National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-28
Impeachment OF the President.

stepped outside OF the bounds with
in which he has heretofore kept his
opposition to Congress andthe will
Of tie people, and his contempt for
the laws of the land, and has COM
,mitted an act which no soplfistry !
can palliate, OF false coloring change |
into anything but direct, willfnl
and fragrant violation of the laws.
The = ashineton dispatches which
we publish elsewhere, will give our
readers an Insight into Mr.. Johnson's
coup d etot for cjecting Sec. Stanton
from the War Department., in de
.fasce Of the Tenure of Office act,
which provides that no Cabinet Off
Ger shah lie removed before the cx.
piration of his term OF Office, except
|s3y and with the consent of the
Senate" This last act Of JOhnson's
caps the climax Of his culpability
and places him so clearly before the
country as corrupt demagogue,
a bold usurpcr, and an unscrupulcus
partizan. that forbcarance on the
part Of Congress ceases to be 4 virtue.
We are glad to seethst Congress does
not shrink from meeting tie crisis,
but takes up the responsibility which
devolves upon it with a steadtast
purpose to maintain the dignity
of the laws, and the authority Of
che Legislative department Of the
government.
This last act VIC have said caps
the climax Of Mr.. Johnson's offences,
aud lei us briefly glance al what
has been bis course since the hand
Of an ASSASSIN placed him in the
White House. He was strong and
bitter in his denunciation Of rebels
and traitors, and loud in his pro
1estations of devotion to the inter
ests of the people who had fought
the war through, But now lit
chnugcs his course, gathers about
ii traitors and rebels whose hauGs
yet red with the blood Of loya
:; en-, and throwing himself into th'
breach attempts to shield the Ieb
els from the authority Of Congress
and usurp the authority of thai
body in demonstrating the southern
states, and appoints to office mel
who cannot take the oath rcquireI
by law. He gives preference to dis
layalty in appointments to Office
in the gift ofthe Executive, and eS
ercises the pardoning power to sucl
a' extent towards rebels, counter
feiters of the national currency
fo"gers and felons, that it becomes ;
by.wOrG that no man could comm
ap offence against thr Uuited State
which Andrew johnson would no
pardon,provided he supported JOIN
sons policy and had political friend
lie opposes Congress in the passag
of every wholesome act. and veto,
every bill which had for its ohje,
the reconstruction of the south on
loyal basis, and the security Of Il
rights Of all citizens He cayils
the laws openly and cover;ly scei
to prevent their execution he a
tempts . prevent the execution
the military reconstruction acts i
removing true and loyal distri,
commanders, and appointing i
their stead men who will do his biz
ding and work in the interest of I'll
rebels. He then removes true an
tried officer of the government f,
no reason but political animosit
and then when the subject orhis !
lnstateiacnt is before the Senate.
attempts to involve the General
our armies in conspiracy TO pl
vent Congress from carrying o
its Legitimate purposes, and tailil
III this, he next attempts to get ;
officer of lower grade brcvetted
his rank that he may order him
assume the duties Of Gen. Gran
Office. Now he appoints Adjuta
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas as Sccreta
OF War ad la,erim, removing St,
ton without consulting the Sen;
and violating the Tenure of OF
act. What would be the end
such a course &c Mr.. Johnson W
allowed to go on uninterrupted.
would be nothing less than the
Establishment Of q dictatorship, t
first principle of which would
"Andrew Johnson's will is law"
Congress has been obliged
watch MIR. johnson closely, and
prive him, MS much as possible,
the power of doing mischief, in {
der to prevent his running the cou
try; and no other people on ear
would snmbmit to half the impo
ton which the people Of the u.
have submitted TO while johnson |,