The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-03-05

IhIS IS denied ny the Genefal,
and a question of veracity rather
angrily discussed, has arisen be-
tween them, and these gentlemen
seem to consider that that question
is one of Importance to the public.
In this they are mistaken. Which
is the man of truth and which is
the man Of falsehood is of no more
public importance than had it oc-
Cured between two obscure indi-
viduals. If-Andrew johnson tells
the truth, then he is guilty nof a
high official misdemeanor, for he
avows his effort to prevent the ex-
ecution Of the law. If the General
commanding tells the truth, then
the President is guilty of q high
misdemeanor, for he declares the
same thing of the President, dcny-
ing only his own completely No
argument can make this point plain
er than the statement OF the vculprit.
If he and the General told the truth,
then he committed willful perjury
by refusing to take care that the
laws should be duly executed. els Z
ITO show the animus and guilty
knowledge with which this was vio-
lated, we have only to turn to the
proceedings of the Senate, notifying
him Of his illegal and void conduct,
and then to consider that he has
since perscvered in attempting to
enforce it. Indeed, to show his utter
disregard of the laws of his coun-
try, we have only to turn to his last
annual message in which he pro
claimed to the public that the laws
are unconstitutional and not bind
ing on the people. Who, after that,
can say such a man is fit to occupy
the Executive chair, whose duty it
is to yindicate obedience and see
that those very laws are faithfully
obeyed? t-
Then the great beauty of the
remedial and preventive process is
clearly demonstrated. He is dull
and blind who can't see its necessi-
ty and the beneficial results and
purposes of the trial by impeach-
ment. BY the sixth section of the
act referred to, it is provided that
every removal, appointment or
employment made or exercised con
trary to the provisions of this act,
or the making, sealing, counter
signing or issuing any commission
or letter Of authority, for or in re-
spect to any such appointment or
employment, shall be deemed, and
are hereby declared to be high
misdemcanor and upon trial and
conviction thereof shall be punished
by a fine not exceeding ten thous-
and dollars, or by punishment not
exceeding five years, or both said
punishments, in the discretion of
the court
>'Now Andrew Johnson, on the
21st day Of February, 1868, issued
his commissionary letter of author
ity to Lorenzo Thomas, appointing
him Secretary of War od interim,
and commanding him to take pos
session of the Department Of War,
and to eject the incumbent, e. NJ.
Stanton, then in lawful possession
of said office. Here, if this act
stood alone, would be an undenia-
BILE official misdemeanor, not only
a misdem eanor per Sc, but declared
to be so by the act itself, and the
party made indictable and punish
able in criminal proceeding. ~
eff Andrew johnson escapes with
bare removal from office: if he be
not fined and incarcerated in the
penitentiary afterward under crimi-
nal proceedings, he may thank the
weakness Of Congress and not his
own innocence. We shall propose
to prove in the trial that Andrew
johnson was guilty Of misprision of
bribery by offering to Gen. Grant,
if he would unite with him in his
lawless violence, to assume in his
stead tie penalties and to endure
the imprisonment prescribed by the
laws. Bribery is one Of the often
ses specifically enumerated for
which TIE President may be i'm
peached and removed from Office
by the Constitution Article 2, Sec
ton 2. The President has power to
nominate, and by and with the con-
sent and advice Of the Senate, to
appoint all officers of the United
States, whose appointments are not
therein otherwise provided for, and
which shall be established by law,
and fill all vacancies that may hap
pen during the recess of the Senate
by granting commissions which
shall expire at the end Of their next
session. a sa
"Nowhere, either in the Consti-
tuition or by statute has the Presi-
dent power to create a vacancy du-
ring the recess Of the Senate, and
fill it without the advice and consent
Of the Senate, and yet on the 2lst
Of February, 1868, while the Senate
was in session, he notified the head
Of the War Department that he was
removed from Office, and his sue
cessor ad interim appointed.
"Here is a plain recorded viola
ton of the Constitution and laws,
which, it stood alone, would make
every honest and intelligent man
give his vote for impeachment. The
President had persevered in his
lawless course through a long series
of unjustifiable acts.
"When the so called Confederate
States Of America were conquered,
and had laid down their arms and
surrendered their territory to the
victorious Union Government, the
final disposition of the conquered
coun ry belonged to Congress alone
according to every principle Of the
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