The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-05
Established 1926.

ns wholly political, IN which, IT an
officer Of the Government abuses
his trust. or attempts 20 pervert il
10 Improper purposes. whatever be
his motive. he becomes subject to
impeachment and removal from
Office. Tho oifcnse being indicla
BILE does not prevent impeachment,
but is not necessary 10 snstsiD it.
See Story's Commentaries on the
Constitution, Madison and others
Such is the opinion OF our elemen.
tary writer's. nor can any case Of
impeach ment tried in this country
be found where any a,temp; was
made 10 prove the otiense indicla.
bic and criminal.
"Wbat, then, are the official
misdemcanors Of Andrew johnson,
disclosed by the evidence? On
the I'd day of March, 1867, Con
grets passed an act cGlitlcd 'an act
regulating the tenurs OF certain
civil Offices Among other pro-
visions, it enacted that no officer
who bad been appointed By, or
with the advice and consent Of the
Senate should be removed from Of
flee without the consent Of the Sen.
ate, and that if during vacation a
suspension should be made for
canse. such cause should be report.
cd 10 the Senate within twenty
days after their meeting. II the
Senate should deem the reason Of
suspension sufficient, thea the of.
ficer should be removed and an
other appointed in his stead; but if
the Senate should refuse to concur
with the President, and declare
the reasons insufficient, then the
officer suspended should forthwith
resume the functions of his Office,
and the powers of the person per.
forming its duties should ceaso. Ii
is especially provided that the Sec.
rotary Of War shall hold his Office
during the term Of the President
by whom he may have been ap
pointed, and for one month there
after, unless removed by and with
the consent Of the cate, as afore
said.
"On tho 18th Of August, 1867,
during the recess of the Senate,
the President removed the Secre.
tary Of War, whose term Of office
had not expired. requiring him to
surrender the Office, with the pub.
lie property, and appointed Gene
raj U. ). Grant Secretary of War
dd interim. .....
"When Andrew johnson assumed
the office ct President, be took tho
oath to obey the Constitution of
the United States, and to take
care that the laws be faithfully
executed. This was d solemn. en-,
during obligation, nor can he plead
exemption from it on account Of his
condition at the time il was admin
istered to him. in. the attempt 10
obstruct the execution of the law,
not q mere omission amounting 10
negligence, Which would have been
a misdemeanor, but Il bold con-
81 .racy was attempted by him to
induce the General of the army to
aid him 10 defeating the operation
of this law, aud when he had sus-
pended the Secretary of War, he
appointed General Grant Secretary
nd interim, with tho avowed pur.
pose of preventing tie operation OF
that law if the Senate scould de
eide in favor of the Secretary, and
he says the General did enter into
such conspiracy 10 aid him in oh.
structing the return of the Secre-
tary,' Notwithstanding the Senate
might decide in his favor.
This is denied by the General
and a question of veracity rather
angrily discussed, has arisen be.
tween them, and these gentlemen
seem TO consider that that ques
ton is one of Importance 10 the
public. In this they are mistaken
Which is the man of truth aud
which is the man of lalsehOod is o
no more public importance thar
had it occurred between two OBJ
scure individuals. Ii Andrew
Johnson tells the truth, then he it
guilty of a high official misdemea
nor, for he avows his effort to pre-
vent the execution of tne law. |
the Gcnerai commanding tells the
truth, then the President is guilty
of high misdemeanor, for he de
clares the same thing of tho Presi
dent, denying only his own com
plicity. No argument can max
this point palmer than the state
ment of the culprit. If be and tn
General told tho truth, then b'
committed wilful perjury by refus
ing to take care that the law
should bo duly executed.
ITO show the anmus and guilt.
knowledge with which this wa
violated, we have only to turn l.
the proceedings of the Senate
notifying him of his illegal an
void conduct, and then to conside
that he has since persevered in al
tempting to cnforcei il. Indeed, Z
show his utter disregard of tn
laws of his country, We have onl.
J to turn TO his last annual mcssag
in which he proclaimed to tn
public that the laws arc unconstl
tutional and not binding on tn
. people. Who, after that, can "a,
such q man is ft TO occupy til
Executive chair, whose duty it
to vindieate obedience and sc
that those very laws are faithful
obeyed?
, "Then the great beauty Of tn