The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-03-20

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and earnest in its Investigations; it
brings to the decision of these great
questions the most calm deliberatiOn,
searching examination and thought
full research. A tribunal so high, so
full ofintegrity, so independent, should
command public confidence and exact
willing obedience to its awards.
It's the handspring ofthe complex ma
chinery that protects our liberties, the
very vital essence of a government of
law. To its decisions all will submit.
Impeachment will return to plague
its inventors, it will recoil with tre-
menInus force upon its originators.-
1t should do 50, for an appeal to such
q tribunal is the right and the privilege
governed and ruler of the humblest
~ as well as Of the President.
No 900 eF second thought" Of the
roonlo tho An. >nciai and S"siness in
terests of the nation, viii unite in c2n'
demnation of this effort ~ impeach
and remove the President for All ap-
peal to law.
In 1888 and 1884 questions OF this
character agitated and cOnvulsed the
contrary, a struggle that seemed TO
rock the nation TO its very centre was
initiated between Jackson, the Presi-
dent, and Congress, upon the question
of rechartering the United States Bank
and removing the deposits.
The Senate of the United States but
a day or two since adopted a resolu-
ton denunciatory of the President and
asserting that his removal of Stanton
was in derogation of the Constitution
and laws so, too, on the 28th day of
March, 1884, the Senate of the United
States,
"ResoJced, That the President in the
late executive proceedings in relation
to the public revenue has assumed up
on himself authority and power not
conferred by the Constitution and laws,
but in derOgatiOn of both.
This attack upon President Jackson,
it will then be seen, is almost similar
in character to that now made upon
President johnson. WHAT was the re-
suit in 1884? What will be the result
now? Then. the issue was made up
and the President and Congress went
to the people upon it. Intense excite
ment pervaded the whole country, just
as now, you would rouse the peo-
pie by sensation telegrams, lying dis
patches and baseless assertions.
Benton tells of the character of the
excitement in 1884, thus:
'It will be difficult for the people in
after times to realize the degree of eX-
citement, of agitation and commOtiOn,
which was p oduced by this organized
attempt to make panic and Distress
The great cities especially were the
scene of connections but little short OF
frenzy; public meetings of thousands,
| the most infiammatory harangues
cannon firing, great feasts- and the
members of Congress who spoke a
gainst the President were received wher
they travelled with public hOnOrS
like conquering generals returning
from victorious battle fields-met by
masses, saIuted with acclamations, es'
c0rted by professions, and their lodg'
/ ings surrounded by thousands calling
| for view of their persons.
! During all the progress of this proceed
| ing whilea phaIanX oforators and speak
I ers were daily Illuminating against
him-While many hundred newspapers
I incessantIy assaiIed him public meet
| ings were held in all parts, and mer
of all sorts, even beardleSs youths
haranged against him as if he hat
been a Nero while a stream of com
mittees was pouring upon him las they
were called and whom he soon refused
to receive in that character; during
the hundred days that all this was go
ing on and to judge from the impos
ing appearance which the crowd:
made that came to Washington tC
bring up the "distress," and to give
countenance to the Senate, emphasis
to its proceedings, and to fill the daily
gallery, applauding the speakers a
gainst the President; saluting witt
noise and confusion those who spoke
on his side; during all this time, anC
the earth in commotion against him
he was tranquil and quiet, confident
of eventual victory, and fully relying
upon God and the people to set al
right.
Nay, more. An attempt was made tG
asSassinate him at the door of the Cap
itol by a man named Laurence, who
twice attempted to fire upon him, bu
failed. He was arrested and eXamin
ed, but never brought to trial ,and Ben
ton says of the case:
''It is. clearly to be seen from the
medical examination ofthe man, ,thatt the
attempted assassination of the President
was one Of those cases of which history
presents many instances-a diseased
mind acted upon by a general outcry
against public man. Laurence was
in the particular condition to be acted
upon bv what he heard against Gen.
Jackson; workman out of employ
ment, needy, idle, mentally morbid
and without reason to argue regularly
from false premises. He heard the
| DroSidnnt ancnsad of hraakinr nn the