The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-04-29
Infamous Av0wal-HOw Perjury
10 DeEeRded-The HktdeOus Fea-
lures of Radicalism Made Pub


Tic.
The Washington ccrrespodent Of the New
York Independent Rad. J, in speaking Of
I'M peachment trial and the speech OF Mr..
| Curtis, one of the Presidents counsel, says:
"Mr. Curtis has argued precisely as if TIE
Senate were compelled to take only tie
'sworn evidence before it, and then decide
"if Andrew johnson is prored to have been
guilty of willful intent TO violate the law
Perhaps he is right 10 his view ofthe duty
''ot the Senate; but am perfectly sale in
asserting that it is not the view of the
Senate" The reason why the Senate will
not be governed by the law and evidence is
because.--so the writer proceeds The
"Se nate is something more than Court
"aud, Mr.. Bingham remarked when dis
"cu<sing an interlocutary order, "it is law
unto itself. "
We do not know that we ever heard
more disgraceful admission than that. We
are told the fate of the President does not
depend upnn whether he is proved to be
guilty. Though 1t is, according to all rules
governing courts of justice, necessary to
prove person charged with crime or mis-
demeanor to be guilty, it is not necessary TO
prove the President to.be guilty, Tor the
Senate, sitting as a Court, to pronounce
him guilty of high crimes and nisdemea-
nors, and punish bim by expulsion from
office!
The urRfted finger of the whole civilized
would should point with scorn at the Ameri-
can Senate, if such is to be its rule OF action
in the trial of the President. And that
such is its rule is demonstrated by its re-
fusal contrary to the decision Of the Chief
justice, to allow the President to prove, BY
his Cabinet officers, that he was not guilt.
of a willfu intent TO violate the law. Sucl
court can pot, by all fair minded, just aac
honorable men, be considered otherwis'
than infamous. The Senators who so &C
can not be considered ia any o'her ligh
than as perj'ired men.
They try to testify themselves unto them
selves and the world by regarding the Senate
when trying the President, as somethin,
''more than COURT tribunal that i
"a la,c unto itselE'' and, therefore, no
bound to be governed by precedents
law, or testimony. Do not these per
iured Senators, in taking that position
inHict the most deadly wound upon th'
principle Of Republican government
, DO they not lay the foundation for the de
moralization Of the whole fabric Of Ameri
can society? II the Senators can disregarc
the principles upon which justice is admir
stered in all civilized countries. can retus'
to be governed by the law and the evidence
and act upon the idea that they are law t.
themselves, what security is there tor th'
continuance Of Republican government, o
for the safety aud security OF persons ant
property? Every official and every privat'
individual can be law to himself with a
much right and propriety as can Senator
in trying the President for high crimes anC
misdemeauors. And when each man is
law to himself, he is absolved from all th'
obligation that have been thrown about so
ciety as safeguards against despotism, wrons
and outrage. We warn Senators to avoit
that fatal position, infamous to them snc
destructive to society.