Middletown transcript., 1868-03-21
M. seh-son ana IN. D.m.s~.sss psxs,>

The official serm Of the preseat CAief
Magistrate draws rapidly to close, Il is
fcregcae conclusion that the Senase will
convict and depose hiaA, however slight
the cause for such . course Of action
whatever wrong may be inflicted upon the
President himself. and through him, upon
the country at large, disturbing the regu-
lar sad harmonious working of the gov
eramcnt, and setting precedent which
will throw wide open the door to inealcu-
liable evils in.the future.
The cause Of impeachment has been
thoroughly discussed before the country.
and is well understood It may be sum.
med up in. a few words: Congress, hav-
ing passed an unconstitutional law, i'm
peaches and deposcs the President for its
alleged iufraction The President and
Congress Coordinate branches of the
government being at issue, in matter
touching their respective powers and du-
tics. should have appealed to the Supreme
Court. the final arbiter between them. to
settle the dispute. and determine which is
in the right and which in the wrong. But
the demon of party was not to be thus ap-
peased. The President, though very tar
Oily and at late hour Of his conflict with
Congress, has sought to bring the cause
of quarrel to the arbitrament Of the Su-
Preue Court; while Congress. through the
course of officials in its interest, has seem
ed TO avoid settlement of it by this tri-
bunal of last resort, and taking the matter
in its own hands, hastens to depose the
representative head Of the people, and to
put in his place a creature of its own.
And from their decision of the case there
seems to be no appeal, except to the peo-
pie in their capacity of electors, when they
go TO exercise that highest duty of free
men, the elective franchise. Let that ap-
peal be made. in the approaching Presi-
dental election, and if the people sanction
this high-handcd and revolutionary con-
duct Of their servants in Congress, let all
opposition cease. They are sovereign, and
from their voice there is no appeal.
The anticipation of Mr.. Johnson's re-
moyal, is matter of delectation to the
radical press, who seem to view it as a
source of corresponding depression to the
democrats, conservatives and constitution
alists, The democrats, we take it, feel no
special interest in Mr.. johnson, PERSONAL
ly. 1t is only in SO far as he represents
their principles, and stands identified with
them, that they regard him. 1t has been
. subject Of much regret, with them, that
Mr.. johnson has not more fully and com
pletely identified himself with them. It
must be remembered, however, that he is
a Republican, and not Democratic Pres
ident. He was elected by Republican
votes; he has been surrounded by Repub-
lican advisers in his Cabinet; he has fol-
lowed the policy Of reconstruction mapped
out BY his Republican predecessor, Mr..
Lincoln, whom he took for his great ex-
emplar, in this respect, at least. He has
not listened to democratic counsel, nor
pursued such course as a sound demo-
cratic policy would have pointed out. He
has not even pursued course of justice
to himself. His career has been an eng
ma. and perfectly inexplieablc to us. So
far, however, as Mr. johnson has endea-
vored to uphold the Constitution in oppo-
sition to the encroachments of the revolu-
tionary junto in Congress, he has had the
sympathy and support of the Democratic
party, and their Conservative allies. Ne
vertheless, we have " somewhat against
him." in that he has not seemed to COM
prehend, and has not measured up to, the
requirements of the crisis in which the
country is placed.
Our own views of the relations subsist-
ing between President johnson and the
Democratic party, are admirably express
cd in an eloquent address delivered at Bla-
densburg. Prince Georges county, Md.
in September last, by Edward W. Belt,
Esq. Of Upper Marlborough, one of Mary
NAuds most gifted sons. We quote as
follo~s
.,..is IN my s4dgment, President johnson has COM
~ "ar, y H. nd grievous errors; and there is
~ sp. - = a ms poksy-except perhaps his persis-
rs ssnos y se'S.ng The Srtravagances Of the Rump
.s.rossI Ih. mas eve, met my full personal
sooner or later do-that no mas h ever found 70
be wholly good or wholly wise. n 4 moi in
mortAls to be ever right, either in yseir motives
or their deeds, and we have TO take n. s'a.So
nesses Of human character along with lis 80.
and Its strength. In this as in most other affas
between men, we shall find that the necessity of
accepting the bitter with the sweet is not the
least inexorable necessity in the philosophy of
life Ruf rhalt aln0 ha nnrailv frank in Viz.