The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-03-27

lc state Convention.
Igo against this Congress for its
crimes and above all for those which
it is now perpetrating against tho
liberties Of the people and the sane
tity Of the judiciary. While We
sit here they drag tho Chief Magis-
trate of our country, who has been
stripped Of rightful power, and
shackled with humilisting restraints
before tribunal which decreed his
sentence before the charges against
him were framed. And what are
these charges? He dared against
brutal All indecent statutory in.
suits to appeal to Judicial tribunal.
He dared TO do his duty and warn
the people against the follics and
crimes Of their legislators. This
Congress has declared that to test
its acts in tho Courts established
for that purpose, is crime. and
that free speech is . high misde-
meanor! When the President en-
tered upon his duties, he took a
solemn oath that Ito the best Of his
ability he would preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution Of the
United States" For trying to do
this according to his consciencche
is impeached.
If this high officer may not appeal to
the Courts, If he may not at all
times by speech or writing, warn
the people of the dangers which
menace their rights and liberties,
what protccti ion is there for the hum
bic citizen? We arc not left to in
ference. Men have been arrested
without warrant, have languished or
died in prisons without trial, and in
many instances have never known
what offences were imputed to them.
The bill is already framed to take
away from citizens the appeal to
the Courts in cases touching their
dearest rights. In ten States Mil
itary power tramplcs the Judiciary
under foot. These men mistake the
spirit of the people. We defed
them when they were back
ed by a million Of armed men.
We despise them now as they trem-
ble on the brink of disgrace and de-
feat. During the past two years
they have been active in degrading
the Executive and disgracing them
selves. They now arraign Mr.. john
SON for bringing them into dishonor
and public contempt, but their own
conduct, not his speeches, brought
this shame upon them.
I have no political pr,judice:' i"
favor Of Mr.. johnson. have nev-
or seen him. Ho is not one l help
ed to place in Office, nor have | cv-
er advised him or been consulted by
him as to his policy. know he has
been cheated and betrayed by those
abou. him, who plotted his dcstruc-
tion from the outset. But while he
has been unhappy in his friends, no
man has been so fortunate in his en-
emies. They have given him a high
place in history rs one who has suf-
fered for the rights Of the Ameri-
can people. And when he shall 60
to his final account and his friends
seek in clear, terse and lasting
terms to tell that he was q man who
loved his country and was hated by
the corrupt and reasonable, they
have only to chisel upon his tomb
stone that he was impoached by this
House of Representatives. and con-
dcmned by this Senate.
But Congress seems to have aim
ed at dramatic effect, and seeks to
excite an interest in "this taking
off, like that which attaches to the
assassination Of crowned heads in
darker ages. A stranger entering
the halls Of the Capitol, and who
learned there that one was to be de-
posed because Le stood in the way
of unlawful ambition or corrupt
schemes, as he looked over the as.
semblage and listened to the de-
bate, would readily pick out those
who were to do the dark deed. The
face of one would tell his character:
muttcring about judicial murder
would suggest another. A third
would be an old man, tottering up
on tho crumbling edge. Of the grave.
whose counsels should BIO those Of
peace and charity, but who shocks
the world with the saddest Of all
sights-withered age given over TO
evil passions, and in it's last days
muttering profane curses and show
ing imbecile malice rs it sinks into
the grave.
| In view Of the foul ends aimed at
by the body that one day is agitated
by discordant passions, BY mutual
reproaches and taunts Of crime, and
the next is whipped into accord BY
guilty fears, these are fit instru-
ments. Who are more eager than
they to gain : decree that it is .
crime to appeal to the Judiciary
they hate and fear! Who SO deep
| " concerned for decision that
freedom Of speech is : high misde-
meanor, IS they who are daily gall.
ed and stung and tortured by the
uttered scorn ofa people? We
agree With them that open Discus
sion tends to bring Congress into
public contempt.
When the sentence is prejudged