Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-03-04
The situation,

opinions Of his character, history and con.
duct have been frequently and candidly OK.
pressed in these columns, and We have no.
thing to rettact nor extenuate. We could
wish that he had been moro ''clesr in his
great ofioe" e"--that he had possessed more
exact estimate Of the motives and prin-
ciples Of the two great parties Of tho coun.
try. If he make the mistake Of supposing
that the Democratic party, with their vigor'
ous organization, controlling and counting
two millions Of votes, would drop half oi
their party decalogae and follow any man,
even though that man werc the President, OF
. thousand times greater than the Presiden.
We are sorry that he had no better judgment.
We are not sorry that the Democratic party
had not the same dangerous facility in
changing their views that he seems, (hon.
estly enough, perhap,) to have possessed.
Ii the Democrats were disposed to shirk
any responsibility for the President, they
might easily do 80, and truly say that The
present fearful QUARREL between Congress
and the Executive, is purely family ieud
among the Radicals. We did not nominate
Johnson-,ce did not elect him-on the con.
trary, he was nominated and elected because
he was the most bitter, and the most reck.
less, and the most unreleuting enemy the
Democratic party had in the Southwe and
all the more bitter and all the more unre.
lenting because he had been recent convert
to Radicalism. But while these considera.
tions would forever prevent the Democratic
party from following in the train of Andrew
johnson, or from making an apostle or q
candidate Of him, they cannot sit supinely
by, and see that department Of the govern.
ment which he happens to hold, and which
he has di rectly from the people, encroached
upon, swallowed up and utterly ruined, by a
co ordinate branch Of the government.
If Andrew johnson were no better than
ty Of Congress-if. like Ashley, he had con-
spired and forgathcred with perjured felons,
or like Butler, he had used official position
to plunder private persons and insult virtu-
Gus women--we would still maintain that in
his person, however unworthy, the Prcsi-
dental Office, the Executive Department of
the government should not be destroyed by
either Of the other branches, or by both
branches combined. VI H H'Iv - 'T
The present Congress, which this day re-
presents q. minority Of the people Of the
States that were not in rebellion, in spirit
Of revenge and passion, passed certain laws,
with the avowed purpose of preventing the
present Executive from using powers which
had been accorded to every preceding Presi-
dent. Neither Tyler nor Fillmore had a
majority in Congress, yet they were not in
suited, and manacled with "Tenure.o of. OF.
fee" billy The constitutionality Of these
unprecedented enactments il denied, and yet
is unsettled by the Supreme Court, and Con-
gress, with violent and indecent haste. has
decided to impcach the President because.
az they allege, he has violated or sought 10
riolate law to which no former President
was ever subjected.
There is not one man in one hundred in
this country, who knows anything about the
Tenure OF Office Bill, " for alleged disre-
gard Of which Mr.. johnson is to be i'm
peached and turned out of Office. Every
man knows or may know that every Presi-
dent heretofore has selected his own Cabinet
officers, and there are not FIVE instances in
eighty years where they have been rejected
by the Senate. But this Radical Congress
have made it crime, to be punished with q
forfeiture Of Office, for the President even to
nominate his own Secretaries! OF the rev.
olutionary character of this assumption, of
the fearful consequences which must follow
the the Destruction Of Of the Executive Bepurt=
ment Of the Government by the Legislative,
which, in this case. have made ne,o law,
making neD offense with a special culprit
in view, no proof is required. .,...Ia
just look, tor moment, how violent and
malignant this Congress is. On the impeach.
ment question the vote stood 1876 to Al. We
venture to assert that every man of this l26
voted for Andrew johnson for Vice Presi-
dent in 1864. Yet, because he happens tn
disagree with this 126, they pass q law to
prevent him from exercising the appointing
power, as every previous President had done
they make imputed Disregard Of the law
punishable by impeachment they declare
by q new law. also) that during trial, the
President should be suspended from office =
and that whoever happens to be Vice Presi.
dent at the beginning Of the trial, shall
be President.
The crisis is solemn one. We have no
trust except in the sound sense and calm for.
bearance Of the people. We would counsel
and implore oil men to moderation in speech
and action. We ask nothing for Andrew
johnson, but VIC pray that the Department
Of the Government which he administers
may not be absorbed or destroyed, and
the Constitution made o mere rope Of
sand! s..,a .f.-. 4.r. l5.es.
The Democratic party is the only obstacle
under Heaven to the lawless encroachments
Of Congress, who have uprooted all law and
order, and have voted themselves saints and
heroes. The President is not of our party,
and has not labored for US in his administra-
ton Of public affairs But we cannot see,
without proper resistance, the Constitution
and laws overthrown, in order to depose him
from Office. El. ..a.'al Z %
The spectacle we present to the nations Of
the earth is most melancholy one. The
House of Representatives, acting like a
trenzied mob, with no more sense Of respon
sibili,y than go many lunatics, have declared
that they will have the President turned out
not for attempting to pass injurious laws :
his hands are tied in that not for betrayinR
his country to foreign enemy-not for at.
tempting to hold Office beyond his legal term
simply for seeking to remove a tyrant
from office who has not the love of human
being. Alas for the stability Of our Gov.
ernment-alas! for Republican institutions,
where such wicked men bear sway!-Rts
burg Post. lt...l.5 ~. I..r-.s-
"Canst thou not minister toa mind deceased,
And, with some sweet, oblivious antidote,
Cleanse the foul bosom Of the rerilous stuff
That weighs upon the heart?"
(tov<os,,l,,, III l. q