Year: 1868

The approaching Close 0fthe Impeach-


neEt


(From Wilkes Spirit Of theTTines April d.


The greatest problem that was ever at
tempted to be worked out by associate
man .israpidly approaching its completion
and but few days elapse before the crown
ing proof viii be given, that the Repub-
lican institutions are equal to any exigency
and the people of this country are
capable OF government. We were the
first to demand vindication of these
truths Of Andrew johnson and we have
steadily insisted that the nation instead
Of shrinking from the ordeal should
have been glad to embrace the opportuni-
ty thus offered confirming our Constitu-
ton with the last baptism of experience
Under the increasing corruption of
politics such a proof had become neces-
sary: aud the illustration with which
this paper continually >urged impeach-
ment was that a people who endured
without civil perturbation the removal of
a universally beloved President by the
assassins knife would endure with much
greater tranquility the expulsion Of "a
generally detested Chief Magistrate
by the law. This maxim made the cir
cult of the country; it prepared the
public mind for the duty of the hour ;
and when impeachment came the people
stamped it with an eager appreciation at
the first popular election. In the same
way viii they endorse the verdict which
is to terminate the trial now pending at
the Capitol The question at stake in
that trial is between the contrasted
systems of imperialism aud democracy.
The naked and immediate issue stripped
Of all verbrage, is whether the President
may execute his veto or execute the law
IF he may execute his veto and set aside
the law, then the last form ofrepublican
freedom has vanished and Andrew John
son the drunken Caligula Of these un-
happy times, is indeed no longer Presi-
dent but King.


1t is surprising that any one native to
this country. however biased he may be
by politics against the objects of the pro-
secution such monstrous principle of
usurpatiou as is set up in this ease: and
utterly amazing that the particular ad-
vocatasof encroachment should be solely of
the democratic party. This puzzling prob
lem can only be resolved by the painiulsup-
position that party spirit, under certain
organization can become capable of en-
genlering ali alliance superior to pat
riotis.r ANA if this is true, we must stamp
the tendency with a crushing reproba-
ton. or resign the republican problem as
a hopeless failure.


The President rot being able to deny
his intractioD Of the law claims the right
to refuse to execute it even though it has
passed over his veto and to defend
himself from punishment for such infiac
ton eailege; thai the law was unconstitu-
tiQnak 3'm2 conclusion va thus drawn tina;
he is s!5t guilty Of the intent to do wron-
which i> neUes: AIRY 10 the commission OF
a crime and consequently not responsi
bic to the process OF impeachment
This is the theory Of monarchy in its
perfection. Il is adopted bodily for the
Presilent's defence from that feature Of
the British constitution which holds the
hing 5 ministers responsible for all his
errors, and which finds its practical en-
bodIulelt IN the maxim that the King
can do 40 wrong.


But esen this arbitrary principle does
lot throw its protection 40 nd Andrew
johnson for the proof bytocs US shows
that though his Cabinet ministers advised
him that the tenure of-oftice law was an
constitutional and should be vetoed, i
also shows that not one of them was reck-
less emo oh to inspire him to disobev it
after it had been repassed by the two
houses TO the obliteration of his veto.
That daring act was the impulse of his
alone, undertaken withoa5 consultation
with his Cabinet, and predicated solely
upon his false calculations of the coward
ice of Dir. Stanton and the Senate. 1t
assumed III essence. that, the Presiden-
tial veto could not be killed even by a
two thirds vote and that when once the
President rejects a law it becomes prac-
tically deld. This is the doctrine which
strangely enough the Senit1rial minority
defend, and which there has been some
apprehension they may be driven to
support, by q strict party vote We
hope for the sake Of the old reputation
of the Democratic party. that this may
not be the case: but that having obtain
ed from Andrew johnson all of party
service that is possible, they may remem-
Der their Senitorllal oaths and legal rep
utations and, by casting theirvotes forhber-
law preserve enough of their old
prestige to 20 ..it. bu3,neas again - some
future day ifnot next November. We
hope indeed, that none but the so-called
Conservatives will strand their souls finally
with Andrew johnson. He corrupted
them and made them what they are
and it's meet that they should leave the
puoiic stage along with him: but it is
not meet that The early elories of the
Democratic party should come to such
miserable end. The minority have done





vote during the progress of the trial to
test the tactics Of opposition and to
make up their programme for the Nov
ember fight but the time has now come
for them to cut johnson loose, and the
country should be spared the scandal of a
partyvote upon a question of purely le
cal evidence in which the oath of every
Senator stands thoroughly involved.
The point has been reached, therefore
when mere party duty can exact no more,
and when Senators have righs in view
OF their own conscience aud self respect
to act somewhat for themselves. The
arrogance Of opinion or of personal op
inion or OF personal pretension on their
part, will, impose the belief upon the
country that forty Senator'S OF good char
acter and steadfast principle have perjur-
ed themselves on the one side, while
they, but twelve in number, and some of
whom are but little known, conscientious
II inspired OH the other The expiration
of brief period of time will set the col
on of these contrasted problems, and that
the men who shamelessly walk into the
shadow by voting that the President has
Il right to execute his veto instead OF
executing the law, and that he can purge
himself Of responsibility by confederation
with his ministers, will wish that they
had never been born,


We believe, however, that the scandal
of strict party vote by the minority in
support of such frightful proposition
viii be srared 20 the cnnntru There are