history of the impeachment of andrew johnson-第61章
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the President on unsubstantiated； or even remotely doubtful charges； simply： because of a disagreement between himself and Congress as to the method of treating a great public emergency； would have introduced a new and destructive practice into our political system。
Logically； the introduction of such a practice on that occasion would have been construed as a precedent for the treatment of future public emergencies。 Thus； it would have tended to disturb the now perfect adjustment of the balance of powers between the co…ordinate branches。 That quality of absolute supremacy of the several departments in their respective spheres； or functions； and of co…ordination or equality in their relations to each other； established by the Constitution as a guarantee of the perpetuity of our political system； would have been endangered； and the result could not have been otherwise than disaster in the future。
Logically； the Presidency would in time have been。 degraded to the position of a mere department for the execution of the decrees of the legislative branch。 Not illogically； the Supreme Court would have been the next object of attack； and the legislature have become； by this unconstitutional absorption of the powers of Government； the sole； controlling forcein short the Government。
That would； in time； by equally logical sequence； have been the natural； inevitable resultand the end。 The wreckage of the Great Republic of the age would have been strown upon the sands of the political seashorerelics of the disregard of the checks and balances established by the wisdom of its framers； in the fundamental lawand all for the satisfaction of personal ambitions and the hates of factional animosities。
History affords too many illustrations of that tendency to decadence and disruption from disregard of the proper and necessary checks and balances in the distribution and equalization of the powers of government； to permit us to doubt what the final end would have been had the President been removed on the unsubstantiated accusation preferred by the House of Representatives； Our peculiar system of political governmenta Democratic Republicpassed the danger point of its history in that hour。
It was indeed a narrow escape。 The history of civilization records no precisely similar condition。 The country then passed the most threatening period of its historybut passed it safely。 The result was the highest possible testimonial to the strength and endurance of properly adjusted Democratic institutions that history records。
It emphasized not only the capacity of the American people for intelligent and orderly self…government； but also the strength and endurance of our popular forms。 It was a profound surprise to those habituated to different political conditions。 They had witnessed with astonishment the quiet disbandment of millions of men but as yesterday engaged in mortal strifethe vast armies as peacefully returning to former vocations as though from a great paradeand now； from a state of civil convulsion that in many another nation would have produced armed collision and public disorder； they saw an entire people quietly accepting the verdict of the highest authoritive body of the land； and practically dismissing the subject from thought。 It was a splendid world…wide tribute to the strength and endurance of our system of popular government。
Yet the conclusion must not be deduced that the power of impeachment is not a wise provision of our Constitution； nor in any sense inconsistent with our popular forms。 Conditions may； and are not unlikely to arise； some day； when the exercise of the power to impeach and remove the President may be quite as essential to the preservation of our political system as it threatened to become in this instance destructive of that system。 Should that day ever come； it is to be hoped that the remedy of impeachment； as established by the Constitution； may be as patriotically； as fearlessly； and as unselfishly applied as it was on this occasion rejected。
SUPPLEMENT。
Copy of letter addressed to each of the members of the Cabinet present at the conversation between the President and General Grant on the 14th of January； 1868； and the answers thereto：
Executive Mansion； Washington； D。 C。； February 5； 1868。
Sir：The Chronicle of this morning contains a correspondence between the President and General Grant； reported from the War Department； in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives。 I beg to call your attention to that correspondence； and especially to that part of it which refers to the conversation between the President and General Grant； at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday； the 14th of January； and to request you to state what was said in that conversation。
Very respectfully yours； Andrew Johnson。
Washington； D。 C。； February 5； 1868。
Sir：…Your note of this date was handed to me this evening。 My recollection of the conversation at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday； the 14th of January； corresponds with your statement of it in the letter of the 31st ultimo； in the published correspondence。 The three points specified in that letter； giving your recollection of the conversation； are correctly stated。
Very respectfully； Gideon Welles。
To the President。
Treasury Department； February 6； 1868。
Sir：I have received your note of the 5th instant； calling my attention to the correspondence between youself and General Grant； as published in the Chronicle of yesterday； especially to that part of it which relates to what occurred at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday the 14th ultimo； and requesting me to state what was said in the conversation referred to。
I cannot undertake to state the precise language used； but I have no hesitation in saying that your account of that conversation。 as given in your letter to General Grant under date of the 31st ultimo。 substantially and in all important particulars accords with my recollection of it。
With great respect； your obedient servant。 Hugh McCulloch。 To the President。
Post Office Department Washington； February 6； 1868。
Sir：I am in receipt of your letter of the 5th of February； calling my attention to the correspondence published in the Chronicle between the President and General Grant； and especially to that part of it which refers to the conversation between the President and General Grant at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday； the 14th of January； with a request that I state what was said in that conversation。 In reply； I have the honor to state that I have read carefully the correspondence in question； and particularly the letter of the President to General Grant； dated January 31； 1868。 The following extract from your letter of the 31st January to General Grant is； according to my recollection； a correct statement of the conversation that took place between the President and General Grant at the Cabinet meeting on the 14th of January last。 In the presence of the Cabinet the President asked General Grant whether； 〃in conversation which took place after his appointment as Secretary of War ad interim； he did not agree either to remain at the head of the War Department and abide any judicial proceedings that might follow the non…concurrence by the Senate in Mr。 Stanton's suspension； or； should he wish not to become involved in such a controversy； to put the President in the same position with respect to the office as he occupied previous to General Grant's appointment by returning it to the President in time to anticipate such action by the Senate。〃 This General Grant admitted。
The President then asked General Grant if； at the conference on the preceding Saturday； he had not； to avoid misunderstanding； requested General Grant to state what he intended to do； and further； if in reply to that inquiry he （General Grant） had not referred to their former conversations； saying that from them the President understood his position； and that his （General Grant's） action would be consistent with the understanding which had been reached。 To these questions General Grant replied in the affirmative。
The President asked General Grant if； at the conclusion of their interview on Saturday； it was not understood that they were to have another conferen
