Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-11
Why He Is Impeaebe,I.

hSn' Oahes IA. AhnleyI OF Ohio, Wko Iaofo va
year ago declared for and may be laid 10 hav
started ths impeachment ball, thus spoke when th
House adopted the resolution Of Impeachment;
Now, sir, / hold, IS / said moment ago, tha
thia is one Of the smallest Of the erimeB OF the Pre-
sident That be has clearly set st defiance the sta
tute have quoted viii not be denied. His act o
Friday last reduces his offence 70 narrow compass
! IL Is all official and upon paper. In the trial o
this case, we need not wade through thousanC
pages Of evidence which must be sifted In all case
20 get at the few grains Of wheat. Nor need W.
il prented within small compass and is within d,
comprehension of sll. But sew, if any, witnesses
are needed. Sir, am sure that when this trie
shall take place before the high court Of the nation
if the evidence taken before the Judiciary Com
mittee of this HoCse shall be Reproduced there Il
would establish many Of the crimes Of which thi,
man has been chRged and the verdict Of the people
Of this country would Be that this charge is one Of
! the smallest crimes OF which be has been guilty.
II Mr.. johnson had been guilty Of no impenchable
ofeDse until his removal Of Mr. Stanton, no one be-
lieves that majority Of this House could be In
duced 10 vote for his impeachment now.
Upon this contemporary sptly observes:
And Mr.. Ashley was warranted in assuming az
be did that this determination was the justification
OF those who had from the beginning taken the
ground that the only way Of public safety was
through the impeachment Of Andrew johnson.
ton Of law, Is essential to cause for impeachment
A bad President may ruin the country, may pros
trste trade, plunge the natien into war make such
use Of bis authority as Commander-in-Chiefa s TO
betrsy the country TO foreign invasion or 70 dones
tic instruction, and vet commit no indictabe Of
fence nor clear violation of any law. The Presi-
dent may have opinions that in certain emergen-
cies would justify and demand his removal from
ohce, althoEgh he has committed no overt act
For instance, II IN case Of Instruction. he should
declare the opinion that the Government had no
constitutional power TO suppress it; or IL be should
declare the right Of State secession If President
should express such opinions, Congress would be
criminal IL il did not impeach him. II is 90 plain
70 every rejecting mind that Presidents conduct
may be 90 bad as 10 make bis impeachment imper-
stive, without directly breaking law, that we
doubt II any viii directly question it and vet the
whole opposition would make this impeachment TO
| hinge on technical violation Of g statute
To the country at large-and when we say the
country we mean the people who preserved il from
destruction by rebelion-tho only ground of appre-
hension is that This crest cause VIII be too much
confined to the legal technealites Of the criminsl
court, which do not belong 70 trials Of impeach-
msnt. For the conviction that the public safety
requires his impeachment IS as unanimous in the
country as In the House Of Representatives. The
country does not limit It's case against Andrew.
johnson 10 this violation Of law nor to the formal
cherges Of the 1mpeaching Comnittes, nor even TO
the charges OF testimony Of the judiciary Commit
tee II holds him traitor to his country for going
over 20 the public enemy at = time when the isHues
Of terrible war were yet TO be settled, and the
terms Of peace and restoration % Ststss that had
wHzad nsost destructive wer apon the satloz Tor
four years, were yes 10 Be adjusted Il holds him
traitor for betrSying the Executive Office TO such
an enemy who have ever since looked 10 It their
bulwArk against the just requirements Of the Ma
Gonal Government
All violations OF law, in detail, fail TO insigniH-
canoe IN the view Of this great crime by which the
r
Joined hands with the defeated beligerents, 10 sub
ect the nation 20 their terms and TO restore their
/ traitorous domination. The country regards his
| whole conduct in Office as q continuation Of the
same great crime. To this end be has usmped the
| Legislative power he has appointed unrepenting
rebels 10 places Of power. Hs has given license 70
riot and massacre. His character and encourage
msnt has raised Up the spirit Of violence in the
South and delivered up loyal inhabitants to rebel
| revenge. he has encouraged the rebels 70 reject
the terms offered BY Congress, and thus prevented
| the restoration Of local government He has re-
moved military eficers-the most distinguished for
services and patriotism, and appointed in their
places those who, hethought would aid him in pre-
/ venting the restoration Of lac.
He went 10 work deliberately TO debsse the Gov
eminent of the country BY removing faithful and
ospabe civil officers because Of their fidelity TO the
people who saved the Republic. BE made tresch-
cry the first qualification for Office. The degrade
ton which was Inevitable from this policy hss fol-
lowed Integrity 10 oflce has become by-word
70 scof at, and the revenues Of the nation are in
danger Of being swallowed upin the plumber which
boldly stalks in plumber, secnre IN his protection
BE made the cheeks Of the whole people 70 tingle
with shame by coming dwelling drunk before the
assembled representatives, OF the country and the
Ambsss OF foreign powers at the high ceremo-
nv Of Inauguration He has scandalized The Ia
ton by travelling about the country delivering in
|, temperate hArAngBeI against the National Legis-
lsture he has exhibited his trAitorous disposition
and encouraged the spirit Of violence, By denOunc
ing the Congress as an illegal body. BE has ha
! rARgued mobs At the doors Of the White House
assailing Congress, and designating members as fl
70 be hanged. He has made the American people
ashamed ior their Executive, and has degraded
them in the eyes Of the world.
The whole Government is psfalyzed by his con
tinusnce in Office the public peace is destroyed
and al the interests Of tie country suffer from th
political anarchy. The Southern States would hav
, bean restored long ago in good and loyal hands
but for him he has deludsd tho Sosthern peopI
70 their destruction The legislative power is pre-
vented from delibe=StiEg upon the interests Of ID
county BY the necessity Tor egslating to bind n
hands Of this bad man in The Executive once, :
/, that be can do lsss harm. Every form Of profigs
CIV and corruption runs riot under bis protection
Support Of him Is q license 20 prey upon The Cos
ernnsrt Pablic evils calamities and disasters, ar
. welcomed and sought fsr, becsuse be thinks the
! viii iniuEe the dominant party that controls Cor
! gress.
The necessary legislation Of the country, the rel
toratioa Of Law and order in Tie South, the retnr
I Of domestic peace, The establshmsns OF public con
/ Gdsnce, The improvement Of public credit the =
form Of The monstrous corruption Ia the Admin
= tration, al srs stopped 10 await the expiration
this mans term Ct ofce. Shall nos the country n
ioce II Il can be shortened BY that tribunal vhic
. The Constitution crested % bring such relisf7
viii be the gFeates, day Of juhilse snco the ErreE
der Of Lees army. i win raise the people At OF
bound from depression aud diStrust 20 joy and col
!. adsnce Il viii 81 once establish peace and Re
s5nal security ia the South It win complete u
j, work a rsstoEstion. Il win Enake coutsoliif
moral influence that win admit Of tae largest leg
lsnitv % tas Southern people. Is vii Pat 70 zig
I. lhe crowd Of plundsrsrs that haETe sailed OF 8
I vitals OF he pablio credit. The inauguration
i Bsajamin z Wade wiz LIT the country from q
= slough Of Despond 70 the summit Of conEdszt
and win set al the wheels Of nGtional prosperity
:. molten. This is the prospect we have 70 make
Is hops for he success q impsachms1s.
q rrTrF acWaUc