Year: 1866

for the legitimate exercise of a judicial func


ton; and it is therefore precisely the mon
strosity which Mr.. Hale declares it would be


in such case. It is parody on every prin


ciple of law, equity and justice.


1MPEAcHrNG THE PRESIDENT,


Among the radical papers of the North one


of the most decided is weekly published il


New York called Wilkes Spirit of the Times


1t is mainly devoted to racing matters anG


field sports but, ever since the beginning O


the late war, it has devoted considerable


portion Of its editorial columns to politics


and has been always in the front rank of tht


advocates OF radicalism. 1t was, we believe


the first paper to arraign and denounct


Gen. Mcclellan. 1t was the first to upbrait


the British government for what it called


violation of neutrality, and to lead off in tina


course Of complaint which resulted in tht


denial Of justice, on the part of Great Britain


to the Confederate States. In many other


respects this paper has taken positions il


advance Of the radical party, but to which


that party has sooner or later come up. We


therefore attach more that ordinary signif-
canGe to it outgivings and it is for this
reason we regard as Of Importance the leading
article in that paper of the 18th, calling upon
Congress, in direct terms, to impeach and
depose President johnson, or rather assum-
ing. it as a foregone conclusion that such i'm
parchment and deposition will take place.


We make some extracts from the article in
the Spirit, to show precisely the temper of
the radicals towards the President 1t is not
that we have any pleasure in thus exhibiting
the bitter and relentless spirit Of radicalism,
that we make this exposition. 1t is simply
for the purpose of keeping our readers advised
of the progress Of political opinion, and of
enabling them to understand exactly the de-
signs of the revolutionary party Of the North.


After announcing that the President is pre-
pairing to retreat from his present position
which We believe to be false-the Spirit says :


The truth is, that even the conceited and insen-
safe mind of andrew johnson has been aifrighted
at the unexpected anger of the nation; and com
pretending his situation at last, he is now taking
measures to ward off the dangers of impeachment.
Conscious of his crimes he foresees an inevitable
accusation by the people, and knowing that the
result of the elections will be virtual direction
for his Indictment, he feels it behooyes him to
marshal his members within the scope of the CON
gressional forum. 4,


We select from the body Of the article, the
following significant sentences


There is but oaeFeourse to be pursued bv the
triumphant nation toward this faithless and de
graded officer. That course will be indicated by
the result OF the elections of this week. Those
elections will express on the part Of the people to
greater degree than they will express anything
else sense Of the deep dsgusto the usurpations,
yulgarties, crimes, and pertidies Of Andrew John
son; and the verdict will take The shane of a
popular demand for has indictment and renaoUaL,
II, being backed by this support, the Congress,
which he has aimed to supplant of its authority
has not courage enough to visit upon him the full
extent Of the alternative, it will not only prove
false to the expectations of the country, but will
conndem itself as worthy Of no better fate than
that which Andrew. johnson had designed forit


-


The disdainfal public, in this case, do not crave
the cnprit's life; but the mildest instincts of an
eyen.hauded justice require that the conspirator
who aimed to chain the sovereignty of Congress
to the Presidential chair and who has brutalv ex-
PEELED from office those who had been appointed
by the real PRESIDENT, of whom he is but the coun-
tertelt successor should drain the same chaIie eand
be eIpehedhtmSeJ. The authority he has indulged
in for personal purpose, may thus be whole.
somely retorted for the general good and anv
hesitation to exercise it to that end, will be grave
ulstI6ulb vi lLS EeSUlutlOU OF ble DeOUle,


= x


1t may be objected by some timoroug minds
that the dominant majority of the nation cannot
afford to venture the expulsion of a President:
but we would ask whether we can better afford
to endure three years more of the administration
OF bad man, whom the whole country desires
to be expelled, than to avail ourselves of the op.
portunlty Of supplying the public necessities with
q good one? Are we to remain the slaves of our
fears =, when We know we have sufficient strength
10 make ourselves the masters of our fears? Does
any one suppose that the fragrant course of An
drew johnson has left him single friend of any
power IN the country? Does any one believe that
his discharge from the White House would leave
his absence regretted by soul?


As to his finding adherents in the army or be-
ing able to organize resistance through the pa
U uonage OF the executive, no one can entertain
such an idea for an instant who has obseryedth
recent temper of the people, Military men of
rank N this country have too much sense to at.
tempt TO stem the current of the nation and An.
drew johnson is not of the cloth which soldiers
choose for the manufacture of their heroes,
the army of this country is the people


Again, it may be objected that the indictment
and expulsion of a President would be a great
scandal to the United States before the w6rId
but let us ask if it would not be greater scandal
and greater reproach to our sense Of indepen-
aehee TO endure the administration of man who
l. ti'"S9 MN Aequlhe tlldt ne Snoulu
De De expelled, and who is in our hands to punish
but u Is mistake TO suppose that it would be
scandal to niiet this justice upon such criminal
as Andrew johnson. 1t would on the contrary,
ne the browning glory Of our institutions to de.
pose MN by the quiet process of the law


IheFe is but one more proof for us to give, and
nat ls 10 take an unworthy chief magistrate by |
he collar, and after giving him hearing, to turn
I'm ignomlnionsly out OF office. as if he were
mere sergeant-of-arms or door-keeper, or the
leanest culprit in the State.


The whole effect of such rial wonld be en-
rely wholesome. while the idea that the person
ut on trial would be able to orgalize resistau nee
ne authority Of Congress, and put this govern
tent to new trial Of its strength as against him.