Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-01
IMPEACHMENT.

Suppose we undertake, before Its decision
even yet uncertain-to get clear view of
whatthe present timpeachmenttriald distinctly
means 1t is not judicial trial Neither
is it what it is sometimes termed 'Iegisla-
tive trial" 1t is something more than
either Itisa political trial. 1t is trial in
behalf Of the country against an executive
officer on high public grounds To be Just,
to reach proper decision, the question must
be viewed from lofty and comprehensive
standpoint.
The country, represented by the Repub-
lican party-but nevertheless the country
carried on a successful war to put down a
great rebellion. While the contest was yet
waged, the same party was, By the popular
vote, renewedly intrusted with the manage
ment Of affairs for new term of four years
1t supplemented that decision by subse-
quent vote not yet two years old, which re
turned the existing Congress On this basis
We claim that the administration of the
Government, on every American principle,
belongs to the Republican party until the
expiration Of the term for which it was in
trusted with power, to wit: four years from
the last Presidential election, and two years
from the last Congressional election, and
until the country shall change its decision by
reversing its vote
During this term, the Government, and
by the Government we mean two-thirds Of
Congress, which is, and long has been, the
only Government in operation, and which is
made omnipotent by the Constitution; the
Government, we say, has been these three
past years endeayoring to restore the re-
lationships between the States that we're
ruptured by tie war. Ithas been thwarled
in this high purpose Ii tried first to get
the Rebel States back on a most moderate
and reasonable proposition, offered with
special regard to their peculiar circum.
stances, and with desire to allay hostility,
and conciliate prejudice among them This
was to remit those States to the control of
the very men who made the Rebellion, with
comparatively few exceptions, allowing them
to adjust their political relationships with
the now freed eolored race to suit themselves,
on the basis of the single restriction of the
representation to such of the population as
composed the political body A fairer and
more liberal proposition was never offered
to political offenders stained with such crimes
as theirs This, too, was a proposition
offered by a Government flushed with
triumphant success at all points. If it had
been accepted, the Union would have been
restored, and the Government again fully
unified in all its parts and relationships to-
day, The war would have been over, and
restoration and reconstruction would be now
complete,
Who prevented this most reasonable and
most desirable consummatiOn? An acci-
dental President. A man borne into
subordinate place by the sympathies of a
nation for his apparent great loyalty under
trying circumstances; and thence elevated
by the foul instrumentality of an assassin
into the Executive chair. This man, thus
elevated, turned against the party which
chose him; which party is and has been for
the time the nation voice, the nation itself.
At critical period, on a vital issue, Vice
President johnson, made President, planted
himself substantially on the side of the
rebellious States, and deliberately aimed to
arrest and prevent, and, by his personal and
official influence, did actually arrest and
prevent the restoration of the Union, and the
harmonious reconstruction of the States on
the original plan offered by Congress. Look
ing at the fragrant character OF this in
reference, and the disastrous consequences
resulting therefrom, we claim that this act
alone was and is ample to justify his i'm
peaehment and conviction before the world
and before posterity. That retribution has
not sooner threatened the President is to be
set down to the forbearance of the country,
and to the long INDUCED, but to the last
disappointed hope that he would not always
prove an obstruction TO the restoration of
the Union and the peace ofthe country.
As President johnson took sides With the
Rebels in resisting and rejecting the first
and moro moderate scheme of reconstruction