The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-04
CEASES 40 BE a yER.
TI'E.

L StA9E41 "A Nhk-
TUE.
1t is clear that johnson intended to
get possession of the War Department
as means of controlling the army.
His tenders of promotion and COM
mand to prominent military officers
like Sherman and Thomas, who have
spurned his offers with such honest
and patriotic contempt, and his over
lures to minor officers to ascertain
whether they would put their troops
under his orders in defiance of those
of Gen. Grant, all show that Johnson
wanted, not to test the constitutional
ty of the law, but to get control of
the army, or at least considerable
portion of it, to employ it in resistance
to the measures Of Congress and the
orders of Gen. Grant and Secretary
Stanton. Finding himself foiled in
this, he now talks of testing the con-
stitutionality of the law. If he did
not know that the tribunal before
which his acts would come for iudg-
ment was the same which passed the
law, and that before such a tribunal he
could subject it to no new test, he de-
serves impeachment for his stupidity.
Were this the first step in the Presi-
dents career of official crimes and
usurpations, Congress and the coun-
try would have regarded it with inf
nate torbearance. But designed as
the climax of a long series of olienses
and crimes which he calls his is"policy,"
he can claim no such forbcarance. 1t
was not to test the constitutionalitv of
any law that he violated from the
outset the act Of Congress torbiddng
the appointment of Rebels like Gen.
Humphreys and Gov. Sharkey to of
flee. He did it as clear violation
of law, because he thought the law
unwise. And Congress overlooked
his offense' His usurpatioh of the
legislative powers of Congress relative
to reconstruction was serious politi-
cal crime, but Congress overlooked it
in consideration of his known unta-
miliarity with all questions of Nconst-
tutional law. His abuse eof the pardon
ing power by allowinghis signature to
be hawked about by harlots, and his
abuse Of the appointing power by levy
ing contributions on his Office holders,
have been a stencil in the nostrils of
the nation. His use of the whole
patronage and power of the Govern
ment as grand corruption fund, to
bride, buy, and bully all Office holders
into the betrayal of the very principles,
and party he was himself elected to
sustain, revealed depth of personal
depravity unprecedented in the history
of public men in America. His conf
plicity with the Rebels and traitors in
their anti-negro riot at Memphis and
New Orleans, rendered him morally
responsible for scores of innocent lives,
and showed him capable of winking at
any efforts TO inaugurate war of races.
His drunkenness when taken the
inaugural oath, and when swinging
around the circle, condemned him to
everlasting contempt, yet was treated
withapparentforbearance Histrcach-
cry to his oath and constitutional duty
in deliberately striking down the most
distinguished heroes of the war, and
our most trusted civil officers, for their
fidelity to the laws, and their desire to
see them faithfully executed, merited
prompt impeachment, conviction and
removal months ago, but Congress
forebore and condoncd these offenses.
AT last, however, Andrew johnson,
assured and self-dcceived by this long
forbearancc and oft-repeated delay to
punish, assumes a position which
would enable him to revolutionize the
Government and make himself Dicta-
tor within twenty days, if Congress
should conCede the power he claims.
For if he can remove and appoint ad
interim all the officers, civil and mill
tary, in the country, without asking
the consent o., the Senate, he can remove
Grant and appoint Lee to the COM
rhand Of the army, remove every loyal
man from every office in the country,
and appoint only traitors in their stead,
and thus make himself Dictator, take
possession of the government, dispese
Congress, or commit any other crime
which unlimited power could accom-
plish when allied to boundIess treach-
cry and depravity. No other Presi-
dent has ever advanced the preposter-
Gus claims now put forward by Mr..
johnson. They are wholly in viola
ton of law, and at war with constitu-
tional liberty, and the very existence
Of the Government.-IrI5uae.
CHAIRMAN WALLACE ExHORTs HIS
FRIENDS.