Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-04-03
Peaoe after Impe achment.

Peace after Impeachment.
Impeachment Of the President has been
since the beginning Of the Government a
power which Congress was more than
once tempted TO use, but from which II
shrank. The thunderbolt was ever with
In It's reach, but was too terrible TO lightly
grasp. Never was the temptation greater
than in The past two years. Twice Con.
gress seized it with fiery indignation;
twice il Reluctantly relinquished IL. The
third time IL was Andrew johnson who
thrus: the weapon into the hand Of Con.
gress, upiited its arm. and compelled it
to strike. lie had the nation his friend,
he made II his enemy, and has finally
forced IL to become his Judge. II the ter.
rors and dangers Of impeachment which
the people feared, are realities, and not
shadows, IL is not Congress that has
brought them upon u.s. Ii there arc new
troubles to arise out Of this question, it is
the President who is to be held RESPONSE
BILE. Congress did not carry impeachment
to the doors Of the White House; il was
the President who advanced to the Capt.
tol, proclaimed that he had trsmpled on
the laws, aud delivered to the Senate the
written testament Of his guilt, signed and
sealed By himself. ast rlI
Nothing was moro dreaded by the he.
publican party than this measure, which,
as the history Of its legislation attests, il
labored TO avoid When Mr.. Ashley, one
year ago, Grst impeaehed Andrew John.
son In the House Of Representatives, Con-
gress indirectly admitted that the charges
preferred were true, but, as time passed
on, concluded that the necessity Of acting
upon them did not exist. The President
could be justly impeached, but the right
to do so did not in its opinion constitute
an obligation. Hence, for the sake Of
peace in the fear that greater troubles
might attend the extraordinary removal
OF MIR. johnson than those which the
country suffered from his Administration,
such men as wilson, Banks, Bingham,
Washburne, voted, in December last,
against the impeachment resolution. Fear
OF the President we believe there was
none. But there was not unfounded anx.
iety that gold might suddenly rise, prices
throughout the whole country be changed,
business be disorganized, and the recon-,
slruction Of the South be delayed. SO
the Republican party, though this man
was their biuerest enemy, though he had
denounced Congress as body Of traitors,
though he was VIGOROUSLY law. breaker,
shielded him from the punishment he had
provoked. Greater proof Of its magnan-
unity aud moderation there could not be.
For the sake Of the peace 9f the country
IL consented TO be accused Of cowardice,
and, with the power and right to place
Republican at the head Of the Govern
ment, permitted a renegade to remain in
the high Office TO which assassination had
raised him. Whether this was the wiser
course let the future decide; il is enough
now TO know that il was siDcere aud pa
triotic. Congress, in not impeaching
Andrew johnson December the 9Th, and
February the 18th, did what, in its sober
Judgment, was best for the interests Of the
people of the United S,ates-Republicans,
Democrats, and rebels.
But now the act is done. The Presi.
dent commanded Congress to impeach
him, aud Congress has obeycd. We have
ottACa thc HttbtC Qauktl iu thC ialti luut
We shall pluck out Of il the flower safely.
Who that recalls the two years past eau
believe that an evil that results from an
act OF justice will equal the evils that
sprung IRON the mercy and generosity the
President abused? lie has been the great
est Of all obstacles to peace. lie set up
his will against that of the people OF whom
he is the servant, aud attempted TO place
the theories upon which the Rebellion
was fought above the principles upon
which the Union was maintained. The
Rebellion lived again ia his vetoes Of the
acts OF Congress aud his denial OF its con
stitutiona authority. Inspired by him,
Rebels madc laws for loyal iren, aud
sought to make emancipation mere name,
by creating new system OF serfdom. lie
permitted the massacre in New Orleans,
and protected the murdercls in Texas
Everywhere Andrew johnson was in the
path OF the loyai nation. resisting its ad.
vance. lie was multiplied throughout the
Rebel States: turn where We would, there
was Andrew johnson fighting, fighting,
fighting, against loyalty aud order. Pvacel
There was no hope vi peace while he Ia .
sisted upon war. Every forward step OF
Congress was gained by a desperate strug.
gle with him, aud when we thought we
had conquered the citadel, behold there
was another Rebel line before us. Tho
President, aud the PRESIDENT alone, has
kept the whole country in terror aud con-
fusion since the day no first reeled into
the Senate Chamber, aud attempted TO
take an oath which his lips refused 70 IN
telIigbly repeat. ..s4
With his removal from ofiice---and.
with mis- confession of guilt signed and
sealed, we anticipate nothing less--the
cause Of this terrible struggle ends. The
reconstruction Of the South will rapidly
and peaceably progress when the executive
branch Of the Government ceases TO OPP
! ,,o.o Il Tbe rehcllion will fall hack into