Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-14

the laws. According to what laws? Is it
TIE SUBJECT, according to the law of each
senator's Judgment, enacted in his own
b b1som, after the alleged commission of fhs
ouense! 10 what absurd violation of the
rlghts OF tne citizen would this theory lead
us? For my own part cannot consent to
90 b. yond the worst British Parliamenis in
tne time of the Plantagenetss In efforts to
repress the freedom of speech. The eleI-
enth article contains no matter not al
r: dy included In one or more of the
preceding article, except the allegation Ct
an intent to prevent the execution of the
act of March 2. 1867, for the more efficieft
government of the rebel States. Concert
ing this telegraphie dispatch. from Gov.
Parsons, of Alabama, and the reply of the
President thereto each dated in January
preceding the passage of the law, appears
TO be the only evidence adduced. These
dispatches are as follows:
MONTGOMERY, ALA, Jan. IL, 1867.
Legislature in session. Efforts making
to reconsider vote on constitutional amend
ment. Report from Washington SAYS it is
probable an enabling act will pass. We do
not know what to believe. lind nothing
here. LEWIS u. PARSONS,
..,.s - Exchange Hotel.
His EXcellancy
ANDREW JOHNSON, President.
1uc TtspOuSe Is ..-----r
UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH}
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. G., Jan. IL, 1867.
What possible good can be, obtained by
reconsidering the constitutional amend
ment? know of none in the present pos
ture of affairs, and l do not believe the
people of the whole country will sustain
any set of individuals in attempts to change
the whole character of our Government by T
linn atc or / nn
the contrary, that they will eventually up
hold all who have patriotism and courage
to stand by the Constitution, and who
place their confidence in the people. There 2
should be no faltering on the part of those
who are honest in their determination to q
sustain the several coordinate DEPART
ments of the Government, In accordance d
with its original design. iiu7THa1 ;ef- ~
ANDREW JOHNSON q
Hon. LEWIS e. PARSONS, r. 81 10 f~--T
Montgomery, Alabama. 90
/ am wholly unable, from these dispatch
es, to deduce any criminal intent. They
manifest diversity of political views be-
tween the President and Congress. The
case contains ample evidence outside of
these dispatches of that diversity ofopir-
ton. l do not perceive that these dis
patches change the nature of that well
known and in my opinion much to be de-
plored diversity. I have thus as briefly as
have expressed no views upon any of the
questions upon which the President has
been arraigned at the bar of public opinion
outside of the charges. L have no right to
travel outside of the record. Mr.. Johnson's
character as statesman, his re-
lations to political parties, his con-
duct as citizen, his efforts at
reconstruction, the exercise of his par
doning power, the character of his appoint
ments and the influences under which they
were made are not before US on any
charges and are not impugned by any tes-
timony. Nor can suffer my Judgment
OF the law governing this case to be inf1u-
enced by political Considerations. / cam
not agree to destroy the harmonious work.
ing of the constitution for the sake of get
ting rid of an unacceptable President
Whatever may be my opinion of the in
eumbent / cannot consent to trifie with
the high office he holds. I can do nothing
which, by implication, may be construed
into an approval of impeachment as part
of future political machinery. However
widely, therefore, L may differ with
the President respecting his politi-
cal views and measures, and how
ever deeply have regretted and do regret
the differences between himself and the
Congress of the United States, am not
able to record my vote that he is guilty of
high crimes and misdemeanors by reason
of those differences. l am acting in ju-
dicial capacity, under conditions whose
binding obligations can hardly be exceed
e !, and l must act according to the best of
my ability and Judgment, and as they re-
qpire. IT. according to their dictates, the
President is guilty, must say so; if, ac-
c"rding to their dictates, the President Is
not guilty, s'must'' say so. In my opin-
ion. the President has not been guilty of an
impeachable offense by reason of anything
alleged in either of the acticles preferred
against him at the bar of the Senate by the
House of Representatives. .,latsf