INSCRIPTIONS partisan cabal, and in bravely
daring to meet the maledictions of those
who have arrived at the accomplishment
of a most wicked and dangerous revolu-
ton, rather than to encounter the reproach
of his own conscience and the curses of
posterity through all time.
Horrible Accident.
One of the most fearful accidents that has