Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-03-24


r CONNIE n ded. -
The Journal Is gracious to President
Johnson. It says that his "behayipr since
the commencement these grave proceed
ings (Impeachment) has been in the main
commendable." President JOHNSON will
feel, no doubt, infinitely better when he
learns that the Journal commends his con-
duct. While it is true that President
JoHNsoN's conduct has been, sin the main,
commendable since the Inauguration of
Impeachment, it is equally true that the
conduct of the conspirators against him has
not been commendable. Their whole proa
ceeding, from the beginning until this time,
has disclosed hate and unworthy partisan!
ism. The more this Impeachment farce is
considered, the more Objectionable it, must
appear. Itisnot contended, seriously, In any
quarter, that the President has been guilty
of violation of the Constitution THAD-
DEUS STEVENS has declared over his own
signature, that all so-called Reconstruction
legislation has been outside.of and in vio-
lation of the Constitution; that if tried by
that instrument, it would be found to be
"usurpation." 1t is because President JOHN
SON has not been a willing party to this in
iquitous usurpation that he Is put on
trial for Impeachme mt.
The war in the outset was avowedly
prosecuted to maintain the Constitution
inviolate, as by its maintenance the pres
ervation of the Union would be assured. In
8 lpport of this avowal, thousands of brave
lives were offered up willing sacrifice,
and millions of treasure were cheerfully
given The war was invested with holy
charm in consequence of its alleged devo-
tion to the Constitution and the Union
Now, grave Senators sit as jurors In the
Senate of the United States to try ANDREW
JOHNSON, President of the United States
on the accusation of Radical members in
the House of Representatives, for "high
crimes and misdeameanors," because of q
too faithful devotion to the Constitution OF
the United States. The prime leader in
this Impeachment movement-he who
lashed and whipped the timid and hesita-
ting into voting articles of Impeachment-
is the open, undisguised advocate Of sub
ordinating everything to the perpetuation
of the Republican party in power
Constitution, Union, and the welfare of the
the country. For being an obstacle
in the way of the complete subversion OF
the Constitution, President johnson Is to be
removed. He knows this. He may have
doubts as to bis removal, though we think
he cannot have any. Knowing this, it is
remarkable that he has demeaned himself
SO quietly and forbearingly. Why should
he dc; otherwise z The people look on with
seeming Indifference. They have seen
usurpation after usurpation perpetrated,
and they have not moved muscle. Dur
ing the war they were told the lie, and they
appeared to believe it, that in order to save
the Constitution, and with it the Union, 1t
was necessary to break the Constitution in
some particulars, just as at times it is
necessary for the surgeon to amputate a
limb to save life. Those violations have
led to our present troubles. They
have furnished a precedent which STEVENS
& Co. are using as authority for their usur-
pations. A bolder man than ANDREW
JOHNSON in the Presidential Chair would
not quietly submit to be tried by a body
of usnrpers for undertaking to conduct
his Administration in conformity with the
Constitution Of the United States. At all
events, he would not suffer himself to be
President JOHNSON has conducted himself
with special reference to the preservation
of the peace of the country, he is en-
titled to the thanks of every lover of
peace and order