Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-27
Impeachment.

Although the final vote on Impeachment
was not to be taken until yesterday, the
probability that the President will be ac-
quilted on all the articles, is so great as t.
be almost certainty-near enough 50, at
least. 70 warrant in considering that re-
suit, and its effect both upon the party and
tho country.
If impeachment Ind not, through the ill
Judged zeal Of mlny papers, and the inju
dicious party pressure Of many ofits friends,
taken, 50 far rs the public IS concerned,
somewhat the character Of party mea
sure, the fact that it has resulted in an ac-
quittal need excite little comment. The
Presidents escape from conviction gives him
no strength he had not before as executive,
and doe. not weaken the Republican party
unless the party chooses to be demoralizcd at
the result. The acquittal decides only that
the President was not guilty - in manner
AMI form as the lawyoro would say %
charged in the articles of Impeachment As
the first eight articles Of impeachment, and
the eleventh. are the only ones upon which,
since the DonncIIy- Washburn disgraceful af-
fair in the House, anybody has expected a
conviction, a decision that Mr.. Johnson. is
not guilty as charged in those articles is only
n decision that the tenure-of-ofhce act did not
cover Mr.. StantOn's ease. Ii is not dc
claration that the law is unconstitutional or
inexpedient, but only that it does not pro-
tect Mr. Stanton The law is in force, and
has the same restraining effect upon the
Hoc. or f1
settles nothing except that Mr.. johnson is to
remain in Office instead Of giving place to
Mr. Wade. The Republicans have the same
majority in the Senate and the House as
heretofore. Gen. Grant is still at the head
Of the armies, Secretary Stanton is still in
the War Office. where he will undoubtedly
remain until the President shall nominate a
successor acceptable to the Senate. No
principle Of the party has been overthrown,
for Impeachment, however much the New
York Tribune endeavored to make it so, was
not party measure, but solemn trial into
which politics should not have entered.
This endeavor to get rid of a President,
who is, certainly, politically as bad rs he
can be, has, 1t is true, unfortunately failed.
1t is not pleasant TO contemplate the neces-
sIty of enduring Andrew johnson until the
4th of March next, when if two-thirds OF
the Senators under the solemn requirements
of their oaths could have voted for conviction
man would have been put into Mr. John
sons place who would have been truer to
freedom than this Tennessee Moses IL
is somewhat difficult To separate what ives
tern paper calls Johnson's . general cussed-
ness" from the charges upon which he was
impeached, and that . general cussedncss,
led all friends of freedom TO hope that the
political renegade had, at last committed a
crime, as well as gone wrong in his poll
tics, and that for this offense against the
law. he could be lawfully removed. There
is therefore feeling of disappointment that
the Senate, which has given him fair and
impartial trial, could not find verdict in
agreement with their wishes, a feeling some
thing like that after party defeat in an
election. But the party Is not to be demon
allied by the result, nor is it to lose any
faith in the continued triumph ofRepublican
principles. IL has lost no ground but
rather, had it no. been for the partisan
clamor Of such papers as the Tribune, it
would have gained the reputation of being
Just, through it's senators sitting as Judges in
ncquitting one arraigned a. a criminal at its
bar in spite of its political preferences OF
prejudices. If the party doe. not make the
mistake of keeping alive the dead issue of i'm
parchment, we believe it will 90 into the
presidential campaign stronger instead o
weaker for this result. But in order to
bring this coed out of seeming evil, Repub-
1icans must accept impeachment, it Dug h
to have been everywhere understood from
the outset, as judicial proceeding, and not
political campaign. We have been heater
In q law suit, but we have suffered no other
loss
We have no disposition to join in any out
cry against the Republican Senators whc
voted for acquittal Until they are prove'
to have been bribed-which we DO not be
lieve can be proved-or to have deserted the
principles of the party, we cannot condemn
them; and if it is shown that they acted
political consideration in their vote, we shall
be ready to denounce them, as we are ever
Ready to denounce all official misconduct.
If impeachment has failed, there is yet tn
ballot-box left for us to try. In the coming
political campaign, the principles of thu
party to be maintained, and sound anC
judicious men are to be put in office. Their,
will be work enough between this and No
vember for every Republican in the country
No candidate will walk over the course. 4
President VINO Is obnoxious politically can b.
got rid of by votes and that forum il, ac
cording to our constitution, the true one il
which TO try political offenders. 1t is in tn,
power of the people TO put in Mr.. Johnson
place Gen. Grant, who is the peoples choice
as Mr.. Wade was not, and when Grant is in
augurated the country viii again be a
peace In the meantime let every Republ
can stand steadily in the ranks, surrenderin
neither TO johnson, nor TO the Democrats
nor to any discouragements. Let those who
expected office under Wade wait. Let tn
democrats enjoy their brief e1ultation. Thei
party has gained no recruits, and their jubi
latiOn will be short-lived They have got t.
carry johnson ten months yet, and that is
load which will crush any party. We are
sure of victory in November, if we do no
throw 1t away by our own contentious owe
matters Of no consequence.
An END OF IHPEACHNENT.-The later dis
patches from Washington state that on Tues
day the Senate met at the appointed hour