Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-28
u President Johuson Entitled to
a Less Impartial Trial than the

vi CFiut shdit nave Spccuy
trial, in public, and ."by an impartial
jury" that is, by Jury that has neither
malice nor hatred againt the accused. lift
appear to the satisfaction of the counsel
for the accused that there is a feeling OF
enmity or prejudice against tho accused,
in the county where the alleged crime was
he makes oath to that effect
and obtains trial in county or district
to be free from such enmity or
No man who bears malice
against the prisoner is knowingly
allowed place on the Jury. This
the public sentiment of the country ap-
proves, although the worst scoundrel in the
country can claim such trial as right.
How different the situation of President
JOHNSON. By the terms of the Constitu-
tion, the House of Representatives shall
have the sole power OF Impeachment,
and the Senate OF the United States shall
have the sole power to try all Impeach-
ments, and '.all civil officers of the United
States shall be removed from office on inn
parchment. for, and conuiction Of Treason,
Bribery or other high crimes and misde-
meanors." '.t.- ti5is le.s,t Ee =
Read over again this clause touching the
offense for which civil officers shall be re-
moved from Office, after conviction. Trea-
son in civil officer of the United States is
cause for Impeachment. Bribery in such
officer is cause for Impeachment, or any
other crime partaking of the nature OF
Treason or Bribery. The Constitution is
particular to define Treason. 1t don't leave
the matter to conjecture. It declares ssTrea-
son against the United States shall consist
only in levying war against them, or in
adhering to their enemies, in time of warl
giving them aid and comfort" The Con-
stitution provides that Judgment in cases
of Impeachment shall not extend further
than removal from Office, and disqualifica-
tion to hold and enjoy any office of hon.
or, trust. or profit under the United
States" That's the penalty for an Impeach-
able offense. In the Tenure of Office Bill,
for the alleged violation of which Presi-
dent JOHNSON has to undergo a trial for
Impeachment, the penalty for its violation
is distinctly set forth. It is provided that
whoever shall violate it, whether President
or any other party, "upon trial and con-
viction, he shall be punished therefor by a
fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or
by imprisonment not exceeding five years,
or both said punishments, IN the: discretion
of the Court" It is so provided in sections
8, and 9. Evidently the place wherein
the violation of this law is to be tried is in
some court known to the law, and not in
the Senate of the United States. 1t is for
the courts to pass upon the law and adjudge
the punishment for its violation. 1t is not
intended that its violation by the Presi-
dent shall render him amenable to I'm
peachment. Had such been the intention
of the trainers of the law, instead Of pro-
viding that if he shall violate it
he will render himself liable to a
fac not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or
to an imprisonment not exceeding five
years, or both, as might seem just to the
Court in which the case is tried, they
would, in terms direct and unequivocal,
have provided that its violation by him
will subject him to trial for Impeachment.
Here is bill passed by body of men who
have for the President the most lively and
intense hate-a hate so bitter and relent-
less that they are disqualified from impair
TALLY sitting in judgment on any question in
which they. and the President are mutually
concerned to virtually take out of his
hands the power disappointment to ofice-a
power that was exercised by every preced-
ing President. The object of the bill is to
prevent the President from turning out of
o flee or Of putting into office men
who do not subscribe to the Radi-
calism of Congress. It was not that there
shall be secured to the discharge of the
duties of the respective offices more eff
cheney or more honesty. No such motive
prompted the passage of the bill. 1t was
that the friends Of the Radicals shall have
the exclusive use of the offices. But in
their determination thus to provide for
their friends, it did not occur to them that
the violation of this law shall be treated as
3 crime like that of Treason or Bribery, to
be the same way. They made
1t civil offense, triable in Civil Court.
Smarting from their late failures to fab
ricate a plausibility for the Impeachment
of the President, the Radicals thought by
urging Secretary STANTON to refuse obedi-
ence to the Presidents order removing
him, that he, the President, would have re-
It would seem that the hot haste with
which the House proceeded to pass resolu-
tions Impeaching him, had for it's object
the aggravation of the President to point
that he could not restrain himself from
doing that which would give to them and
the Grand Army of the Republic and the
'Loyal" Governors who with marvellous
rendered their fifty thousand
and one hundred thousand men to uphold
Congress, an opportunity to again
affiict the country with civil strife.
So far as STANTON, and Congress and
these Loyal Governors and the
of the Grand Army of the
Republic are concerned, it looks much like
. scoundrelly trick once more to involve
the country in War, believing that through
such War they could secure for their party
a continued hold upon the Government.
Now, take into consideration that this
Congress - the Senate and the House,
meaning thereby the Republican Senators
and Members-cherish for President JOHN
SON only hate, scorn and contempt-that
they look upon him as an :sobstacle" in
their way, that should somehow be dispos-
ed of-do you think that they would make
s.an impartial jury" within meaning Of
the Constitution? Say that that he is 8
vulgar tailor, aman of overweening vani-
ty, false and treacherous, anything and
everything You please, would they
be held to be s. an impartial jury
t, pass upon him? Take into
consideration this, that this Republican
Congress passed the Tenure of Office Acl