The Portland daily press., 1868-02-26

PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, February 26, 1853.
A BaHied Cousu;rn,or


1.-The government of our fathers" stands
the test. We have constitution that Is good
for any emergency. Usurpers, Rebels and
would-be autocrats do not prosper under It,
but come to grief and dismay before their
plans are fully matured. Rebellion failed to
destroy it. That was test number one, and
perfectly satisfactory. But there was another
| peril through which the country had not
passed-impeachment. Your Radical Con-
gress dare not try that, said the scepties, for
it is measure of such terrible import that it
| will shake the very pillars Of the Republic.
But the inevitable time has come. The body
to which the duty is intrusted by the Consti-
tion has taken the preliminary steps toward
impeachment, and if the life of Thaddeus
Stevens is spared he will stand at the bar of
the Senate and as the agent of the Represen-
tatives of the people impeach Andrew John
sou OF high crimes and misdemeanors. This
is certain. What then ?-Do the Heavens
laH? Not at ALL A score of men assemble
in Philadelphia and pledge themselves to the
support of the President, but when a propo-
sition is made to give effect to these protesta-
tions by appropriate action they separate
in confusion" Brooks threatens the House
with woes innumerable if an attempt is made
to suspend the President during the trial.
Bnt he had first learned that 1t had been
decided not to proceed in that manner
This being the case, the House has MIR.
Brooks gracious permission to go on : he only
requires that they shall not violate any pro-
vision of the constitution, pledging himself
and his associates to non-resistance, is his be-
hests in this respect are observed. -t
Mr.. johnson must be the most thoroughly
disappointed individual on the continent. In
stead of coming promptly to his support, the
Democratic leaders look upon his last freak of
madness with anything but approval. His
continuance in Office was indispensable to the
support of the very slender hope of success in
next falls election which they cherish. They
love him not, but just now he is necessary
tool for them. In his great anxiety to serve
them, he has spoiled all their plans, got him
self impe lched, and suffers all the pains with
out being able to hope for any of the rewards
of inartyrdom. The masses viii not move in
his support. There are runners of detection in
his Cabinet. The Democratic leaders scowl
upon him. Gen. Grant will not obey lis lis lie
gal orders. Gen. Grants subordinates win
obey only those commands which are trans
mitted to them by the General-in-C Chief. The
Navy Department, too, is obedient to law but
insubordinate toward the usurper. The only
naval officer from whom johnson could hope
for any assistance in this emergency has sig
nifed his intention of supporting Congress.
In matter of so much Importance it is i'm
possible to tell, Of course, what may happen
to change the aspect Of affairs, but from all
present appearances it would seem that be-
fore the Ides OF March President Johnson will
cease to occupy his present position, and that
his forced abdication viii be the occasion of
so little regret or sympathy as to render ap-
plicable to him the old rhyme:
Andrew johnson, here he lies; .H
Nobody laughs, nobody cries:
Where he has gone and how he fares,
Nobody knows, and nobody cares