In other words, if public opinion is not unduly aroused one may safely set aside the Constitution and illegally arrest one's enemies. Had this letter been published at the time, an excellent case might have been made for the impeachment and removal of a president who had broken that oath he had taken to defend and to protect the Constitution by conspiring to obstruct and pervert the course of justice.
The excerpt reflects a critical view of governmental power when public opinion is passive. It suggests that leaders might feel empowered to violate constitutional principles and exercise arbitrary authority to silence dissent or opposition. Such actions could occur with little consequence if the populace remains indifferent.
If this perspective had been widely disseminated at the time, it could have provided substantial grounds for calling for the impeachment of a president who...
