Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-29
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PREsI-
DENT

THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PREsI-
DENT.
The House of Representatives, after
long and exhaustive debate, voted that
"Androw johnson, President of tho United
States, be impeached of high crimes and
misdemanors." Upon this resolution 128
Representatives voted Yes, while AZ voted
No. 1t will be seen that the Republicans
acted in body, while Mr.. Cary of Ohio,
and Mr.. Stewart of New York, Independent
Republicans, voted with the Democrats
Impeachment, defeated before by large
Republican vote, is now accepted without q
single dissenting Republican voice.
Whatever may be said of Congress, il has
shown great forbearance. There has been
no general disposition to impeach Mr.. John
son. The issue was of his own seeking.
The dignity of the Presidential Office is such
that the Republican party felt, that impeach
ment should only be used as last resort
that it would DC far better to bear with Mr..
johnson than to brine upon the country an
uncertain, doubtful, angry issue.
The following article from the New York
Tribune sums up only n portion of the crimes
and misdemeanors of which the President
stands guilty
"But it is clear that johnson intended to
get possession of the War Department as a
means of controlling the army. His tenders
; of promotion and command to prominent
military officers like Sherman and Thomas
who have spurned his offers with such
honest and patriotic contempt, and his
| overtures to minor officers to ascertain whe-
ther they would put their troops under his
orders in defiance of those of Gen. Grant, all
show that johnson wanted, not to test the
constitutionaity of the law, but to get con-
| troll OF the army, or at least considerable
portion of it, to employ it in resistance to
the measures of Congress and the orders of
Gen. Grant and Secretary Stanton. Find
ing himself foiled in this, he now talks OF
testing the constitutionality OF the law. If
he did not know :hat the tribunal before
which his acts would come for judgment
was the same which passed the law, and
that before such tribunal he could subject
it to no new test, he deserves impeachment
for his stupidity.
Were this the first step in the Presidents
career of official crimes and usurpations,
Congress and the country would have re-
garded 1t with infinite forbearance. But
designed as the climax of long series of
offences and crimes which he calls his 'poli-
cy," he can claim no such forbearance. 1t
was not to test the constitutionality of any
law that he violated from the outset the act
Of Congress forbidding the appointment of
Rebels like Gen. Humphreys and Governor
Sharkey to Office. He did it as clear vio-
lation of law, because he thought the law
unwise. And Congress overlooked his of
fense. His usurpation of the legislative
powers of Congress relative to reconstruction
was serious political crime, but Congress
overlooked it in consideration of his known
unfamiliarity with all questions of constitu
tional law. His abuse of the pardoning
power by allowing his signature to be hawk
ed about by harlots, and his abuse of the
appointing power by levying contributions
on his ottce-holGers, have been a stencil in
the nostrils of the nation. His use of the
whole patronage and power OF the Govern
mcnt as grand corruption fund, to bribc,
buy, and bully all Office holders into the
betrayed Of the very principles and party
he was himself elected to sustain, revealed a
depth of personal depravity unprecedented
in the history of public men in America
His completely with the Rebels and traitors
in their antinegro riots at Memphis and
New Orleans, rendered him morally respon-
sible for scores Of innocent lives, and showed
him capable OF winkiug at any efforts to
inaugarate war OF races. His drunkenness
when taking the inaugural oath, and when
swinging around the circle, condemned him
to everlasting contempt, yet was treated
with apparent forbearance. His treachery
to his oath and constitutions! duty in de-
liberately striking down the most distin-
guished heroes of the war, and our most
trusted civil officers, for their fidelity to the
laws, and their desire to see them faithfully
executed, mcrited prompt impeachment,
conviction and removal months ago, but
Congress forcbore and condoncd these Of
lenses.
At last, however Andrew johnson, as.
sured and selfdeceived by this long for
bcarance and oft-repeated d-delay to punish,
assumes position which would enable him
to revolutionize the Government and make
himself Dictator within twenty days, if Con.
grcss should conccde the power he claims.
For il he can remove and appoint al interim
all the officers, civil and military, in the
country, without asking the consent of the
Senate, he can remove Grant and appoint
Lee to the command of the army, remove
every loyal man from every Office in the
country, and appoint only traitors in their
stead, and thus make himself Dictator, take
possession of the Government, disperso
, Congress, or commit any other crime which
unlimited power could accomplish when al.
ned to 6oundless treachery and deprayity.
NO other President has ever advanced the
e PreposterouS claims now put forward by
. Sir: johnson. They are wholly in violation
OF Law, ana at war with constitutional liber-
ty, and the very existence Of the Govern.
nent.
From the Harrisburg Telegraph
. E'ennsylyania the First 10 Respond