The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-03-05
Articles or Impeachment.

oSS''HCt VI tLc f1UuSS OF Representatives.
TO prepare articles OF Impeachment against
Andrew johnson, President OF the United
States, reported on Saturday The arti-
cles are ten In number Six of them are
based on alleged violations of the tenure
of-Otfice bill, aud four on what are de
clared to be an iudictable offense, conspi-
racy against the United States, rs set
forth in the conspiracy act OF 1861. The
tenth article Is based upon what is called
the Presidents attempt to induce General
Emory, in command OF Washington, 10
obey his orders without having them
transmitted through General Grant. a
careful reading Of the articles will disclose
the dHiDlHs of the whole proceeding. The
President is charged with having commit
ted ''Digh crime and misdemeanor" for
following in the footsteps of ali his prede-
cessors, from Washington to Bpcbanan.
No one OF the illustriuns men WHO occi
pied the Presidential chair, previous 10
The advent OF Radjcaljsm, ever enter
tanned an idea that they could not remove
the members of their cabinet. No law
yer, during the same period, ever limited
thai such a construction could or should
be put upon the Constitution. Thu line
OF practice was unbroken. And vet be-
cause Andrew johnson renewed the Sec
retary Of War, and appointed General
Thomas in his place, aQ aate,qnl, and thus
put the question at issue between the Ex-
ecutIve and Legislative Departments in
Such shape as TO be reached by tine Su-
Preme Court, if the managers of the Radi~
cal party wished a decision upon the
same, he is charged with having commit
ted ''high crime and misdemcanor," and
articles Of Impeachment preferred against
him. The attempt TO fix the crime OF
conspiracy upon he Chief Magistrate is
too ridiculous to merit serious reply, and
the evidence of the officers examined as
to the tenth article shows clearly that the
President, at no time, attempted TO induce
General Emory or any other officer 10
obey his orders without having them sent
through General Grant But if he had.
is not the President, by the express pro-
visions of the Constitution, Commander
mischief Of the military and naval forces
OF the United States, and does his acting
that instrument, constitute just grounds
for impeachment Just, fair men vii!
say no; bot The partisans who rule The
8 Rump" CCnS; ess now assembled are de-
termined to usurP all power in the country,
aud hence ihey have preferred articles
against the President for his devotion TO
the Constitution, and ask the Senate to try
t-.T- Of
The articles will, we suppose, be aGUps-
ed substantially in the shape reported
When presented to the Senate, then comes
the mockery Of a trial IN that branch Of
the Federal Legislature. The Radical
jurors have expressed an opinion upon the
case. They voted for the teuure-of- Office
bill, and when il was vetoed by the presi-
dent on the ground Of offending agairs.
the ,,..,1vr.=syns OF the Constitution, they
passed it again over the objections of the
ENecudye. Such being the state of The
facts, how can these Senators act as i'm
partial jurors IN a case where one Of the
leading points is the cOnstitulionaIity or
uaconstitationaiity of the bill in question,
and the main otfense charged upon the
President an intraetion OF its provisions
Surely, principle which prevents man
from sitting on jury who has openly
proclaimed his opinion upon the case TO
be tried and determined in court Of law,
should not be violated on such a moren-
tous occasion as the trial Of the President
of the United States for "high crimes
AL mlslemsanors." And yet If will be.
Senators who have over and over again
expressed an opinion as to tue guilt Of the
Chief Magistrate will act, and vote, and
speak, and the man VINO is to fill the
White House IN case the arraigaed party
is found guilty, will take a full hand in
The Iniqultous proceeding. These are the
surroundings Of this impeachment case.
1t Is vile plot, Matched by traitors for
the purpose Of deposing the constitutional
head Of the government and placing
u'Grper in his place, and the articles of
impeachment are the initiatory steps in
that direction.- Phila. age.