The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-07
Impeachmeut,

| AhC VOieC vi Tic lJcu1OCIdtp iSSS 10 VI
course unanimously against impeachment as
high-handed outrage, having justifcasion
neither in the law or equity Of the case. On
the other hand, the Republican press is divi-
ded. The radical portion is bowling for
making quick work of impeachment,-pu
ting on all the steam, opening every throttle,
| and If the engine reaches the destination in
safety, we'll; or if everything goes to eternal
smash, no matter-it will at least crush the
"obstacle" out of the way. There is, howev-
er, larger portion of the Republican press
that advises moderation in speed, elaboration
and wisdom in council, and sympatliizing
with this portion of the press is said to be
CMef Justice Chase, who must preside at the
trial. And lastly. Il third division Of the Re
publican press, which may be called the emf
nently conservative, like the New York Ere
ming Post and Times, and the Cincinnati Com
merci@, oppose the movement outright, as
extreme folly and madness. From the latter
class of papers, as really the most cool-hcaded
and unbiased of all the journals of the country
on such subject, we subioin a few extracts.
The first is from the New York Eccaiag Post:
Let us reflect moment how it would work if
Mr. johnson were removed and Mr.. Wade in
stalled in the Executive mansion. Suppose
Seward, Welles, Stanbery and the rest should
choose TO act upon Mr.. Stanton's principle and
decline to leave the departments of which they
are the heads. Would not bluff old Ben find
1T rather too empty an hsnor playing figure-head
10. A 1,,,.. - Z - 4 /
was conducted as nearly as possible on Johnson's
policy! II we repeal the law for the sake of
getting rid of the Cabinet, we should confess
that our legislation was purely partisan, and
enacted Tor the sake Of trapping MIR. johnson,
and not because thought it good for the
country. If we make the Senate agree to Mr..
W AIDES proposition that they are not in harmony
of sentiment with the now President, we shall
justify Johnson's desire and attempt to remove
Stanton Tor the same reason Which horn of
this dilemma will be comfortable one to be i'm
palsd upon in the pleasant days of next October.
We venture upon the opinion that it is much
better to- reflect rather carefully upon this now
than to take that leisure for repentance which
prGvcrbially follows acting in haste There is,
Of course, class of persons to whom it is all
sufficient reason for any action that it puts their
own party Immediately in power, and such we
have no hope of reaching by argument; but
there are, fortunately, very many more who nave
an interest in retaining power in the hands of
the Union men of the country after the present
year, and to such we submit that the political
profit and loss account would not look well if on
footing it up next fall the loss of the Presidency
or the loss of majority in Congress should be
found on the debit side, with nothing but the
fag-end of JOhnson's time for Mr.. Wade to bal
ance the books.
If the President in the removal of the Secre-
tary of War acted merely with the intent Of
bringing the law before the courts, he was in the
right; but if he acted with view, or shall act
with view of asserting his own Interpretation
of the law by force he is not in his right. and
will not be upheld by public opinion. In the
former case, we hardly see how he is liable to
impeachment; he is not opposing the law with
view to annulling it, but with a view to test
ing it. and while he confines his hostility to this
limit he is at the most but technically guilty OF
n breach of its provisions If the courts should
decide that the law is unconstitutional, there is
end to his offence; bnt if they should decide
that it is constitutional, it will be time enough
then for Congress to inquire into the nature and
degree of his offence. As Mr.. Stanton. by the
arrest of Gen. Thomas, has appealed to the
courts, it is incumbent all parties to await
the result before either of them resorts to other
proceedings.
All TINS Is Simple enough, and the difficulty
may be( easily settled; but what we fear, and
what excites the alarm of the public is the ap-
parent disposition the part of Congress to
precipitate the issue. The speeches of Saturday,
especially those of Mr.. Brooks, Mr. Farnsworth
and Gen. Logan, were needlsssly violent. So
grave aqdeston as the impeachment Of the Chief
Magistrate demands the utmost seriousness and
decorum, calm consideration of the grounds of
accusation, and an entire exemption from party
bias and prejudice. The proceeding is in the
nature OF judicial inquiry and is not to be
prosecuted like debate ut the hustings or q
street quarrel.
The following are extracts from . lengthy
article in the New York Times, on the propos-
cd impeachment:
The Presidents removal of Mr.. Stanton and
his appointment of Gen. Thomas were in distinct
and unmistakable defiance of these provisions Of
that the Civil Tsnure) law. 1t is also clear that
this violation of the law has been intentional on
the Presidpnt's part-uot with view m fhe