Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-03-04

u 5,
orders Secretary Stanton to deliver ph ysi-
cal possession of the Office Immediately, and
ten. Thomas not only demands possession
without any pretense that he makes the de-
mand as means of appealing to the courts
but he issues orders as Secretary of War;
orders Stanton out of the office, and threat
ems to turn him out at the point of the bay
onet As we have no evidence that Gen.
Thomas Is dishonest, we may safely infer
from his conduct that he did not learn from
the President that his appointment was de-
signed as a means of getting the question
into court until after his arrest, when he
called upon johnson and was so informed,
the case being then already IN court. We
may safely set down the story that John
sons sole object was to test the question in
the courts as a misrepresentation
But it is clear that johnson intended to
get possession of the War Department as
means Of controlling the army. His tenders
Of promotion and command to prominent
military officers like Sherman and Thomas,
who have spurned his offers with such hon
est and patriotic contempt, and his over
lures to minor officers tc ascertain whether
they would put their troops under his or
ders ip defiance of those of Gen Grant, all
know that johnson wanted, not to test the
constitutionallty of the law, but to get con-
troll of the army, or at least considerable
portion of it, to employ it in resistance to
the measures OF Congress and the orders
of Gen. Grant and Secretary Stanton. Find
ing himself foIled In this, he now talks of
testing the constltutionallty of the law. If
he did not know that the tribunal before
which his acts would come for judgement
was the same which passed the law, and
that before such a tribunal he could subject
IF to NO paur taSt ba 6aSaruaS 49,.
for his stupidity.
Were this the first step in the Presi-
dent S career Of official crimes and usurpa-
tions, Congress and the country would have
regarded it with infinite forbearance But
designed as the climax of long series of of
fenses and crimes which he calls his poll
cy, he can claim no such forbearance 1t
was not to test the conStltutiOnalty of any
law that he violated from the outset the act
OF Congress forbiddIng the appointment of
Rebels like Gen. Humphreys and Gov.
Sharkey to office. He did it as clear vio-
lation to law, because he thought the law
unwise. And Congress overlooked his Of
tense. His uSurpation of thelegislative pow
ers OF Congress relative to reconstruction was
serious political crime, but Congress over
looked it in consideration of his known un-
familiarity with all questions of constitu-
power by allowing his signature to be hawk
ed about by harIots, and his abuse of the
appointing power by levying contributions
on his Office holders, have been stencil in
the nostrils of the nation. His use of the
whole patronage and power of the Govern
ment as grand corruption fund, to bribe,
buy, and bully all office holders into the be-
trayal OF the very principles and party he
was himself elected to sustain. revealed
depth of personal depravity unprecedented
in the history of public men in America.
His completely with the Rebels and traitors
In their anti negro riots at Memphis and
New Orleans, rendered him morally respon
sible for scores of innocent lives, and showed
him capable of winking at any efforts to in
augurate war of races. His drunkenness
when taking the inaugural oath, and when
swinging around the circle, condemning him
to everlasting contempt, yet was treated
with apparent forbearance. His treachery
to his oath and constitutional duty in dellb-
erately striking down the most distinguish >
ed heroes Of the war, and our most trusted
civil officers, for their fidelity to the laws,
and their desire to see them faithfully exc
cuted, merited prompt impeachment, con-
viction and removal months ago, but Con-
gress forcbore and condoned these offenses.
At last, however, Andrew johnson, as
sured and self-deceived by this long for
bearance and oft-repeated delay to punish,
assumes q position which would enable him
to revolutionze the Government and make
himself Dictator within twenty days, if
Congress should concede the power he
claims. For if he can remove and appoint
ad interim all the officers, civil and military,
in the country, without asking the consent
OF the Senate, he can remove Grant and ap
point Lee to the command of the army, re-
move every loyal man from every Office in
the country, and appoint only traitors IN
their stead, and thds make himself Dicta-
tor take possession of the Government,
disperse Congress, or commit any other
crime which unlimited power could accom-
plish when allied to boundless treachery and
depravity. No other President has ever
advanced the preposterous claims now put
forward by Mr.. johnson. They are Who'll
ly in violation of law, and at war with con,
stitutional liberty, and the very existence OF
the Government.