The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-07
Impeachment of the President.
rom the Philadelphia Evening Herald.

On Monday (3Oth of March, fairly commenced
the impeachment trial of President johnson.
This is the first time in the history of our Re-
public that the Chief Magistrate of the nation
has been brought before the bar of the Senate
to answer charges made by the House of Repre-
sentatives, and let US teryently hope that never
again shall the disgrace attach itself to this ma
tion of being compelled to witness President OF
the United States forced to stand in the position
of criminal upon the frivolous and trumped-up
allegations of partisan, perjured and reckless
Congress When We reflect upon the trivial
character of the charges, and the past history
and conduct OF the prominent actors IN this out
rage, we are at loss which to wonder at most,
their effrontery or their crminality. The inn
peachers are the fitting growth of the turbulent
and vicious times in which we llve-times that
have witnessed one outrage after another perpe-
trated with impunity against the solemnly guar
anteed constitutional rights OF the citizen-times
that have witnessed the entire overthrow OF our
constitutional form of government, and the sub
stitution for it of centralized congressional
oligarchy, from whose halls ten States in this
Union are violently and defantly excluded
times that have given birth to such corruptlons
and wickedness i'll high places, and such beastly,
heaven daring crinlinality in low, that must make
the heart of the honest patriot shuddcr when he
reflects that God is just.
The lofty integrity and earnest devotion of
Andrew johnson to his country was living re-
buke to these bold bad men in Congress, who
have been engaged in this wicked conspiracy and
usurpation to perpetuate their ll-gotten power.
AS long he in Office they feared the in
fuence and effect upon the people OF his noble
protests and nervous appeals to his countrymen
whenever constitutional right was assalled, or
a constitutional bulwark attempted to be over
thrown. They must get rid of him they must
silence his bold, warning voice, and fill his place
with subservient minon Of their own, who
would simply endorse and register their infamous
DEGREES The object of the impeachment hath
+ power to screen their crimes, by the removal of
all obstacles in their pathway, has become stern
necessity. No man, of the most ordinary fair
ness can read through the articles of impeach-
ment, after the tremendous pother that was made
in Congress for many long months previous to
their introduction, without smile OF derislon.
After such loud sounding manfestOes, and such
meagre, barren results, one is torcibly reminded
of the cry of the Smyrna fig dealers In the
name Of the prophet, God is great and Mahomet
is his prophet figs fgs!'
All the impeachments known in history have
been dignifed by the appearance at least of grave
and weighty charges, and the services of the
Hottest and proudest minds of the State as prose-
| cutors and have left their marks upon the
historic page efforts of outraged justice to ar
raign at her bar criminals in highest stations.
This, however, wal go down to posterity the
meanest most trifng most Malignant persecu-
ton, by little and depraved minds, of man in
the loftiest position in the world whose only of
fence Was, that he endeavored Ito preserve, pro-
tect and defend" that constitution they were en-
deavoring to undermine and destroy. This will
be the verdict of impartial history, and the name
of johnson will live forever in the memory of
all true patriots while that of his prosecutors will
be Justly execrated and dishonored