The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-02-27

NOuiO NiSA w Nheh6Os Sbduu
here, however, to-day, filled with
tho conviction that the President
ofthe United States has dehber-
ately, and defantly, and criminally
violated the Constitution, his oath
Of Office, and the statutes of the
country. ,
Mr.. Bingham went on to argue
the question Of law involved in
the matter, and to show that the
President himself had virtually
admitted the constitutionaiity Of
tho Tenure-ot,ofiice Law BY exer-
cising the power of suspension, and
sending his reasons therefor to tho
Senate, for which he had no au.
thority except by that law. The
gentleman from New York Mr..
Drooks1 had warned them TO be-
ware of whatp Beware Of render.
ing a faithful obedience to their
oatbs as Representatives. To be-
ware Of taking steps authorized
by the Constitution TO put this
usurpcr ofauthority on trial before
the only tribunal on earth author.
lied to try him for the crimes charg,
ed? Did not the gentleman know
that it is written in the Constitu-
tion that tho President and the
Vice President, and every other
civil officer Of the United States
shall bo removed from Office on
impeach ment for and conviction of
high crimes and misdemcanors?
Did he not know that ii Is written
in the same Constitution, that the
representatives of the people sh all
have the sole power of impeach-
ment, that it has no divided pow.
or? Did he not know that it is
written in the Constitution that
tho Senate shall have the sole pow
or to try impeachment? And yet
tho gentlemen told them to bc-
ware-to beware of putting the
President on trial. He Bingham I
undertook to say there was enough
in tho correspondence submitted
yesterday to justify the House in
drawing the inferepce that the
President is by his act guilty of
another crime, undor another act of
Congress, additional to the act Of
1867, which makes it high crime
punishable by fine and imprison-
ment for any person by force,
threat, or intimidation, to attempt
to prevent any person exercising
the functions of an Office under the
Government of the Unitod States.
Ho undertook to say that on q
full investigation of the case, the
President would be found guilty of
attempting, by threat and by in.
timidation, if not BY force, to pre-
vent tho Secretary OF War excrcis.
ing the duties Of the Office 10 which
he had been assigned by tho sol.
emn judgment OF tho Senate. 1t
panied him tomako such an utter
ance. Ifhe had had any control
over the President he would have
prevented him from uttering such
words as those which he had ut.
tered to his Adjutant General, who
had appeared 10. day in person at
the War Office, demanding the sur
render of the Office and notifying
the Secretary OF War that he would
rot obey his orders or recognize
him us Secretary OF War, and that
hc would take possession of the
mails for tho Department of War,
and all by order of the President.
There was evidence enough to
satisfy him that tho President OF
tho United States was 30 bent on
his own destruction or on tho do.
struction Of the Republic, that he
was capable of running to any ex.
trcme of madness. Ho proposed
to curb him, not in tho spirit of a
partizan, but in the spirit OF q rep.
resentativo of tho pooplc, acting
under the obligations OF his oath
No one would rejoice moro than
himself TO know that wh3n the
case should have boon presented Ia
tho Senate, as high court of i'm.
parchment, II should become clear
to tho satisfaction of that body
that tho President had only erred
in judgment, and had not intended
to offend the Constitution, defy the
Congress or to sot aside tho su,
prcmacy Of tho laws.
He would rejoice at his acquit
tai, rot only for his own sake
but for tho sake OF tho Constitu
ton of tho country; but in the
light of what tho President had
already declared and put on record
no Blngham was forced to the
conclusion that he meant nothing
else than 10 defy tho power
of Congress, and say to Con
gress, Whatever laws you have
passed, or whatever laws you may
pass, l will disregard them when
ever in my own Judgment 1 deem
them not in accordance with, ol
not ia pursuance of tho Constitu
ton Of the United States, ane
lot you do your worst. That wat
the Presid ent's position, and hav
ing taken it, no Biugham] propos
cd to have him put on trial, Tht
gentleman, Brooks] ho continued
talks about liberty. 1t is as dear t,
mo and mine as it CAP be TO the gen
tlcman or his, l stand hero to-day
for that liberty which is regulated
by law, that liberty which belongs
alike to us all, which is not the ex
1 elusive prcrogativo Of those who
hold high official stations. Thai
lawlcss liberty, tho liberty which
the kite shows to the dove, which
the wolf shows IN the lamb I will