Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-03-14
THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION.

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We copy the following brief but excellenl
commentarg, upopg the impeachment of the
President from the Saa francisco Dispatch Of
March ed, whichIis 4dited by Gen. volney E.
Howard, one b the ablest and most expert
|chced Elavyers Of California. After giving the
Articles DC impeachment as reported, Gen.
tffcward says: y
It must be apparent to any lawyer, that each
one of these specifications, before any judicial
tribunal in the country, would be disposed OF
on general demurrer, as stating mo foffense
knowlito tl1e law. Ithas been obvious from
the beginning,- that there -Wasa no real legal
ground for impeachment against the President.
tits d mere trick Of party,yso groandless that
it is too ridiculous to be laughed ut. One can
not read'the charges without being reminded
Of a couplet in Pope: u
"To laugh were wanting gracs.
sih Yet to be grave exceeds all power Of face"
The low and genteel character of these
charges, reminds us of the pleadings of GER
tain church in Mississippi, on the trial of one
of its preachers They ran. in this wise !:
ARTICLE first charge first, specification first !:
Brother Smith is charged with an ungodly
n,
apparent that these charges all resolve them
selves into the single one of the removal of
Stanton, and the appointment of his successor
without the consent of the Senate. This power
in the President has been settled question in
the practice of the Government ever since the
administration of Washington. 1t then un-
derwent thorough investigation and debate in
the Senate, and by the casting vote of Vice
President John Adams, was decided in favor
of the power of removal by the President, un.
der the Constitution, as an incident oil the
power of appointment Such has been the
uniform and fixed practice of the Government
from that time until the Radical Congress
sought to destroy the Executive and Judicial
departments of the Government, To accom-
plish their neiarious schemes of usurpation.
Chancellor Kent says: cit may now be con-
sidered MS firmly and definitely settled, aud
there is good sense and practical utility in the
construction" 1t is not in the power of Com
gress to repeal the Constitution or its settled
construction. 1t remains, however, to be seen
whether that body caI revoutionize the Gov
ernment We have no doubt. that If the SEN
ate oyerrules the question of jurisdiction,
which the President win probably interpose,
the trial will proceed. and probably be drawn
out until the Presidential election. 1t will
give rise to great quantity Of good talk, aud
be an ample field for party tactics and cleo
Pioneering for the Presidency. When that end
is subselved, and the Radicals defeated. il will
be dropped.
II is hardly possible that the Republicans
will hazard civil war by the arrest Of the
President, or an attempt To depose him from
his powers pending the trial Such n coup
dctdt would be attended with consequences
too mnmpntons fur the maturity of the. Radi.
calls That class headed by Stevens and Wen.
dell Phillips, may be reckless enough To ven
ture the experiment; but the more sober por-
ton of the party will shrink from its fearful
sequences. The holders of the public securi.
ties will never permit such n measure to be in.
angurated. Another conflict of arms in civil
war will be the death kncll of the public debt.
1t will be the sponge of American stocks issued
by the Federal Government Let Lord shod-
dy look TO his coupons, and interest himself in
the preservation of the public peace