The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-02-27
The Situation at was hInsson

INC SIluhtIOn al " Us HlK2fs On.
In speaking of the dismissal of Stanton
and the appointment of General Lorenzo
Thomas as Secretary of War, ad interim
the refusal of Stan ton, under advise
ment from the leading Radical Senators,
10 vacate his office-and the threatened
impeachment Of the President for alleged
violation of the tenure of-ofiee law, the
Age 80 forcibly and clearly expresses the
opinions of every Democrat in the coun-
try, that, in the absence of anything we
might feel disposed to say in reference to
the startling movement now in progress,
we adopt the language of that able jour
nal, and present its comments in full foy
the edification of our readers:
The struggle between the President and
Congress has at last assumed a shape
which promises some kind of settlement
of the difficulty, and for that relief the
people of this vexed and troubled nation
cannot fail to rejoice. The battle has
been long and tedious one On one side
stood the President of the Republic, with
the banner OF the Constitution above him
while on the other side was ranged a
band Of Congressional traitors, who sought
TO destroy every vestige of constitutional
liberty IN order that their own wicked and
demoralized organizations might continue
10 live. For the sole purpose of ocrpet-
uating their power as political organi-
zation, the Radicals are willing to com
init any outrage, and BY their disgrae.fsl
conduct as Legislators have branded them
selyes with infsmy in all time to come.
There is not man among them nhe does
not know that, if the position of parties
were reversed, they would resist TO "tbs
bitter end' the encroachment. ppon the
Executive and Judicial Departments
which mark the legislation of the majority
IN Congress. The assumption that tho
Legislative branch of the government is
Supr2me in Republic constituted as ours.
is so menstrous that no decent argument
can be advanced to sustain it /; and vet
me Radicals have attempted to deprive
the President of all voice in public affairs,
and have insolently rallied against the Su-
preme Court when the legality of their
acts was proposed to be questioned in that
august tribunal 1t is a mere waste Of
words to condemn such gross and palpa-
be trlckery. The calm, good sense of |
the American peop'e has utterly repudia- |
ted the course of the shameless Rump that |
has placed itself above and outside OF TIE .
Constitution and clearly announced by its
actions that it would "rather rule in he'll
than serve in Heaven"
In our telographic columns will be found
all the details of the latest conflict between
the Executive and Legislative branches Of
The government We iced not recapitu-
late them here. They are before the
country, and are known and read by all
men. The question of who shall act as
Secretary Of War can be definitely settled
by the Supreme CouIt without delay, and
without any appeal to passion or preiu-
dice. All good citizens will acquiesce in
the decision, whatever il may be, and the
public mind will speedily become quieted
"hen that Judgment is rendered, no mat I
ter how adverse it may be to private feel .
Ings or partisan ACKNOWLEDGMENT But
here Is another question agitated, which I
is not susceptible of such an easy and ,
oeaceable solution. We refer to the i'm
1cachment Of the President and his i'm
mediate removal during the tendency of ,
he ;rIal, from ali discharge of his official I
unctiocs. That Congress may, with an I
ur OF propriety, pass bill of imseach- {
nent, is too clear TO admit of argument '
put that the same body has the right 10 4
suspend the President during trial and 6
place one Of its own tools in the White 1
touse before judgment has been reached, t
'articularly when the impeachment is for 4
n alleged otitnse committed before the s
nactment OF the suspending law, is a q
Ioctrine that cannot for one moment be t
by free people. The passage o
I the Edmunds bill would be an act of Ii
uch revolutionary and unconstitutional 4
haracter, that any President who obeyed Il
IS provisions would cover himself with a
lame and disgrace, and sink even lower o
public contempt than the authors of b
ne outrage. Because Congress chooses 5;
} enact such law, is not sufficient TO n
lake 1t omniPotent. Congress is fully L
JmpeteDt to pass any foolish and absurd p
Iws. They might easily carry a bill Il
trough making it penal offense for But II,
r to squint, or Grant to write bad Eng
sh, or Chandler tS indulge in scottish
abits, and then declare that neither of CT
Iesc precious worthless should exercise OF
s functions Of their Office until they had as
zen cured of their evil practices, but we as
e inclined to think that both the legali Sc
and proprietY Of such a law would no bl
rionsly questioned, and its provisions fu
'isted, before the Supreme Court could m
brought TO act upon thO important subs vi
t. We now say in all seriousness, that M