The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-04-09
The Impeachment Farce.


johnson enters upon his defence against
the impeachment farce, which commences
to-day. he will call ., one of his witnesses
Hon f. NJ. Stanton, who is now endeav-
oring t. hold the position Of secretary of
var. lie will ask Mr.. Stanton if, when
the tenure Of Office bill passed congress, he
did not advise him president Johnson}
to veto il on the ground of ils being un-
constitutional. II he denies that he gave
that advice, the president will prove that
he did give it, By the other
members Of the cabinet. This
will put the secretary in beautiful posi-
tion-seeking to hold to an Office under
law which he believes unconstitutional
He will will also ask Senator Sherman to
be sworn. Sherman will be asked If he did
not, in the debate iu the senate en- the ten
ure Of Office bill, use this language:
Now, | say that if cabinet officer
should atteu pt to hold his office for a mo-
ment beyond the time when he retains the
entire confidence Of the president l would
not have him retained nor would | compefa
president to have about him in these high
positions man in whom he did not not
entirely trust. both personally and politi-
cally. It would be unwise to require him
to xd minister the government without
agents Of his own choosing.
There is no public exigency requiring
such rule. What is cabinet officer af-
ter ALI The presidents mere clerk, be.
cause although these cabinet officers are
considered as high officers of the govern
ment. they are the mere clerks or recording
agents of the president, having scarcely any
power except that which is given them
as part Of the executive authority. 1t
seems to NE that when there is any un.
pleasant relaxation. any unpleasant differ
ences arising between the president and
auy Of these officers. be ought to have the
power to discharge him, | would as soon
think Of imposing upon the president a
private secretary with whom he had no
kindly relations, persooal and political, as
to Impose on him cabinet minister with
whom his relations we're not kind.
Any gentleman ft to be cabinet min
lister, who receives an intimation from his
chief that his continuance in ofhce is un-
pleasant to him, would necessarily resign
II he did not resign, it would show that he
was uu6t to be there. / can not imagine
case where cabinet officer would hold
on to his place in defiance and against the
wishes Of his chief. and if such case should
occur, certainly would not by any ek-
traordinary or ordinary legislation protect
him in the Office in defiance Of what would
be regarded in every constitutional gov
ernment AS the proper rule, namely, to re-
tire when he separates or differs in opinion
from his chief"
With this testimony on record. Senator
Sherman will cut 6ne figure if he votes
to impeach the president, or turn him out
of Office for removing Stanton from the
war department. He has given his word
above that he would not compel the pres
ident to have cabinet officer that was not
acceptable TO him. He would not compel
any cabinet officer by either ordinary OF
extraordinary le1islatiop, in which cstego-
ry the Impeachment proceedings are to be
classed.
: Senator Edmunds, Of Vermont, will b.
called, and asked IL he did not say. in the
T these words
/" 1t did seem to the committee, after 8
great deal of consultation and reflection
that it was right and Just that the Chic
> Executive Of the nation in selecting thes,
named secretaries who, by law and by tn,
practice Of the country, and officers anal
ogous to whom by the practice Of all othe
: countries, are the confidential advisers O
: the executive respecting the administra
ton Of all his departments, should be rer-
: sons who were personally agreeable to him
in whom he could place entire confidence
u and reliance, and that, whenever it shoult
j. seem that the state of relations betwee,
{ him and any one of them had become s.
u as to render this relation of confidence an,
j. trust and personal esteem inharmonious, h
s should in such ease be allowed to dispens
: with the services Of that officer in vaca
e tion, and have some vtner person in hi
Il stead
% A vote by Elnunds for the convictio
J. the president, in the Stanton case, woul
d also be a beautiful and consistent act.
Is Senator Williams Of Oregon, who pr,
a. pared the origina. bill, will likewise b
re sup9naed. and requested to state if thes
oI were not his expressed views in regard
ID the law, for testing the constitutionality
ID which the president sought to be turne
W out:
ID "This bill undertakes to reverse wins
e. has heretofore been the admitted practic
Sc Of the government, and it seemed to n
GO that it was due to the exalted Office of IL
Ill president Of the United States, the CHI
IN magistrate of the nation, that he shou
* exercise this power that he should be le
on to choose his own cabinet, aud that
I'D should be held responsible, as he will be
e- the country for whatever acts that cabin,
We may perform"
Do Sesasor FsssendeD, of Maine, will, vine
he Is put under oath, recognise his ial
ly guage 10 the following:
I'd "A mau who is the head of q depar
be ment naturally wants the control Of tn
be department. He wants the control OF b
of subordinates, that they should be sub;e