Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04

oputive power in order that he may Z" take care
that the laws be faithfully executed Every abuse
Of this power, whether It be by an improper exerS
else Of Il or by neglect or refusal to exercise ct
ali, is breach OF official duty But it is noteve>
nv branch Of official duty that can be charged as
crime or misdemeanor against the delinquent Off
Ger. Whatever doubt may have arisen in other
cases Of the criminal character of the official con-
duct involved in them, the one we are now consd-
ering presents no basis on which to rest a doubt
Deliberately, not to say defantly tbe President
has violated penal statute Of the United States,
and has thereby committed a high. misdemeanor
which the law says shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or by impris-
onment not exceeding five years. or both said
punishments in the discretion Of the COURT
(Act Of March q 1Si7, section six.) All OF tho
circumstances attendent upon this case show that
the Presidents action was deliberate and wilful
There is not shade of excuse or palhation in the
case as il Is presented TO US. Perversely he has
rushed upon his own destruction. Obstinately he
has forced upon am issue in which we must JOIN
or prove ourselves unworthy representatives of a
free people. We have not sought this issue, bnt
have resorted to every legitimate means to avoid
il we have manifested no undue desire TO exer-
else the mpeauhing power which IS vested IN this
House exclusively by the express terms OF the
Constitution. H tH taH
Guided by sincere desire to pass this cup from
our lips determined not TO drink il il escape were
not cut off by the presence of palpable duty, we
at last find ourselves compelled 20 take its very
drcgs decent respect for the executive office,
patriotic eilort to avoid collision between two
departments of the Government, ever manifested
by this House, seem to have been most strangely
misunderstood by the President. Our refusal TO
abuse a power or to resort TO it even while mere
doubt to our right to exercise II could be urged
in opposition thereto seems to have been consr'I-
I 1 -. IL Lao
penal statutes of the nation. The result is before
u.s. The President challenges the supremacy Of
the law and dishonors his constitutional obligation
to 'ta6o care that the laws be faithfully exeCut-
ed 80 Substantially he aifirms that his oath OF
office may be qualified by the conclusions OF his
private judgment He defantly casts before the
representatives of the people his gage md declares
that he will decide what laws are const itutiona
and that such only as stand the test of his iudg-
ment will he respect, enforce, or obey. This j.
his case. He has elected TO base it on penal
statute. 1t is for us to traverse this case and put
il TO the country Anything less than this would
be shameful abuse of our high trust and crini.
nal abandonment of duty To my charge shall
neither Of these offenses be placed, Dr.. ln
! Mr. Speaker, it has been urged in this debate
that the Presidents sole object is to secure udg.
ment of the courts as to the constitutonality Of
the act regulating the tenure of certain civil OH
ces. Such an intent will not Justify the commits
sion of high crime or misdemeanor. Suppose
the courts should hold the act TO be constitutional
would the fact that his intent was to have that
question decided be good plea to an Indictment
for a violation of its provisisions Who Is so in
sane as to assert so preposterous proposition
Whoever acts in the way and for the purpose sug-
gested does it at his peril. The work belongs tc
the President in this case, not to the law. Thi.
plea in his defense demonstrates that bis action
was not the result of inadvertence or of mistaken
Judgment and that 1t Is the fruit Of cool calcula
ton and deliberate purpose. He committed
high misdemeanor In order to secure a Judgment
of the court Sir, we will CRAFTY his desire by
carrying his case to the highest court known L
the Constitution Of the Republic---the high cour
Of impeachment. To that august tribunal we will
present this case, and with it the law and The
criminal He shall have his day in court, and be
taught, for his good and that Of his successor
in office, that the President OF the United States
clothed with all the great powers of his high off
cial station, is as completely subordinate TO tn,
law of the Republic as is the humblest of its citi
| zens U.aH ~ i9 YIrHalF4 1agu 90 ..pui1ot
j The public welfare, the repose of the nation
the interests Of institutions, the safety Of tn,
Republic ITSELF require that all persons official OF
otherwise, shall be solemnly taught that the Law
OF this land is no respecter of persons and tina
the high and low, the rich and poor the publi
officer and the private citizen, are each alike amen
able to its imperial demands, subject to its hiel
commands, and subordinate to its supreme author
ity. The majesty Of the law must be asserted
though strike from his exalted position the Chic
{ Magistrate of the nation. We may deplore tn
necessity, but we must obey the voice of the law
speak not as partisan but as the custodian o
trust, the sacred character Of which awes me in
to strict observance Of my duty. will vote 70
the pending resolution to the end that the law ma
be INDICATED by the removal of an unworthy pub
lie servant from an official position which he ha
dishonored by his perverse disregard of duty an
his unjesti6able contempt for the supremacy of tn