North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-05-13
tmpeashnenf.

Impeashnent.
This IL the absorbing topic. Ordinary
Jews is cut Of the conversation compared
with this. We delayed our paper this
week to get the final decision Of Tuesday.
and by kindness Of operator Patterson Of
this place, we learned at 4. p. n, that the
vote viii! not be taken Until Saturday OF
this week. The home-impeachers in town
were little mad, ind the Democrats
laughed. This is natural, aii hence eS-
cusatle on both sides. The Chicago Jour-
nal, Of yesterday, comes oct with csrses
equal to those Of the yelled Prophet Of
nhorassan and with walls reminding one
IF the dirss Of Rodcrick Dhu chanted
ty u Scottish harper. The Tribune is
more sensible, more honest in confession,
AM less on lie Line Of demasn.tis's,--
News is TO Tie eject tia: in secret session,
Grimes, Fsssendsn, Trumbull and IIeuder-
scn denounced the impeachment as indie
fensble, and that Washington is in high
state Of excitement. We cannot do better
than 10 give the gloomy confessional fore
bcdinys Of the Tribune. 1t admits tho in
Justice Of the charges, but wishes the
thing can 10 done. Read this very slow
~ and see what admissions Of party malice
src in it:
Tae End or zmpeachnent.
Our apprehensions that johnson would
..e acquitted have. according to present sp-
pearanccs, proved correct. Unfortunately,
his legal guilt has not been made GU, to
the satisfaction OF 8 constitutional majority
g: the Senate. and he will continue to adj
minister the government until the fourth
Of March next, unless, indeed, emboldened
hy impunity, he should engage in some
sohoms whici: should bring him within the
penalties OF the written law. lie will be
acquitted, not OF a moral or Of political
offence. but of the ''high crimes and mis-
demexnors" with which he was charged in
the articles preferred by the House, md
for which alone he WAS upon trial. The
members OF the court before which he was
arraigned, have been acting under the
solemnity of an oath, which bound them 10
render decision in accordance with the
law and the evidence. They were no
longer Senator'S representing their respec-
tive States. and to be held accountable to
those by whom they had been chosen no
longer representatives Of political party,
whose principles they espoused and whose
policy they were bound to carry out, but
jurors. or rather jurors and judges in onr,
whose duty it was conscientiousiy to weigh
The evidence, and honestly to inter-
pref the law. They may be mistaken,
as other jurors or judges may be mistaken;
but their motives can no r ore be question:
ed than those Of other irors or judges.
Outsiders, who are swayed 10y their feel
ings, who have paid cursory attention to
she proceedings, and have, perhaps. glanc-
ed at the stalu.c involved, may well defer
10 the opinions OF Senators acting under
an oath, who have listened patiently day
after day to evidence and arguments, who
have critically examined the law and pre-
cedents bearing upon the questions involv-
Fl, and mary of whom are peculiarly fitted
by nature, and by professional training, to
discharge the duty they have sworn to
perform. When such lawyers as Truin-
buli and Tessendcn declare that high crimes
and missemeanors have not been proved
against the accused, it is no. for laymcn to
assume that they are mistaken. When
Republican Senators so upright and intel
ligen: as Grimes and Henderson resist
popular pressure and personal appeals
stronger than were ever before brought to
bear upon the members of court, and in
tie case, too, Of q man to whom they are
personally and politically hostile, it must
re bee. use they act upon their views OF
the laT and in conformity with the dictates
u their consciences for every other mo.
live would urge them to adjudgo johnson
guilty. The opinions of Senators who
take different view of the case, and
therefore, vote accordingly, are equally
entitled to respect, but not more SO.
In Common with all who disapprove of
Johnson's course, we profoundly regret
chat tho administration Of the government
is to remain in his hands. Il is desirable
tina; the Executive should Cooperate with
Congress in policy that aims at the re-
generation Of the South. But it is not
desirable that this result should be reach
ed by any road but the road of Justice
1t is not desirable that upon the first trial
OF Chief Magistrate of the United States
bad precedent sho ID be established -
Better the acquittal Of johnson, than his
conviction upon grounds that would not
endure scrutiny in the coming Presidential
election. Far better his acquittai than his
conviction upon grounds that might he
condemned by the next generation. The
record Of this trial viii pass into history
Il vii! be studied by the young men who
IRE to govern the future. 1t will be
scanned by lawyers whose sight will not
te dimmed 10y prejudice. A temporary
heaeGt to the repubIc is NJ nothing conn
pared with the permanent injury which
would be inflicted by the deposition Of
President upon insufficient grounds. A
party can always afford to take the con-
sequences Of the conscientious perform
Gnco OF a judicial duty.