The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-05-08

W INC DIOOuy lluScuJ' ~ 10 Ou'g -
this free land that constitutional
tribunal has been charged for the first
time with the sublime task Of vindi-
eating an outraged law against the
highest of its ministers, and passing
Judgment upon the question whether
the ruler of nation shall be stripped,
under tho law, and without shock or
violence, Of the power which he has
abused.
This great occasion was not sought
by us. The world will bear the Rep
resentatives ofthc people witness that.
they have not come here for light and
transient causes, but for the reason
only that the issue has been forced
upon them BY long series Of bold as.
sumptions Of power on the part Of
tho executive, following each other
with almost the blazing and binding
continuity of the lightning of tho
tropics, and eliminating at last in a
mortal challenge, which,in the defence
of their constitutional power as Il
branch of the American Congress and
as faithful sentincls over the Liberties
of the people, it was impossible for
them to decline. With the first open
defiance of tho Legislative will they
worc left, of course, with no alterna'
tive but to abdicate their rule or to
vindicate their right to make the law
and to see that it was obeycd. To
this imperviops necessity tho people
in whose namo they spcak-7a branch
of that race whose quick scnsibllity to
public danger has ever kept a Glecp-
less vigil ovcrits libcrtios-havo yield
cd at last with q reluctance which
nothing but tho woariness of civil
strife the natural longing for rcpose;
the apprehensivc sense that it was
bcttor perhaps, to bear the ills we had
than to fly to othors that we know
not of; the reflection that the Admin
istration must have an end, and above
all, perhaps, the delusive hope that
its law-delying head himself would
ultimately submit to necessity which
was as strong as fate, could have
brought about, or would have perhaps
excused. He has misunderstood their
reason, as his counsel show that they
do now--mistakon their temper and
presumed upon their forbcarance. lie
has forgotten that thcre was a point
at which the conflict must end in the
shock of two opposing forces and the
overthrow Of ono or the other OF the
antagonistic clements. 1t was neeos-
sary, perhaps, in the order of Provi-
dencc, that he should reach that point
by stiking such blow at tho public
liberties as shoald awaken the people
as with an earthquake shock to the
consciousness that the liberation Of
usurping crimes brings no security TO
nations.
To show however, how much they
have bore and forborn, perhaps for
given, for the sake of peace, and how
much they now pass over for q spec
dy solution OF the impending trouble,
which has impedcd the onward and
upward movement of this great Gov
ernment, and spread confusion and
disorder through many of its depart
ments, and what moreover is the true
import and significance of the acts for
which the President is now arraign-
cd, must bo allowed, with your in
to take up for moment the
koy which is required to unlock the
mysteries of the position. Tho man
who suppOscs that there is but qucs-
ton of the removal of an obnoxious
ofIicer-a mere private quarrel be-
tween two belligercnts at the other
ond of the Avonuo-whcrcin it is OF
no great national consequence which
Of the two opposing parties shall pre-
vail, has no adequate apprehension OF
the gravity of tho case and greatly
the position and tho mo-
tiyes of the high accusers. Tho House
Of Representatives espouses no mans
luarrels, however considerable he may
Deu Il TO 0aUaUM IATUHC
II has but singled ont from many
others of equal weight the facts here
facts both in the past and
Of recent occurroHcc, of great uotoric-
Nv. The issue hero is between two
mighticr antagonists--ono the Chief
Executive Magistrate of this nation,
and tho other the people Of the Uni
ted Stdtes, for whom tho Secretary of
War now held almost the only strong |
position of which they have not been
IL is but renewal on
american soil Of the old battle between
Tho royal prcrogativo and tho priyi-
opes of the criminal, which was clos
ID in England with the reigns Of tho
5tuarts--a struggle for tho mastery |
between u temporary executive and
he legislative power Of free State
over the most mOmont0us question
hat has ever challenged the attention
If the people. 'H.s 'rom l.aff
The counsel for the President, re-
lecling of course tho view of thoir
,mploye, would hayo you believe that
ho removal Of departmental head,
8 an affair of State too small to be
worthy Of such an avengcr as this we