The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-03-26
SPEECH OF Hon. R. ". CLARKE.
OF OHIO,
OF OHIO,
Delivered i'm the House of Rep
resentatiVes, Feb. "A, 1865.

ana That OrQGr SIlll EelgllS ASAO anu
throughout the country. The lawless.
and defiant spirit of President john
son. manifested in his recent viola
tions of law and duty, indicate the
animus that has for two years past
borne him onward in his career of
crime to the establishment of every
body. If Washington had been Paris,
this morning would have found An
drew johnson a fugitive, fleeing from
an infuriated pOpulace, or hanging
upon a lamp post in front of his man
sion. For offences no greater than
his the slow but determined English
seized upon their sovereign without
law, organized a revolutionary tribun-
al; put him upon trial, adjudged him
guilty and cut off his head. For
much less offence than is charged
against President Johnson the French
people dragged a Bourbon king from
his throne, and without waiting for
the slow process of law, and without
taking time to inquire into the guilt
of the unfortunate monarch, who had
fallen under the ban of popular Opin-
ion which was only appeased with his
blood.
But sir, in this country, happily for
cur peace and honorable to the force
and power of the law-abiding senti-
ment that ever stands out prominent
with our people in the midst of the
most trying crisis, the law is still su-
preme. Two years have we been wit
nesses of the most fragrant and insult
| ing violations of the Constitution and
laws by the President; usurpatiOns of
power the most arrogant and defiant,
and by man who attained the high
office he has SO long abused and de
graded by the assassination of one
who by his many virtues, had become
the idol of the people, and Of whose
blood the public judgment has not
wholly acquitted the man who of all
others was most benefited by its be-
ing shed. Still, sir, all is order;
though the provOcatiOn is great, and
the great national heart is deeply
moved, yet the great bulwark Of law
stands firm and unimpaired, and all
the protection that the most favored
of the nation could demand is accord
ed to the accused President; and, if
innocent of the crimes alleged against
him, his honorable and speedy deliv-
erance is beyond all question but if
found guilty, as by proof shall be
shown upon full and fair public trial
as the Constitution and laws prescribe
in such case, then let justice be done,
though the heavens fall.
Who is Andrew johnson, who
when solemnly charged in all due
form with high crimes and misdemean
ors of such magnitude, repeating them
daily, and thereby involving the lib
erty and lives of thousands of the
loyal people of the country, yet he
shall not be subjected, as any other
malefactOr, to public accusation in due
form and to fair and impartial trial,
and, if proved guilty, to receive the
Just punishment awarded to his
crimes?
No one requires his conviction ex-
cept upon full proof of his guilt, and
if guilty, who so dislOyal as to desire
his acquittal? But for his guilty con-
nivance with the rebels of the South
the ten insurgent States would long
since have been restored to the Union
upon terms of peace and amity, and
much of the misery, oppression, and
blOodshed which have fallen upon thai
DISTRESSED land would have been
spared. For two years the White
House has thrown open its portals tC
traitors, and of such the President has
made his confidants and advisers, and
in their interests he has controlled the
power and patronage of his great Of
fee.
For two years loyalty has been at 6
discount and treason above par where
ever in the Departments at Washing
ton the President could infuse the pO
litical virus; to-day I venture the as
sertion that a majority of those par
ticipating in the favOrs of the Govern
ment in this city are out and out reb
els or rebel sympathizers now and du-
ring the war, Honest loyal men have
no standing with Andrew johnson
unless it be when he seeks to seduct
them into his schemes for Overturnine
the Government and to deliver it into
the hands of his enemies. Genera
Grant refused to lend himself to the
wicked Vaccinations, and Sherman
ard Thomas declined with indignan
scorn to accept the prOfered brevet
which were but sugar-cOated bribes t.
lead them into the tolls that were be
ing spread for the betrayal of tht
country. Could any President il
these times be honestly devoted to tn
best interests of his country and ye
thrust out of its service such well
tried public men as Stanton, Sheridan
Pope, Sickles, and Swain, all Of whom
had distinguished themselves by tn
great services they rendered the UniOl
cause in the period of it's great neeC
and great peril? Indeed, his hes
friends do not claim for him any sym
pathy with the party that saved tn
country from the rebels; he has lon
since abandoned them and turned hi
batteries against them and the Unior
and for this warfare, this crime agains
his country, we demand his expulsion
from power, that what has been savet
of our Government by war fror
the grasp of treason shall not be SUI
rendered to it by an unfaithful Pres
dent in time of peace.
Sir, the rebellion is not ended, an
the last organized effort to recover tn
lost cause will not be effectually sui
dued until Andrew johnson is remOy
ed from power. He has told us in b
message of December last that he wi
have his way peaceably if he can, fO
r. chilly if he must. Every official a,
e of his since that announcement show