New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-09

permitted him to "cOnstrue" them, TO decide
upon their constitutionality," to execute them
as he pleased, to govern according to his "intent,"
and not according to the law. He speedily
mounted the throne in the name Of Liberty
and manacled France in the interest OF the Re-
public
Therefore il is the wsest and most intrepid
craftsmanship to end this contest now. IL we
adjourn it, or make compromise OF sur
render, we are undone. Let Republican
Senators permit the President to DEFY OF
evade the law with impunity, and the
Senate may as well furl the flag that floats
over the Capitol and depart forever from
its halls. If President may doubt one law,
he may doubt all laws, and government be-
comes the expression of his gracious pleas
IRE. The Supreme Court would be
reed in the storm, bank of sand, breast
work of snow. 1t would perish before his first
breath and with the execution of its DEGREES
left to his untrammeled pleasure, their DEGREES
would be so much rhetoric. The Law ls silent
when the sword is held by an unchecked hand.
The Courts are only strong when the Legisla-
ture can compel the Executive to obey their
mandates. Call these branches coordinate, II
you please. The people are sovereign, and the
people speak through their representatives.
Remember, we are dealing with man who does
not recognize these men as representatives. Mr.
Nelson tells us he doubts if Congress is really
Congress. It exists by Mr.. Johnson's cOmpla-
cency, his sufferance his mercy. Acquit him,
and the Senate and House which have so long
been changing upon the verge of the Govern
"mentn may tomorrow be hurled into chaos
W e;s hot ia
course, no compromise, no possible surrender!
Andrew Johnson is either Criminal or he
is King. You must either drive him from
power or he stands clothed with all the attri-
butes of Royalty. Fail to remove him now,
by the gentle process of law, your next at
tempt will be a revolution. Instead OF Mr..
Chase as Justice presiding, we may
have a General commanding. A man who has
driven this country into evey conceivable agony
and tumult needs only the approval of Con-
gress to drive it into a war. Remember, all he
has done has been under the menace OF. I'm
parchment. Dissolve that menace, and what
may Gomez Look at him, we are told ! He IS
nothing but quiet, placid, innocent, extremely
constitutional gentleman. Would he hurt any
bodyi Senators, go back to the fairy tales OF
your childhood, and think how Snbad was
once induced to take an innocent old gentle
man upon his shoulders; or, passing to nobler
illustration remember that this man in the
White House is the incarnation of Treason
and Slavery and these Democratic voices are
but the prayer of the bailled Rebellion.
You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house you take my life
when you do take the means whereby live.
1t is therefore impossible to escape I'M
parchment The Senate must convict Mr.. John
son. or assume the responsibility of his sue
ceedng policy, and share with him the odium
of his past career. The Republican Senators
have voted hundred times that the
President is an enemy OF the country
ANY Republican vote now but one OF lmpeach-
ment is therefore lie. If it is we'll to sustain
Mr.. johnson, then all the votes against him
have been partisan and factous. 1t is cowardly
10 claim an additional responsibility of an
oath If the new oath compels a Senator
to change his mind, then every vote
under the official oath is perjury.
We could wish n unanimous vote on
Impeachment but the partisanship OF the Dem
ocrats forbids this. So 1t becomes the high and
solemn mission of the Republican party. We
accept it, justas we accepted the War, and Eman
Cipation as q consequence of war. We did not
hesitate to march million Of white men
into the valley of DEATH and to lift four millions
Of black men out of the darkness of Slavery.
We shall not hesitate to drive an infamous
ruler from power. impeachment is loyalty,
patriotism, craftsmanship. The Republican who
votes against it seeks a lot with the men
who have waucd and plotted for the destruc-
ton of the Republic