The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-13
I1npeachment-The Army-The People.

90 experiment on the patience OF the couh-
i" try. which has endured them SO long,"
This is impeachment. 1t adds: These
"Jacobins hoping, we doubt not, that the
i" people do not care enough about their
!" Government and Constitution to make q
/" struggle, or risk anything for their
+" preservation against the regular army |
:" welded by General Grant," The InteRi
qe7.cer will find that these Jaeobins are
not far out Of the way, and that there is o
great amount Of indifference-nay, .sto-
lidity-in the public mind in reference to
the Government and Constitution" !; and
1t will discover, moreover, that the Radi-
Gals, with General GRANT and the "regu-
lar army" will rule in their own way,
substituting their will for both Constitution
and laws. "
Mr.. JOHNSON, who, according to the Con-
stitution, is the executive officer as we'll as
the chief magistrate Of the nation, whose
responsibilities in the matter of preserving
order and enforcing laws according to the
chart of the powers and divisions OF the
Government are Of the most solemn and
important character, is now 80 disa-
bled by the infringements Of his powers
by Congress that he cannot efficiently
discharge those responsibilities. The
most powerful branch Of his depart
ment is made independent of him and
is in the handsof the dominant party
and the General of the armies, whom they
have won over to their cause and pur-
poses. Mr.. JOHNSON having thus waited
until Congress passed its measures and
completed its machinery to place him
horS de combat, the whole game is in Radi-
cal hands. He has no recourse that we
can imagine save to remain in his office q
mere nobody, without power and without
dignity, or make show Of resistance, and
fall, as it seems he must, situated as he is.
He will then appeal in vain to the people,
who will think no more of him than any
other dead and forgotten politician.
This is plainly the state of the case.
The Executive is now considered by the
Radicals as harmless-nay, ridiculous.
They are we'll fortified, aud vent their con-
tempt for tho President in laughter. They
could not contain themselves when the
Presidents letter to General GRANT and
the Cabinet correspondence were read:
a correspondence, by the by, which, what
ever may be its bearing on the veracity OF
gentlemen, will have no more effect ad-
versely to General GRANT than the throwing
a pebble into the sea. His advocates are
smart enough to turn it even to his adVan-
tage if its discussion is pressed.
What say the people to all this We
shall be surprised if they say anything, or
do anything but rally to the strong side.
The day for arousing popular alarm at on
assault upon the sacred institutions be-
aueathed us by our fathers" Language
once popular, now obsolete,) is gone by.
The great fear in old times was the
possession Of the "purse and the sword
by one man. 1t was thought that when
these two things were at the command OF
one man or one department the liberties OF
the country were gone aud when General
JACKSON turned out one Secretary of the
Treasury who would not remove the de-
posits of the Government from the
United States Bank lin which he con-
sidcred them unsafe) and put in an
other who would and who did remove |
them, the country rang with the cry Of
alarm for the safety Of republican liberty.
1t was declared that General JACKSON had |
seized the purse in his hands, which,
already holding the sword, gave him power
over the nation to do as he willed against |
the letter and spirit Of the Constitution
and our system Of government. 1t had
tremendous effect upon the public mind,
Notwithstanding that the case was not
clearly made out; for JACKSON had, after
oil, but removed the deposits through the
lawful officer. At first he suffered in
popularity; but by an overdone crusade
on this point he afterwards was immensely
benefited by it.
But the day for exciting the people
about any such matter as this is gone
gone-probably never to return. Even
then there was apparent in the public tenn
per an inclination to applaud and approve
bold and determined man, although his
acts might be of doubtful expediency, and
dangerous as presidents.
The public mind of this country is COM
p!ctely changed since 1900. Then almost
every one knew something Of our form of
governmcnt-how it was conserved and
shielded by checks and balances IN It's
various departments-and how the States
were assured from encroachment by their
coustitutionally reserved rights. And can
didates for Office were we'll understood on
these points. But the rapid growth and
power of the Countrywide opulence Of
individuals, through the amazing results Of
speculation and rapidly enhancing values
of property-have inspired love of gain
that has monopolized the studies, the en-
terprises, and aspirations Of the people
Especially ofthe Nortb), and deadened
their sensibilities to the more sacred and
solemn concerns of life-especially to the
preservation Of official integrity and honor,
and maintaining the simple and faithful
administration of the Government as the
only security for personal liberty and do.
motto ppace .... ...A