The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-03-26
For the Jefer.oniap.
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson,
and the bowling of the Democracy.

For the Jefersonian.
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson,
and the bowling of the Democracy.
The greatest desire of an innocent man
accused of crime, should be to have a
fair, impartial trial by Jury. This must
be evident to the mind of every thinking
man, for if he be innocent the accusations
aud SANDERS of his accuscrs will recoil
upon themselves, and the fact that his
Innocence and purity are certified by a
body of men, sworn to pronounce just
sentence upon the accusations brought
against him, will make him appear doubly
innocent and pure in the eyes Of the
world.
Now, Andrew Johnson is accused of
certain "high crimes aud misdeneanors -
which, if true, the most radical Democrat
in the land will admit, are sufficient to
warrant his impeachment.
But, say they, these accusations are not
true. Then why howl so about this trial
of Andrew johnson? 1t is the only pos.
sible thing that can free him from Sian
der, and establish him again in the opin
ion of the great majority of the American
People, if he be innocent; and if he be
guilty, it is the only manner in which he
can be punished.
The Democracy, therefore, believing
him innocent, should desire to prove his
innocence, when he is thus assailed, and
should therefore be the most jealous ad.
vocates for his trial.
But they are not and the question nat
urslly arises, why are they not! Simply
because they know he is not innocent, but
guilty, and they know Furthermore that
his impeachment might involve some of
them, and expose the baseness and rot
tsnness Of their party. Their own ac
tions then prove their falsene.s
We see some Of them shake their heads
omniously, and, would be, prophetically
and say, You are establishing danger
Gus precedent when you impeach Andr, "
johnson, President of tic United States. -
And why, we ask, are we establishing 4
precedent? Is Andrew johnson norc
than auy other man. that his crimes shall
go unpunished, when others must suffer
the penalty of theirs? Because he il
President Of the United States can he
take advantage of his position to commit
unlawful acts with impunity! just as well
might they say to the Judge or Jury in our
criminal court, 4" You arc establishing X
dangerous precedent when you convict
that man of theft and punish him for the
crime" But we ask, what are our courts,
our jails, our prisons. and our peniten-
tiaries for, and what is the use iu havin.
law. if its proper application will not send
those who are deserving to these places
OF punishment? Why was provision ever
made for the Impeachment of Pres
dent, if it is establishing a dangerous pre-
cedent to carry it out?
Iustead of its being a dangerous pre-
ccdent. it is just the precedent we wan
to establish; aud il it had been establish d
sooner Andrew johnson would hardi,
now be arraigued before the Senate Of
the United States, for committing high
crimes and misdeneaBors
Furture Presidents and officer. in high
places, will see from this, that the people
will not be trsmpled upon, but will seek
redress for wrongs and insults to them
selves aud the government, even though
it be 10y the impeachment and removal
from office Of their Chief Magistrate.
r.