Year: 1868




the government. There Is one other 6uty assigned
1t in which the people OF the country feel nearer
and deeper interest II is as the guardians OF the
Dill OF rights OF the constitution, the wakeful pro-
protectors OF the people against the encroach.
ments Of the law and government that the people
and greatest affection; that havin before it


subject touching the liberty OF the citizen finds the
hair strings OF its endeavor and OF its energy to inter-
pose the power of the constitution or protection OF
the citizen cut by the sharp edge Of Congressional
enactment, and In its breast carries away from the
Ii even at some future time and under some happier
circumstances. Now, in reference to this matter the
people of the United States give grave attention;
they exercise their supervision OF the conduct OF ali
their agents OF whom In any form and In any ca.
paclIy and in any majesty tey nave no. ye. learned
nothing in their experience OF the last SIX years
to make them fear anybody's oppression, anybody's
lence anybody's war. Masters OF the country and
master Of every agent and agency in 1t, they bow to
nothing but the constitution, and they honor every
public servant who bows to the constitution. AT the
same tme by the action OF the same Congress, the
people see the President OF the United States brought
the Congress- to be tried by the other, his office, as
have said, to be put In commission and an election
Graered req Now ne greatly mistakes VINO sapposes
to the oce OF President and the great and power
which represents them In their collective capacity,
IN their united power and in their combined inter-
ests, Is less than their attachment TO any OF the
other departments of this government. The Presl-
dent s, in the honor in the custom OF the people, the
homage that respect which belongs to the elective
oee The oath Of office Is as familiar to the people
have heard it during the perilous period
Of war from lips which they revered and
they have seen its immense power under the
resources Of this constitution, and supported by their
fidelity TO maintain the contest OF this government
against all our foes and to sustain the constitution
and laws. 1t has been spoken OF here as II the Prcsi
dents oath was the oath to discharge faithfully the
duties of his office, and If the principal duty OF the
office was to execute the laws OF Congress- but that
is not the Presidents OATH That portion OF It is the
common oath of every body authorized to discharge
5e d Of 6 MS 1o o but e D Of s
portion Of it which makes him the sworn pre-
server. protector and defender Of the constitu.
oath which the people Of the United States have
entrusted to and eXacted from no other pubic ser.
want than the Presdent Of the United states and
duty they understood its tremendous Responsibility
the tremendous opposition which 1t might en-
the suffrage, which had conferred authority and
acted the obligation to maintain him in 1t as
against foreign aggression, as against d.
from whatever quarter under the guise Of Con-
gress or under whatever authority upon the
solemn declaration on which he gained for himself
strength and by which he gave strength to the peo.
pie, 81 have solemn vow registered In heaven that
OF the United States" carried him and carried The
people following him through the struggles, the
changes the vicissitudes OF The rebellion, and that
vow as a legend now adorns the hall of legislation
in more than one State Of the Union. This oath OF
the President, this duty Of the President the
least regard as personal to him, but
it is an oath and a duty assumed
and to be performed as their representative in their
interest and for their honor, and they have deter.
mined and will adhere TO their determination that
that oath shall not be taken In vain They under
stand that the literal phrase to the best OF my
ability" which is the modest form In which the
Presidents obligation is assumed, means not only
the ability Of the President but the ability of the
country, and most magnificent has the people brought
out its resources in aid of that oath Of President Lin
coin and SO when e , shock a comes s not r e oh
between forces OF the government In relation 10
constitutional authority, the people OF the United
fidelity OF watching that all departments Of this gov
ernment obey the constitution as Wen as that he
authority beyond the laws and the constitution but
all the authority and all tile resources OF the laws
and Of the constitution are open to 9im H. and % they
onlce and its duties, shall not take this
maintain him In its performance. That indeed the
constitution is above him, Us 1t is above all OF the
servants of the people, as it is above the people them
sNves, until their sovereignty shall change it they
DO not doubt and thus all their servants, their Pres


dent the &c Congress and a. whoever t ey may p m are
ton TO the Limitation OF the constitution not disput


ing the regularity, the complete authenticity, the
satl0n brought to trial and down to sentence, the
people yet claim the right to see and to know





and followed throughout, which brings the result
whatever II may be. Thus satisfied they adhere TO
fe nq e nc yo naSe nE
omniD0tence; they understand none OF the nonsense
OF the constitution being superior to the laws except
that the laws must be obeyed and the constitution
not They know their government and they mean TO
maintain Il; and when they hear that tire.
aud threatened conviction or sentence-f the laws
and facts will justify itbeen brought into play that
power which had lain In the constitution like sword
In tla haat ia m hey Va tn W
the crime s that the President is accused Of They
understand that treason anf bribery are made
be brought into question and deposed they ready
to believe that there may be other great crimes and
and the %ear OF the sae which y
equally fall within the jurisdiction and the
duty; but they wish to know what the
dent has betrayed liberties possessions to
foreign state; they wish to know whether lie has
delivered up fortress or surrendered State; they
wish to know whether he has made merchandise Of
the public trust or turned authority to private gan
and when informed that none of these things are
charged or even declaimed about, they
yet seek further Information, and they
are told that he has removed member
familiar with the remarks OF members Of the Cabinet
and OF all other persons In authority, mere state
mcnt does not strike them as grave offence need
ing the nterp0slti0n Of the special Jurisdiction. Re-
moval from Office Is not with the people, and espec-
ally with those engaged In politics, aterrible dis
agreeable subject. Indeed 1t may be said that 1t
makes o great part OF the political forces Of this
country that removal from Office Is thing In the
constitution and In the habit OF Its admins
traton remember to have heard II said that an old
lady once summed up an earnest defence OF the Sc
we're dogmas OF Cavfnism by saying that f you took
away ali her total depravlty you took away all her
religion. u.aughter.) And there are q great many
people in this country Of whom II may be said II you
took away removal from Office you took away all
their politics. Q.aughter.) SO that In that mere
statement 1t does not strike them either unprc
cedented occurrence or as one involving no great
danger to the state Well but how comes II 20 be
crneS they inquire. Why, Congress passed law for
the first time In the history OF this govern
ment undertook to control this removal
from Office, and provided tl If the President should
violate it 1t should be crime, or rather misdemea-
nor and high mslemeanor; and that now he has
removed or undertaken to remove member Of his
lie undertook to make an dd Interim Secretary Of
OF War, and you are to have made for you an
ad interim President In consequence. Now,
that seems the situation. Was the Secretary
removedp they inquire. No, we have not removed