New-York tribune., 1868-05-05
THE PEOPLE on IMPEACHMENT

WHclmlnP MINORITY Ol lne American people,
and upon whom rests the responsibility of the
National and nearly all the State Governments,
are a unit for COnyicting Andrew Johnson and
removing him from the position he disgraces.
The Republican press and all the Republican
Conventions held since the impeachment of the
President have sustained enthusiastically the
action of the House. In New York, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, and Michigan the
Conventions had been held before the attempted
removal of Mr. Stanton. From these there
could be no expression of the sentiments of
the majority of the people through their party
organizations But such of the States as have
held conventions since the President was i'm
peached and during his tral-Pennsylvani
Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Others-have
sustained and ratified the action of Congress
with their might.
The Presidents order of removal against
Stanton was issued on the 21st of February,
and on the oath he was impeached by the
House. On the Goth the Republicans of Wis
cOnsn held their State Convention, and in
their resolutions thanked Congress for the
action which had been taken, and, while
deplOring the necessity, declared that the
vital interests of the Republic required that the
wanton acts of johnson should be ended by
his trial. On tho day following the action of
the House, the Maine Legislature, in joint re-
solution of both houses sanctioned the meas
ures which Congress had adopted, and sustained
the course of the members from that State.
On the same day like resolution was intro
duced into the Pennsylvania Legislature, and
the Assembly of California followed Oh the
next day.
The Ohio Convention, held on the 4th of
March, followed the example set by the peo-
pie of Wisconsin. Their resolutions declared
that " the chief obstruction to the pacifCation
" of tho country has been the persistent Oppo-
sitOn of Andrew Johnson" and that they
"aDprove and applaud the action of the House
of Representatives in the exercise of its high
constitutional prerogative by his impeach-
"ment for high crimes and miSdemeanors"
On the 1lth, the Pennsylvania Convention
called upon the Senate, sitting as a Court of
Impeachment ITO proceed without fear,
favor. or Affection" and declared that the
people of that State would stand by
"and maintain the just Judgment of the
4" law Massachusetts added her voice of APP
prOval, in convention held on the 12th and
Michigan, New-Jersey, and Vermont all met in
convention on the 18th, and were equally out
spoken. Maryland, on the 9th of March, took
similar action. Tho Georgia Convention,
| the 9th. as well as the Reconstruction COnven-
tiOns of nearly or quite all the Southern States
anayed themselves on the same side. Thus
within a month after the attempted usurpa-
| tiOn of the President the Conventions and
| Legislatures of majority of the States have
indOTSed the impeachment of the President in
terms and under circumstances that imply in
every instance their expectation of his cOnvic-
tiOn and removal and their sanction in adj
vance of the justice and necessity of the YER
dict.
Many other bodies, representing the popular
will in degree only less than the State Legis-
latures and Conventions, have been equally en-
phatic in support of Congress. Their action
strengthens the evidences that the majority Of
the people are a unit in the performance of
this painful but manifest duty. The Republi-
can General Committee of this city, the Union
League Club, and the State Union League of
New-Jersey, were among the first,
but only among the first, to express
their approval. Other organizations were
unreservedly outspOllen. In every village where
those who upheld the Union and its armies in
their struggle with the Rebellion were
organized, that organization rallied to
the support of the peoples representa-
tives promptly, and without pausing to
ask what course others would pursue. The
voice of the people demanded that Andrew
Johnson should have fair trial, but that he
should no longer with impunity violate the
laws But of all the evidences of the popular
judgment upon a Tecreant Chief Magistrate the
press, or that portion of them who represented
the cause of loyalty and liberty in our late
struggle, have been most hearty and unanimous
1t was not to be expected that journals like
The Ne,C- York World, Chicago Times, and La
Crosse Democrat, which demanded the impeach-
ment of the President as soon as he was in
augurated, shOuld now renew their prayers for
the blessing which was then denied them. Nor
shall we require The Nep- York Herald and
Times to renew at this late day
that somewhat impetuous demand for tie
Presidents impeachment by which they, with
cOmmendable enterprise, long since stole the
march upon the average public opinion of the
day. But among more th-n a thousand recOg-
nized Republican journals of our exchange list,
only half dozen delayed to sustain the action
of Congress- and of this tardy band nearly all
have since become convinced of the justice of
Impeachment, and the necessity Of conviction.
An opinion so emphatic and universal, in a
crisis 50 unusual, could not have been obtained
by the most willy arts of the politician. A con-
viction in the popular mind, as earnest and
profound as it was general, that Andrew John
son was irretIievably fallen and abandoned,
could alone draw ont this popular verdict.
Now that his protracted trial draws to n close
1t is well to ponder this universal public opinion
1t contains the deliberate conclusion of the