Indiana American., 1868-04-03
The Us. Of impeaohment.

The Constitution Of the United States
explicitly provides that the House Of
tepresen tatiyes may impeach, and the
Senate try and remove irom Office the presi.
dent OF the United States. What is tho
meaning of this provision in. our organic
Law, and the use Of the process thus APP
pcinted2 OF course We are 10 assume ID ai
Il Is not mere verbal ornament. but it is
intended for some practical purpose.
Looking into the special provisions of the
Constitution in the light of history, aud
we can not we'll avoid these conclusious,
l. Impeachment is not u process for
conyicting an individual of crime, but a
reuedy for riddouce from an unfaiihful
oineer, II Is not a criminal, but politi-
cal proceeding. Aud hence the entire
proceeding is couhped 10 the political de-
Partment oi the 0o,ernmeot, aud its re--
suits limited TO political disabilities. The
House OF Representatives alone can con-
Wet, aud from their proceedings there is
no appeal. The House is not q Grand
Jury, does not have to examine witnesses,
Is not limited 10 given offences. But ia
opea session, on It's own Judgment, and for
any cause it deems sufficient. may present
articles of impeachment. These articles
are not 10 be tried by court Of impeach
Ipent, but by Senate. The Chief jus
tico !oes not sit rs judge, but prcsdes ~
president. Conviction does not require q
unanimous verdict, hut two,thirdsl vote.
No sentence Of hoc, imprisonment or oth-
er criminal penalty can be passed; only
removal from. aud disqualification for,
Office, The whole process is a political
remedy, for political ofense, confined TO
political bodies, and ending 10 political
results. il does not interfere with any
judicial proceeding Tor personal crime, aud
is net TO be iuierlered with by any judicial
power. SUCH j. the psfura of imposch-
meut as il stands in the Constitution. =,
2 The Presiden. Of the United States
is elected for determinaie, aud compare
lively short period. There is scarce any
QUE u his executive duties 10 which he
can not be limited by the Legislature. WHO
musl provide the sgeheies through which
be acts. The Legislature can abolish
ofaces, withhold dcomPensations. reorganize
departments, and 10 numerous ways hedge
anu CHECK thc HfOcetolufht OF Tue IAttus
tive. IL might well therefore be supposed
that impeachment was a'useless prOylalOa,
since the President could be hindered
from mischief without resort to his re-
movsl. Why then was II introduced, and
wherein is its utiliiy2 In the first plnee,
because the theory VI our government de-
mands il. The President Is not master,
ruling in his own Inherent right, 30 that
the people must protect themselves by in-
direction. That was the case ia tho con.
iest Of Charles /. and his Parliament
But ho IL servant, entrusted with delegated
powers, aud hence subject to instant dis.
missal when he abuses them. And eecond
ly, euch indirect mo.hods Of control aroli.
able 10 serious objections. They break up
established methods 10 meet temporary
emergencies. give aibilrary character 10
legislation, aud are api to degenerate In
to personal or partisan controversy. Hence
tho trainers OF our Government, both from
principle and policy, introduced the power
Of impeachment. .a.f lIsH
3. Whether Andrew Johnton ought to
be impcached or not, is, therefore ques-
ton for sound judgment, not for party
bigotry. The remedy is constitutional
and judioious, and II thsoccasion demands
It's exercise, 1t IL quite as criminal to
neglect its application MS TO employ II un-
necessarily. Thoao who oppose impeach-
mont from party feeling, aud In advance
declare the President not guilty, arc quite
"a blame-worthyi as tho opposite class.
But when We have carefully looked into
tho facts, weighed tho gravity ofthe Proii.
dental aoIioot, aud compafod Them with
tho laws Il was his duty 10 observe aud
execute, wo aro justified In forming and
expressing our opinion. We, tho people,
arc masters, tho Legislature Il our repre-.
sentative, aud Il Is our proper province to
instruct them as 10 what wo would have
them do. Since impeachment Ia political
proceeding II Is a proper subject Of popular
discussion. Whoa Congress has ended
It's proceedings, il win have To- appeal to
tho people to confirm It's judgment,
whether for or against tho President.
With our views OF Impeachment Andrew
johnson ought to DO removed from his
Official position, not for the specific viola
tion Of some law hedging bis pathway,
but because tho whole tenure Of his ad-
mnistratIon has been lawless aud violent.
We rest the utility Of impeachment on the
right Of tho people to control thcr servants,
not that Of preserving iutact tho pro,ls'
ions OF epecial laws, II ournal. - s.