St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-05-08
The Presidents Defence.

The voluminOus arguments OF the
Presidents counsel, defending him against
the articles of impeachment, have at
length come to an end. The legal re-
search of Judge Curtis, the "reminiscences
OF MIR. Nelson, the direct appeals Of Mr.
Gruc-beck. the varied rhetoric of Mr.
Erarts and the professional ingenuity OF
Mr. Stanbery have all been employed
without the least limitation on the part
OF the Senate. and have been listened TO,
wc have no doubt, with candid impair
riaIity. Everything that could I've allcg-
td II his behalf has been produced, and
in Il manner which cannot but have won
hi- blanks. It hr i a grateful man.
Iut Nha,. after all. doe, bis defence
amount to We cannot help thinking
that his weakness will he the cause OF
-,licu- mi--ivin"- even to his strongest
supporters who have followed the main
points oi lis counsel with an intelli@, mt
interest Ninc-tcnthS of that whole
mass of words might he taken away
without los of force TO til" real argu-
mrut in behalf Of the Presidents ca>e.
The counsel bad. ut the outset. to meet
the ~ lent fat that the President was
,iytcr!ninri n all events to remove Sec
rotary Stanton. in defiance of the Ten
urr-ot-uilire act Hence. they had the
lp-hiil work OF contending that the Ike
cutive is authorized to judge for himscl
, .. the ron~iitUtionaIity OF Il givcn law
and if he SAYS ne comes To an advcr-,
'raur.u~tou. lac i at liberty to violate any
part of that law or to set it aside entire
F iv. Oniv those who have carefully rea,
tine quotations designed to uphold thi
u.u-lr1g> pr-tcn-J,n can have any iled
of their utter weakness and worthlc-SncS
although tin mass OF right-mindcd Amer
lean citizens have IN instructive rcpug
NANCE to the doctrine itself Ii l. seen a
once that if the President has any ~ucl
immunity with re%ard to one law. M
mas the same with regard /" all upon
which he chooses To- exercise it: an,
.hu-, instead OF finding in the Executive
tine t0uutam-hcad of the enforcement q
our laws. A. We have hitherto supposed
W. should ultimately discover an IRE
~p.u-iblr d.>pot. who under prctcnsc q
superior love and knowledge Of the OF
.au.c law. would undermine and Lc~tro
all law.
I'll" other parts of the Presidents lie
fence may not hr So reckless ana prepos
ferrous ~ this. but some of them ar
uai1aiiy weak and Others are unimpor
,ant W. are not prepared TO say tina
all tie impeachment articles hav, bee
sustained hrvoui doubt II appears /
l. tia; tn. Emory article. - called. la
not been conclu~ivcly proved. and tina
some OF tn, specifications in the other
still remain doubtful. These are of ltd
consequence. Enough relating to tn
Presidents clear and repeated violation
oi law. and the ''high crimes and miSdc
mpauurS" with which he has abused hi
hi-h "''icr and brought irrcparabIc iniu
~ Gpou the country. has been fortitic
toy abundant and indisputablc proof
~,ricl In-tice calls for his conviction
The lonG-~ulltrin" welfare OF the pcopl
requires That tie least atoncmcnt he CT
make tor I'll. past i to cease from hi
. mer.irVou~ course and retire into OF
-curit,. Those who though; - hctnl
the prr>cu, trad began. will he still Nor
convinced ot II. when they scc how littl
hi array of mos, ingenious counsel have
after all. been able 10 Say in his d,tenc,
, -i.u>'.. Jv9rH'