Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-24
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.
An Attempt 10 ImP'saeh Presideni
WashfngiOn-InadeI ln His Cabi-
-, Tho EBeoDIe Take Alarm.

Cbie5 Magistrate of the Union, and to
hiring about complication ofpublic affairs,
sucb "a would render il safe for the doml-
nant party in Congress TO depose the Presl-
dent for political reasons (atlhOugh carried
further. is not without parallel in our
history.
In i7Q5 an attempt was made 10 destroy
Tho character of President Washington,
with an intention, had it succeeded to I'M
peach him. The parties combined to ac-
complish these objects consisted OIL
/. The opponents Of the Funding Scheme
of Alexander Hamilton.
ii. The partisans Of the French Direc-
tory.
III. The opponents of the Excise
Law.
This combination assailed Washington
with a bitterness and yigof never since
aurnassed in this country. The vials Of
party wrath were poured out against him
through a malignant press. We are told
by Chief Justice Marshall
"His military and political character
was attacked with equal violence, and 1t was
averred that he was totally destitute OF
merit. either as a soldier OF statesman.
The calumnies with which he was assailed
were not confined TO his public conduct;
even his qualities as a man were the sub
iects of detraction. That he had violated
the Constitution 40 negotiating a treaty
without the previous advice OF the senate,
and in embracing in that treaty suoJecis
belonging exclusively TO the Legislature
was openly maintained, for which an I'M
parchment was publicly suggested ana
that he had drawn from the treasury, LOT
his private use, more than the salary an
nexed 10 his Office, was asserted without
blush. The last allegation was SAID to be
supported by extracts from the Treasury
accounts. which had been laid before the
Legislature, and was maintained with the
most perseyering effrontery."
In addition 20 the insurrection IN the
western counties Of Pennsylvania, which
Washington believed 10 have been To-
mented by the seli-created societies VINO
were Iaboring 20 effect some revolution m
the Government the President was en-
barrassed by divisions and dissensions IN
his Cabinet and want Of hdellty on the
nart of some members Of the Cabinet, and
was also confronted by serious dispute
with the House of Representatives, arising
ont of his refusal to comply with resolu-
ton of the House requesting the President
"a Law before il the instructions, correspon-
dence. and other documents relative to the
treaty with Great Britain negotiated by
Mr.. Jay. His biographer, Washington
Irving, says:
"Washington, believing that these pa
pers could not be constitutionally demanded
resolved from the first moment and from
the fullest conviction of his mind, TO re-
sist the principle which was evidently IN
tended TO be established by the call of the
House he only deliberated on the manner
in which this could be done with the least
bad consequences"
Washington, in his answer, after obsery-
ing that 10 admit the demand would es-
tablish dangerous precedent concluded
nv declaring "that il was essential 10 the
due administration Of the Government that
the boundaries, fixed by the Constitution
between the different departments, should
be observed, and Just regard to the Con-
stitution and to the duty of his office forbid
a compliance with the request.
This decided answer subjected President
Washington 10 numerous misrepresenta-
tons and fabrications, which, says Mar
shall. "were with unKesried industry
pressed upon the public in order 10 with
draw the confidence Of the nation from its
ohiefn Amid all these difficulties Presi-
dent Washington pursued the even tenor
Of his way, but that his magnanimous
heart received deep wound from these
prosecutions and misrepresentation there
is ample evidence in his letters.
To Jefferson. he writes, until within the
last year or two had no conception that
parties would or ever could go the length
/ have been witness TO; nor did | believe
until lately that il was within the bounds
of probability, hardly within those Of pos
sibility, that while was using my utmost
exertiona 10 establish national character
of our own, and wished by steering a steady
course 10 preserve this country from the
throes Of desolating war, / should be &C
cused Of being the enemy of one nation
and subject to the influence of another;
and 10 prove il that every act of my adj
ministration would be tortured, and the |
rrossest and most insidious misrepresenta- |
ton Of them be made, by giving one side |
Of subject, and that too in such eXegger-
ated and indecent terms az could scarcely
be applied TO a Mere, a notorious deiaulter,
or even 10 a common pickpocket."
Again we are informed that, when the
M;nis,er az the French Republic Get the
acts of the United States government st
defiance and threatened the Executive with !
an appeal to the people, and the latter, |
the indignity thus offered |
10 their Chief Magistrate. sided with the |
ageressors and exulted in their open def |
ance Of his national policy, he became |
weary and impatient and being handed |
one OF these scandalOus hbels in circulation |
called "The Funeral Of George Washing |
ton" wherein the President was repre- |
sented a. placed upon guillotine, q horrl- |
HE parody on the late deoapltanon Of the |
French King, "burst FORTH writes Jeiier- |
son Unto one Of those transports OF pas |
sion beyond his control; inyeighed |
AGAINST the personal abuse which had |
bsen bestowed upon him, and de |
6ea snv man on earth 10 produce a single |
sct of bis since he had been in this gov
srnment which had not been done in the /
unrest Of motives. He had never repenled /
I'M once having slipped the moment of
hasinp resigned his Office, and that was
every moment since. ln the agony OF has
heart he declared that he had rather be IN
bis grave than in his present situation
.hat he had rather be on his farm than TO
u made Emperor Of the world, and yet
ala he, indignantly, they are charging me
Titb wanting 10 be King. From Ran
,olnh Secretary Of State, he demanded m
,xnlanation of bis statements to the French
Minister. contained in an intercepted dis
,a,ch of the latter to his governmen9
which reflected on the purity Of conduct as
veil as fidelity OF the Secretary TO has So
,erior. The explanation was promised,
md Mr.. Randolph resigned on Che spot.
The country finally took the alarm and
anne 10 the defense Of The President. The ]
General Assembly Of Maryland passed q
resolution to the following Ell