Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-03-19
rHE TRIUMPH OF LAW.

The American people may well pause
and thank God, that under our institu-
tioas there is no longer, practically, as
there has never been theoretically, any
man above the law. This is q lawless
period in a lawless age. Crime has
been on the forward march for eight
years, aud Courts have failed to protect
society from its awful consequences. A
peridious President Disseminated
against loyalty and in favor Of treason
and its partisan apologists, men who
sought to overthrow the Government
by force and arms were pardoned and
healed before repentiug Of their crime ;
men of noted fitness and merit were dis
placed from office and dishonest parti-
a n put in their places; and worse than
all, the President, from his high posi-
ton, exhibited the spectacle Of o ruler
defiant Of the law.
There is now hope-reasonable hope
that this great criminal will be tried
for his crimes ; il convicted, as he must
be, then punished condiguly. Let us
have no traditional justice, but justice
with uncovered eyes like stars, and a
k~ecn-edged sword. Justice to the in
diyidual offender is mercy to the people;
and the people now demand and will
secure this higher order Of justice.
They are tired Of e~xpedients, Disguised
with mercy which comes Of weak moral
ity, and indignant at the crimes commit
ted in the name ofliberty. Never, since
the pen of history was employed to re-
cord the deeds Of men and nations, has
there been so grand au opportunity to
teach a people the lesson Of obedience
rs now. A ruler, in some sort, habitu.
ally violating his oath as if that were a
virtue; premeditating breaches of law
which he is sworn to enforce; requiring
implicit obedience to his mandates while
he disobcys the plainest mandate Of the
Constitution Will Congress forget to
make an example Of this bold, bad man
Can there be any excuse framed for per.
hitting such q criminal to escape the
full measure Of punishment prescribed
by law? Congress cannot forget-no
man can franc such an excuse, The
nation is passing through another crisis,
involving moro nearly the success Of
the experiment of free institutions than
that which arrived with that awful con-
fict named the rebellion. If public
men have any irmness they may find
use for it now. Action must be bold
and we'll considered, rapid and effective.
E~xpedients will not do in this emer-
gency. The Executive has boldly de-
fed the American people, broke his oath
anew, and invites justice to step in and
adjust the balances. The people note
his defiance, his perjury, and his invita-.
ton; and they ask their representatives
to acceptable defiance, and vindicate the
majesty Of the law. This illustrious
crimiual-illustrious By position only
must be ~impeachcd and set aside; after
which he must be tried as q felon,
and if convicted, punished ds such.
Look at English history: What was the
crime Of Charles to the crime of Andrew
Johnson? As theft to murder. An at
tempt to trench upon the liberties Of the
people was met with resistance which
eliminated in death at Whitehall.
And while we do not counsel or urge
the last extreme Of punishment, we do
insist that penalty must always follow
upon detection, or the cause Of public
order must suffer. All men in this re-
public are subject to law. The legisla-
tor is not privileged to ignore any law.
| The law is for all who need its restraint,
not for class or casts. And high exam
Piles of disobedience must no longer DC
| Ignored or wiuked at. It is the boast Of
our orators that in this country all men
are equal before the law. How equal I
| Thus Equal in privilege and equally
amenable. The hod-carrier who COM
mits'a petty breach Of peace is punished
proportionably to the grade of his Of
Tense. Shall q President be permitted
to defy both constitutions and laws and
have leave to retire to his ~farm-depo-
sition being the only penaltyf We
say, no.
The duty of Congress is plain. We
are glad to see that there is q disposition
to discharge that. duty to the full. In
this exigcncy there can BIO no hcsitancy
and no falteriug. Forward, firm, and
decisive is the course Of right action!
Old Clothes.
Tho CT Ionis Democrat SAWS two Mega