Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-08-21

won mc New YORK Evening Post.
DOES THE PRESIDENT COURT IMPEACH-
MENTc

We are not OF those who nave favored lmpcaCh~
ment hitherto, or on the grounds which were adj
vanced by the advocates Of that measure; but we
do not hesitate to say that if the President Of the
United States does not faithfully execute the
laws he must be impeachcd and removed.
IL Appeals TO us that Mr.. johnson stands Just
upon the edge OF danger lie is tempted, unless
his friends aud enemies both belle him, to remove
from their places officers who have done their du-
~ most faithfully, and whose removal will have
no other significance than punishment for doing
their duty under the law Of the land. To remove
Sheridan, Pope and Stanton is to put away and
disgrace men who have done their duty faithfully
and zealousy who are highly regarded by the
friends OF the Union for their iaithlulnoss and hat
cd by the obstructionists for the same reason
To remove these men is to strengthen and en-
courage the enemies Of the country it is to weak
en- the force and moral power Of the laws it is to
comfort those whose great aim is TO resist the laws
and make them Of none effect. Under whatever
excuse or pretext the removals may be made, these
are the effects Of the act.
Let Mr.. johnson beware. lie is a literalist I;
he cons very closely the letter of the Constitution
we advise him not to forget that it has also spr
It. He cannot and will not be permitted to shield
himself behind the letter; il will not do for ann
innocently TO say that under the Constitution he
has the right to remove officers, for he will be
told that under the Constitution he is to execute,
and not obstruct and defeat the laws Let him
who was also so strict devotee Of the letter of
the Constitution that he could find in il no author
ity to defend the Union against traitors Mr..
johnson is following in Buchanans footsteps; it
may be well for him TO remember that the country
will not suffer itself second time to be injured
and endangered by the refusal neglect of a
PRESIDENT TO execute the laws. IL learned a les
son from Buchanan which it has not forgotten
Is IL not shameful TO see such triiling with the
most vital interests, as goes on at Washington
We are not Of those, il is well known, who favor
any extension Of the powers of the general gov
eminent; we oppose Capitalization, and shall al
ways oppose it. We assert that government is
the better the less it nterferes in the concerns of
the people. But we maintain also that the great.
and indeed the single object Of government is to
see that Justice is done; to see that all men are
equally protected in life and property and in the
pursuit OF happiness, and it seems to us that Mr..
johnson denies that this is al all an object of gov
eminent. He knows that justice is not done to a
very large class Of people in some Of the Southern
States, except when the United States forces in
teriere. IL is pity and disgrace that it is so
but the fact is undeniable that in several of Che
Southern States the local governments deny and
refuse justice to the blacks Now Justice must be
done that is the object Of government; and fthe
former and present enemies of the Union refuse it,
then the government must act until the oppressed
class can be made safe.
d.
the local powers take no cognzance of crimes
against one half their population. Does Mr.. John
son imagine that this will be endured or that the
body of the American people are going to suffer
1t on any plea he can advanceP He NAV talk what
nonsense he pleases about tyranny about cenraliza
ton, about military despotsm; every man with an
ounce OF brains in his head knows that for the
continuance of the rigor of military government
In the southern states, for all that the President
deplores and denonnces, he, Andrew johnson is
chiefly to blame. If it had not been for his mis-
chievous opposition the southern states would have
adopted the constitutional amendment, and recon
struction would have been completed last winter
if it had not been for his attitude and LANGUAGE
they would have, later, accepted the Reconstr,ic-
ton act. IL is his conduct and language now md
that only, which inspires every demagogue in the
southern states to hold out in opposition, to keen
the country in turmoil, to obstruct the laws. To
denounce the brave and faithful officers who exc
cute them, and to persist in the oppression of the
blacks.
General Grant has said that within ten DAYS after
he passage Of the Reconstruction act over the
veto, last spring the whole southern states became
quieti CRIME and outrage, such as were before re-
,orted, absolutely ceased. But it is well-known
hat they ceased only for time as soon as it be
came known that Mr.. johnson intended TO mako |
is the significant phrase which we
see used-the lawless element plucked up courage |
md began to work again. 1t seems to us that Mr. |
Johnson is taking Buchanan, instead of jackson |
for his model. Who surround him, counsel with |
lim, have his carp Is it Longstrect who comes
o Washington to intrigue for Sheridan's removal?
Is Orr there or forestp Are the men who foup hit
IN the rebel armies, and who learned some sense !
in the hard struggle, there around him? or are
The Union men OF the southern states his conf
hantsl Neither are; but we see there the dem
agogues of the South the old politicians, who
plunged the country into war and then prudentlv
kept out OF the fight; the men who hated the Union
and hate It still who hated republican govern
ment and hate il still who hated the name of
Liberty, and now curse her as the author of their
overthrow. The same class which in the last DAYS
oil his administration beset Buchanan have apan
found their way to the White House
1t is the utmost importance to every industrial
and commercial interest, that the work of recon-
struction should be completed at once, as quickly
rs possible. Who delays ftp The President.
the officer whose sworn duty il is to faithfully exc
cute the laws. A Presidential election is drawing
near grave dangers menace the country if the
work OF reconstruction is not completed before the
election. Who isit that stands in the wayp The
President OF the United States, whose soimen dn
ty it is to execute the laws If he performed that
duty faithfully, his oath requires his simple at
tltude the belief that he intended honestly TO exc
cute the laws, would at once quell opposition and
restore the country to peace.
MIR. johnson is very full Of sympathy for " the
South" by which he means only the whites there
be is very fond of talking of the dear, oppressed,
abused southern peope--and by that he means
only part of the white half of them. 1t ought
not to be necessary to tell him that it is not the
South, but the country at large-the North, the
East, the West, as well--which is injured and en-
dangered By the condition of affairs which his oh
stinacy and failure OF duty perpetuates, and for
the continuance Of which now, he, and he alone, !
is justly responsible. The South is well enough
every planter, every man who is not a politician,
but who has material interest at stake will tell
him that the South is more peaceful, safer TO in
1ustrious men, now than il has been for wears
that the lawless class are better kept under that
crime is more vigorously punished, that life and
properly are safer, than they have been before.
de has no need to wall and groan over the I'M
happy South. But his misconduct endangers the |
whole country his influence and countenance are
given to the class who would like nothing SO well /
rs TO ruin the country; he perpetuates bitterness
and prevents just and honorable settlement. ne |
'pholds the vile demagogues who abuse Long
treet, and the thousands of other brave men WHO
iaving fought in the war now anxious for
peace. lie keeps the country in turmoil he |
iiscourages and disheartens the honest aud patri |
'tlc men IN the southern states who seek 10 lead
public opinion Alright. He purposely, and with an
insane obstinacy stands between the country and
,eacei and If he persists in his efforts to defeat
he laws, Congress, soon as il meets, will have |
2 impeaoh and remove him. BY his own fault. |
hat will be the only remedy.
GUILTY CosscIENoE. = The last freak of