New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-13
ANDREW Johnson.

national history, to which nothlnS cou'u
reconcile the patriotic mind except the pro-
posed method Of its termination. 10 per-
init the man who has used his high position
to display more conspicuOusly every weak
ness and every vice that would disgrace
the lowest Office, and who to crown the
list of bis offenses has endeavored to usurp
the whole power of the government, and in
solently defed the people by his highland
ed violation of law; to permit such man to
retain the power he has so abused and the
exalted place be has so dishonored, would
be to show ourselves most pusillanimous
people, and to bring discredit on the great
principles upon which our government is
founded.
There was time when this disgrace ap-
peared to threaten us when apathy and
supineness seemed to have seized on the
majority the national legislature, and the
important charge committed to that body
by the constitution of seeing that the exec
utive was faithful to his great trust
seemed in danger OF being disre-
garded but happily for our national
reputation and ouS national safety that
time is gone by. Once reused to a sense Of
the necessity and urgency Of applying the
constitutional remedy to the troubles
which have afflicted the country since An
drew Johnson's ill-starred accession to the
presidency, congress lost no time, and the
energy which they have displayed since
fairly commencing the great work augurs
favorably for its speedy ending. In vain
the foolish, headstrong old man looks
around him for the Democratic hosts which
were to come to his rescue. OF encourage
ment and support on paper he has enough,
but not one man at arms. All his valiant
supporters, all his bOastful eggers, all the
recipients and expectants of bis favors fail
him now. Neither profered money nor
proffered honors can buy him belp. He
may strain his eyes toward the South till
they start from their sockets, but never
will they be gladdened by that army
of the pardOned who were to have
supported him in every emergency. Here
indeed there are still many to give him
mouth-honor but their lips belle their
hearts; and when he falls, as fall he must,
there will be none to mourn his fate. The
people of the South will wake from the
delusion in which they have been rocking
themselves to sleep, and recognize the fact
that in misleading them as TO bis power to
serve them and in trying to serve
them by arbitrary and unconstitutional
means, Andrew johnson has been their
worst enemy, Had it not been for him
the Southern people would have
peacefully acquiesced in their fate at the
close Of the war and, not aspiring to take
any share in the government they had so
recently abjured, would have given them
selves up wholly to the restoration of their
material prosperity. His attitude toward
them, his unwarranted promises, his prodi-
gal pArdons, his confident assumptions-all
misled them into ignoring the authority Of
congress, and regarding him alone as fhe
government. Now, however, that he has
failed them, they in turn fail him, and will
soon look back with self reproaeh and dis
gust on the sycOphantic praises which they
have so undeservedly laYished upon him.
Already papers which formerly supported
him are repudiating him as a representa-
tive of Democracy; and when his trial shall
be ended, and he reduced to the obscurity
allotted to political criminals, it viii be
found that the South as well as the North
Democrats as well as Republicans, rebels
as we'll as patriots, will greet the verdict
with a solemn "amen." 1t will be found,
moreover, that an event which has been
protested against as threatening great iinan-
cial and social commissions will produce in
reality no more disturbance in our national
affairs than the sinking Of pebble would
in the course Of the eVer-rolling sea.
But though depOsed and degraded, An
iiIeW Johnson Niis moi 10 immediately fur
gotten the harm he has done will keep his
memory fresh for while. For while the
AcSnCy Vi OlsOIOcI anu Aulolulo WHICH ne
leaves behind him will trouble his success
sori but not long. The present clashing
ia the counsels Of the government will then
give place to unity and the people Of the
South, knowing what to expect, and no
longer misled by false hopes, viii submit
to the inevitable as sane people always do.
Nor can we agree with some Of our more
timid Republican contemporaries in regard
ing the mere fact Of the impeachment Of a
president as at all derogatory to our ma
tiOnal dignity. On Che contrary, The speeta-
Gle Of great nation, deceived and out
ragged by its chosen ruler, rising in It's
majesty, and calmly, sObeFly, aadin accord
anee with all constitutional requirements,
Diminishing ita unfaithful servant IA sub
lime. 1t is the very royalty Of democracy
exercising its high prsrogaifye on the most
conspicuous Of stages, and with the whole
world as spectators.
TIE ARREgT OF G0gBRH0R BAKER.
The community was startled yesterday
morning at the news Of the arrest OF his