New-York tribune., 1868-05-13
JUDASS Thirty REASONS

Its principal claim to consideration consists in
tho fact that its author has vote. The mo-
tives of hostility to both Stanton and Wade,
which induce the Senator to vote for JOhnson's
acquittal, are as carefully concealed throughout
tho document as if it were framed solely for
that purpose. Mr.. Grimes cites the action OF
the first Congress, and of various Presidents
and Congresses subsequently, down to that
which passed the Tenure-Of- Office law, all OF
whom assumed that the power Of removal
from Office was in the President alone. And
on these authorities Mr. Grimes convicts the
XXXIXth Congress Of having itself violated the
Constitution by passing the Tenure-of-Ofhce
law, He then argues that Mr.. Stantonis not in
cIuded within the terms of the law, OF course
stultifying bis own repeated votes declaring
| that he was,
Like Mr., Trumbull and the Presidents Coun-
sell he also takes the ground that the Presi-
dent is not guilty, because Stanton was not
physically removed. Stanton's resistance to
the Presidents orders purges them, In Mr.
Grimess opinion, of all such guilt as might
attach to them if they had been Obeyed. Ii Is
worth while TO note in what mystery sucn
allegations leave the country II they
should result in an acquittal. According 10
| the first position, that the Tenure Office
law Is unconstitutional Mr.. Stanton would be
liable to arrest and punishment for resisting
the lawful orders of his superior officer; ac-
cordng TO the third position, that the Presi-
| dent ia innocent because Stanton disObeyed
| his orders, the latter would still re-
main the lawful Secretary Of War and
should the President arrest him or use any
pbysical violence to dispossess him Of the office,
| the crime which he has heretofore only at
tempted to commit would be perfect, and the
| duty would devOlve upon the Senate of re-
moving the President. Under the conflicting
| defenses which have been plead for the Presi-
| dent, what would a verdict of acquittal meanf
| Would it mean that the President has the
| right to cOnstrue all laws for himself, and en-
| force them or not, as he sees properf If so,
| we may expect to see him interfering with the
| enforcement of any Of the numerous laws which
have been passed over his vetOl Are the Sen
ate prepared thus to expunge all their Recon-
atruction laws from the te-book, and re-
! store the Southern States to the undisputed
reign of Andrew johnson and the once
conquered but now triumphant Rebels
Does verdict Of acquittal mean that the Sen
| ate merely resigned its functions for once, and
consents that in this instance Andrew johnson
shall reign over it and trample under his feet
| its constitutional powers to share In all ap-
pointmeDts and removals, but that at some
future time the Senate will have the courage
| 20 redeem the powers which 1t now surrenders1
| Does the Senate propose to kneel very low In
| the dust, and lick the ungainly feet OF the
usurper while rs yet his hands are but
half united and his sword but partially
unsheathed, but that when the fetters have
been finally riveted upon their own limbs
they will then vindicate their courage and assert
their prerogatiyesf Every one Of the recreant
lackeys who now knuckles and cringes
before the Presidents superior courage, knew
| when they passed the Tenure-of- Office bill over
| the Presidents veto exactly all that they now
| know Of the Presidents arguments, except his
| pluck. They thought then that the law was
constitutional The votes of Grimes, Fessen-
| den, Henderson, and Trumbull, and the rest,
are so recorded ut least five times Trumbull
aspired to be the champion of the law in its
constitutional aspects, Andrew johnson has
snapped It's bonds as II they were
rope Of sand, when lOl these brave,
learned, profound, consistent, Statesman,
like Senators, when called ; upon TO
|
around him like phalanx Of supple courtiers,
and cay; 90, most excellent President, most
"sagaciOus Brother of the Sun, we have
call been asses - thou alone hast read
| "the Constitution and canst interpret its
hidden sense, In all humility, we present to
" thee our neclcs, and beg thee TO oppress us.
Deign 10 tread upon US as thou wouldst upon
dung that we may kiss the soles of thy
feet" And y oil this - to Andrew
johnson. 3. Mr.. : Grimes has expended
his columns OF self-stultiiCation In vain.
II any ono Of the long drawn reasons
he now gives for condemning his own
action, and that of his brother Senator'S
In passing the Tenure-of- Office law, were
not known to him when he passed It,
| his ignorance units him to DO q Sem
ator. If they were as well known to him then
as now and he surrenders the just powers of
| the Senate, and stultfes all his previous action
| only because he finds himself brought into con-
| nict with an antagonist who deals blow for
blow, without thought OF surrender, then Mr..
| Grimes Is made Of the stuff to become tool
| Of Despotlsm but not champion of Liberty:
| We speak earnestly, because tho right of the
law-madng power TO control the Executive is
| all there is Of free government. This surren.
dered, ell is lost For this the English Com
mons and people fought for centuries. The
vote acqultting the President admits that he
can nullify all laws by mere force of will, and
deny the Senate all voice In appointments and
removals, except when he thinks proper to con.
suit them. After such o judgment Congress
had better resign. The country has no use for
it, Andrew johnson is the Government.