New Orleans Republican., 1868-03-11
WHO Is THE UsURPBR ?

W0o AS ALL o1D&A AAA
The ancient experience of the wolf and
the lamb is repeated in modern days with
lamentable frequency. The wolf came to
brook TO drink, and seeing lamb drinking
short distance from him down stream,
cried out Villain, why do you trouble
the water, making it unfit for my taste ~
" Indeed, sir,n politely replied the lamb,
:" it is impossible that could have done so,
for am further down stream than your ex-
cellency." "No matter,n cried the wolf,
you are a seoundrel, and l will eat you
up And the lamb was deVoured In
twinkling.
The pretended friends of Andrew John
son-we say pretended, for he has not
genuine admirer in the country since Jerry
Black gave him up-are trying to make
the people believe that congress is usurp-
er, and that therefore the president is justi-
fed in his attempts to foment revolution
ary resistance to the regular process of
impeachment and trial, and would do moth
ing more than right if he should fall on the
senate, the chief Justice, and the house, and
in his own proper person devour them up.
We are not in great terror lest the presi-
dent should presently perform this feat OF
deglutition he has to-day as little power
for insurrectionary evil as the humblest
person accused before recorders court
but this is question OF right as well as
power, and it is well to discuss it as such.
To the statement that congress is
usurper we reply with fat denial, and
call for the proof from those who make the
assertion, and on whom the burden of
proof lies. The presumptiOns are surely in
favor of this accused congress, especially
as there is hardly member of it, save per
haps that brilliant Democratic lighthouse,
John Morrissey, who is not the equal in
character and in accomplishment of Mr..
johnson himself Where then is the proof?
In the civil rights bill? 1t has been de-
cIared constitutional by high tribunal Of
the United States. In the reconstruction
laws: They have been declared constitu-
tional by the United States district
court in Mississippi; aud the supreme court
of the United States has unanimously held
in the case of Georgia, that the passage of
these laws was matter entirely within the
constitutional discretion of congress. In
the tenure of office law? Its constitution
ality has never been attacked in any way,
and if it ever be judicially questioned the
courts will repeat their well established
doctrine that the discretion Of congress-
within its sphere, can not be elsewhere
examined.
There is no proof of the usurpations of
congress except in the defamation of
ignorant stump orators, and the unboHnded
assertions Of Mr.. johnson himself, who for
the last two years has been suffering from a
violent attack of monomania on this sub
ject to such an extent that he thinks every
act of legislation which be person
ally deems impolitic is necessarily
unconstitutional. And this is just
where Mr.. Johnson has made the fatal
error of his life. Vain, obstinate, unedu-
Gated keen operator in local politics,
but especially wanting in either the acquire
ments or perceptions Of statesman, he
has set himself up to say that an assembly
of gentlemen who, to use familiar phrase,
have forgotten more law than he ever knew,
have been continually and willfully exceed
ing their legitimate powers. The accusation
of the lamb by the wolf was not more alb
surd. But there the parallel of the story
must cease; the lamb will not be devoured, |
and the wolf must content himself with the
absurd statement. And in due time, and
in the proper form, he will himself be
brought up to answer the charge that the
in the case is really himself.