New-York tribune., 1903-07-26

pany.
After the lapse Of thirty-hve years few de
lenders Of the Impeachment Of Andrew Johnson
are TO be found. II was mad outbreak partly
OF Yindcuye bitterness partly Of unreasoning
zeal. The ruling spirits in Congress saw the
President in the exercise of his constitutional
functions thwarting their plans while the popu-
lace behind them, fresh from the struggle of the
Civil War were panic stricken lest undue con
Citation should render their sacrifices vain
in his quarrel with Congress in defence of his
TrerogatVes Johnson was much more nearly
right than his opponents. Nothing but the
storm and stress Of a revolutionary period can
account for the reckless disregard Of the Presi-
dents rights by the radicals and the unscrupu-
lous means taken 10 build up a case against
him and remove him from their path. After
listening with eager ears TO every scandal
nlonger who had tales 10 bear, and carrying
paTLsaEship to the point Of trying 10 prove
Johnson an accessory to the assassination of Lin
coin, his enemies were driven to make their
tight 10 dlsplace him over the removal OF Stan
ton Mr.. De Witt, who Is q strong partisan de-
tencs the Presidents course il this matter with
convincing power. and incidentally paints the
6reat War Secretary as the genius Of duplicity
from the hour before the war, when he Was in
'clandesune Intercourse with the radicals while
taWDing OF Buchanan"
When the Tenure Of Office act was debated in
ihe Senate not even the Presidents enemies pre-
suned TO think Of forcing upon him Cabinet Off
GERS against his viii. AS passed by the Senate.
and for Z long time supported by it in confer
ence Cabinet officers We're excepted from the
provisions Of the biz. Finally at the insstence
Of the House the amendment was accepted pro-
'lding that Cabinet officers should hold during
The term Of the President by whom they had
been appointed and for month thereafter,
rms allowed each President in his term
10 make his own selection, and it was explained
and conceded 10y the opponents Of the President
that as the secretaries of State, War and
Navy had been appointed in President LincoIn's
first term and had simply held over into his
second and on into Johnsons administration,
his power TO remove them was unrestricted
When the Tenure Of Office bill reached the Presi-
dent laid before the. Cabinet and every
member pronounced it unconstitutional, and
according 10 the author, none with more
phasis than the Secretary Of War The point
being mooted, il was taken for granted, without
dissent that neither Stanton nor any other
member appointed 10y Lincoln was within the
bill The President was SO much struck by the
tuu mastery Of the constitutional question dis
played 10y Stanton that ne requested the Secre-
tary Of War TO prepare the veto message. That
officer, pleading physical disability, declined TO
undergo The labor of writing, but declared his
readiness TO aid in the preparation Of the paper.
The message was, II fact composed by Seward
with the assistance Of Stanton" Yet in d few
months Stanton was invoking this law, which
he had declared unconstitutional in general and
lnappLcabIe TO himself in particular, as an aid
70 continuance il office as the confidential ad-
wiser Of a chief whose policy he was doing his
best thwaTt
Mr.. De Witt reviews with minute care The
steps taken on both sides IL the long controversy
leading 10 impeachment including the intrigues
and Investigations undertaken 10 entrap the
President While he notes the defects of John
sons character. he depicts him as an indomita-
hIe nero, steadfastly, though not always wisely,
battling 10 defend the Executive power from
legislative encroachment He follows the trial,
conducted by the managers with such PARTISAN
ship and bitterness, TO its dramatic failure to
convict by one vote, and continues to its end
The story Of this uncOnquerabIe man, who going
out Of office amid almost universal hate and
ridicuIe. fought on single handed until finally
be forced his way into the Senate, where he had
Tor years been denounced Is a criminal and
traitor.
II is easy TO sympathize with the President
.r MS sturdy resistance TO legislative encroach-
Iueut Mr. De Witt asks Us 10 80 further and
approve the Presidents reconstruction policy,
which was the cause Of all the controversy.
He makes the plea at an opportune time, for
Il is much the fashion now 10 speak Of the