The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-03-27

contempt. He has disgrsced his high ONCE
and humiliated the nation before the world BY
travelling through the country making low and
indecent political harsngues.
He has thwarted every measure passed by
Congress for reorcsniiing the southern States.
encouraging the people In those States 70 con:
tinue their hostility to the Government, and
thus prevented restoration OF the Union. by
misconstruing laws and evading their execu-
ton according to their true intent and meaning
he has compelled Cougress to prolong its sit.
tings and to hold extra sessions at great incon-
venience and expense. In order to prevent or
repair mischief caused by bis obstinate lawless-
ness. The difficulties In the way Of reconstruc-
tion from the assembling Of the Thirty-Ninth
| Congress, In December, 1865, to the present
time, have not arisen from any defects In the
laws passed for that purpose, but from the
fact that those laws have been perverted ana
their execution obstructed by . faithless Eco
utive The various amendments which We
have from time to time been called upon 70
make to the reconstruction acts have been me-
cessitated by the hostility OF the President to
those laws. When bay that Andrew Johnson
has for the last two years used his official inhu-
ence and official patronage to prevent the exc
cution Of the laws passed by Congress Tor the
reorganization Of the southern States, only
state that which is q public notoriety, and what
the President himself has In substance publicly
proclaimed hundred times.
Notwithstanding all these high official misde-
meanors. any one Of which should have SUI
feed for the impeachment of this man, 90 re-
luctant has Congress been to use this extreme
constitutional power for the removal OF an h. uh.
| faithful and dangerous Executive that douot
not, had the President violated this tenure-oi-
Office act In less defiant manner, las he has OF
ten heretofore violated other laws,) We shoul''
have taken no notice OF his Offense, but have
allowed him to continue In his course until ne
had bound US hand and foot. Fortunately for
the country this last violation OF law by the
President has been 30 open and so dehant as u
challenge Congressional action. His reckless
ness rather than our courage has saved the ma
tion. Fortunately, too, this last act OF law
less usurpati0n has united as one man the
great party which carried the country trium.
phantly through the war and thu: far saved J; !;
from destruction In y determination to hurl
from power this officer who brings disgrace
upon our Government, disturbs the public
peace, and imperils the institutions OF the
country. Equally fortunate Is II that the Dem
ocratic party, which inaugurated the rebellion,
sustained and encouraged II during Its prog
rcss, aud now strives To fan into hame It's
smoldering embers, has srrayed itself with un'
broken ranks In support of the President
In this last attempt to subvert the GoVern'
ment.
It is fit. proper, and consistent that the par.
ty which attempted, under the leadership ol
Jefferson Davis, to regain It's lost political
power by means Of civil war, should NOW
seek the same end under the leadership of An
drew Johnson, by the more peaceful but more
dangerous method Of usurpation. The De-
mocracy having taken this "Old Man OF the
Sea" on Its shoulders the power Ut both ION
mischief will now he lessened.
| But, sir, we are warned by gentlemen on tho
other side Of the House that the Democratic
party will resist any attempt to impeach the
President. The gentleman from New York
mir. Brooksl declares that the Democracy
will never. never. 80 help him God. never sub.
nit to the exercise Of 4 power by Congress eI-
prcssly conferred upon II by the Constitution.
And whyl Why not! Why, because 1t Is uu :
constitutional. or course It Is uuconstitution-
nj. According TO this same Democratic author.
ity the Republican party Is Q sectional, and
therefore an unconstitutional party, and Its
very existence justified the rebellion. The war
Was an unconstitutional war, and not conduct
cd on constitutional principles. Congress Is
an unconstitutional body, because rebels are
not represented in 1t. presume II the north
crn Democracy had majority here It would
answer every purpose, and would, In that case,
he ~ perfectly constitutional body. Abraham
Lncoln was, according to this same authority,
an unconstitutional President, while Andrew
Johnson. made his successor by the hand OF
an assassin, Is not only constitutional Pres.
iient, but is above tho Constitution and the
laws.
Before the abolition OF slavery that was con-
stitutioual. The Democratic party and the
rebellion were also institutional, because
they were necessary to sustain slavery. Since
slavery has becOme dcfunct there Is nothing
now constitutional but the relics Of the REBEL.
ion, Andrew johnson, and the Democratic par.
~. All else must be put down; and the gen.
tleman from New York Mr.. Bro0ks1 calls
upon the hone and muscle Of the Democratic
party tu resist this unconstitutional attempt Of
an unconstitutional Congress to impeach the
President Well, sir, like appeals were made
BY the Democratic leaders during the war.
The constituency Of the gentleman from New
York Mr.. BrOoks1 responded, and for days,
the city which he In part represents was the
scene Of violence and blOOdshed. l never
heard that any of the gentlemen who melted
their poor deluded followers into tho insurrec-
ton led them In the fight; and this perhaps
accounts for the fact that this northern wing
of the confederate army was subjugated by the
metropolitan police. and afterward held In
quiet submission to the laws by the distinguish.
eI gentleman from Massachusetts,, (Mr. But.
Ter. whose military prowess these valient gen.
tlemen now affect to despise.
Now. sir, give the gentleman from New
York, mir. Brooks, and the gentleman from
Pcnnsy ylvania, (Mr. Woodward, this friendly
warning, to beware how they undertake to in
auguratc q second rebellion, for they may fall
into the hands Of an Executive that will he
disposed not only to make treason odious but
dangerous. I am aware that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania proposes to avert this un-
pleasant consequence Of treason by making the
Executive not only q party to, but also the
lesder in such treason. He says:
"Mr Speaker, 50 sure am that the American
people will respect this objection 1.-THE unconstltu.
Presidents counselor, which am uot, would ad.
wise him. II you prefer articles Of impeachment TO
dcnur both to your Jurisdiction and that OF the
Senate, and to issue q proclamation giving You and
all the world notice that while he held himself i'm.
peachable for mlsdcmeanors In office before the
constitutional tribunal he never would subject the
Office e holds in trust for the people to the irres-
ular, unconstitutional iIaxInentary ocaIes rno
proposed TO strip him oft, Such n proclamation,
with the Army and Navy IN hand TO sustain u,
would meet popular resp,nse that would make
an end Of impeachment and inpeachers.'
Only three parties are necessary to make ad-
vice like this safe 10 the counselor who gives
and the President who follows II. They are
those nHmel by the scntletnau h,mseh' .uo
peop.e AMI the peoples Army and Navy. But
not one If these three has shown any willing:
ness TO support such counsel. They each anI
all exrcraie il, aud alike stand ready by ballot
or in battle, by land ar sea. to conquer and to
crush il. II the gentleman desires to know how
his trea.onahle appeals vi be responded to by
the people he has only to look around among
hi. associate. on this hmr and count up the
constituencies that will tolerate in their Rep
resentativcs the utterance Of such sentiments as
I have quoted Without any expectation OF
rilrncirg the everlasting ding dong about the
Constitution, the Constitution, the Constitu.
tion. which is so continually kept up BY these
shrekers. I propose to examine
some Of the constitutional arguments which
have been made. some Of the constitutional Oh
jections which have been raised to the propos- !
si impeachment and In justification OF the
President by those defending him. They con- |
tend, first, that the removal OF the Secretary |
Of War by the President was authorized by the
Constitution, and that the ienure-of.ofiee act
being In deroga,ion Of this constitutional pow.
rr is unconstitutional and void. second, that
the removal from office Of the present Secretary /
of War Is not prohibited by the tenurc.of-omce
Al. kka (snURreea