The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-02-27
The stanton-.Johnson Imbro-
Clio.

rhe Stanton-.Jo hnson Imbro-
Clio.
The quarrel between A. johnson
and Secretary Stanton reached a eli.
max on Saturday, by the arrest and
putting under bail of poor old Lo-
rcnzo Thomas, Adiutant General,
whom johnson had unlawfally APP
pointed Secretary Of War od interim,
aud who, doubtless. under the in
structions Of the White House trait |
or, began his inglorious career in the
cabinet line by the most atrocious
contempt of the highest judicial tri-
bunal in the District Of Columbia
When man commences to do a
mean thing in mean way he usual
" comes to grief. Poor old Loren
20 Thomas thought he would get in
to the Cabinet By the back stairs,
and in violation Of the law Of Con-
gress, and as a consequence was
brought up as a malefactor.
The next we hear in this A. John
SON plot to override the law and de-
stroy the liberties of the people is
that Ne talks of declaring martial
law in the District of Columbia =
Martial law indeed. There is no
armed force ebstructing the opera
tons of the civil law in any particu-
lar whatever, in that District. No
body has heard Of mob, let alone
any the least organized force in hos
tility to the laws. There is no moro
necessity for martial law in tho Dis
trict of Columbia than there is in
Ottumwa. 1t is only A. johnson
and his bad advisers who are in hos
tility to the law. For him to declare
martial law is simply to nsurp the
powers of the government and unlaw.
fully, outrageously, and feloniously to
make himself military dictator.
The telegraph and thenews-papera
have spoken Of this difficulty as the
g Stanton-J ohnson Imbroglio. !" For
ordinary purposes of intelligence
this is well enough. But it is in
reality much more than this. Mr.
stanton represents the law. lie
stands as the defender Of the consti'
tuition. To uphold the one and pro
tect tho other from violation by the
executive .usurper, he maintains 9
position exceedingly distastefnl to
him. He is sustained and must be
sustained because he is thus the repre-
sentative Of the law and Of the con
stitution.
Moreover, he stands also peculiarly
as the representative of the people
Of this Republic. Hestands between
them and anarchy. In representing
the law and the constitution, HI
stands also as the representative o
:. the majesty Of the people. This wal
very clearly and pointedly, put BY
General Grant in his famous private
letter to the President and it is
fact Of the greatest Importance.
The quarrel, therefore, between Mr.
johnson and Mr.. Stanton, is no mere
personal quarrel between politicians
1t ia al, affair Of national Importance
It is q matter in which all the peopf
are interested. 1t is an issue upol
the decision OF which vast interest
depend. IfMr. johnson shall SUI
coed, then usurpation will havc Fri
umphed. and the Republic will hay
virtually been destroyed. Hence tn
progress Of this quarrel will be watcf
ed with the most intense interest b
the people everywhere. Neantim
we can but observe that hadimpeacl
ment been voted by the House som
time ago, as it ought to have beer
the danger now threatening tn
country would not be casting II
dark and dreadful shadow over tn
land.