The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-24 00:00:00

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TOM T.S2Nr4O, THE TV7IIFILTS Mr. Widdhomd.—Aesi
ROUOK Hf SOB.Slesars Twitter, Emery, Cowper. Moreland,
Vitspatro Dawn. Keynals. Lorna, Andrews. Price_ , de. ;
Mitrrity. awl Muses tiennole, Grattan. and C. Isselerwn.

STRAND.
Tins Erwin*, NEIGHBOUIts —After which will be produced
a Grunt Burlesque, OUT VAWKES.—end A SUIT OF
TWENO

HOLBORN.

Tim Erten*, MY TERN Ni7CT. Mr. Delmore: Minns
roots an I Lennox —And FLYING SCUD. Mews. Neva', Bel-
lmore. Blake, Vollalre, de.: Mesdames V. Josephs, C. Samba%
Bathe Yw ae. Mass, LOIIIIOI, Raymond, Le.

BRITANNIA.

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Taus BENING, THE PYINCESS OF THE PEARL ISLAND ;
THE THREE KINGDOMS OF PEARL, GOLD, AND
SILVER. Mw Liun and Miss Jacobs.—Flrst-rale Pantonamlata.
—And THE nICELETON CREW.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

4fint Aftersoon, 6b, 4s„
To-bleitiOW—Morning, M. Vas Afternoon, A. lila.

LONDON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24.

Tit lt interpretation we put upon the confused
despatches brought by the Atlantic Telegraph a
fortnight ago is borne out in every particular by
the detailed intelligence now received. The resolu-
tion passed by the House of Representatives, and
represented as one "distinctly impeaching the
•• remnant.," was, SS we stated to be our belief
at the time, the one of which Mr. ASHLEY, of
Ohio, had taken charge before the Christmas
recess. It was Mr. ASHLEY'S intention to take the
first step towards the impeachment of Mr. Jon/c-
-aw:, but that step was not likely to be one for
the actual preparation of articles of impeachment,
but for the fullest inquiry into the grounds on
which such an impeachment must rest. The
course taken by the House has been
exactly that which we anticipated, and which
we ventured to describe as the only one which
was not open to the charge of unconstitutional
interference with the functions of a co-ordinate
branch of the Government. The House believes
that the conduct of the PRESIDENT has rendered
needful an inquiry into his administration of the
Government, and into the use he has made of his
position and power. But it can only make this
inquiry by virtue of its constitutional function as
the impeaching body, and the resolution, which
was pa.ssed by 107 to 38 votes, was one framed
in accordance with this necessity of its constitu-
tional position. It instructed the Standing Com-
iiiittee on the Judiciary to inquire if any and what
grounds existed for the impeachment of the PRE-
S) I,IiNT. This important and able Committee has,
therefore, full power to inquire into the whole
of Mr. JOHNr.t.N.Y> public conduct, and to report
to the House whether an impeachment could
be sustained or not. On that report, and on that
alone, the House will act. There is not the least
likelihood that any further action has been taken
or will be taken during the progress of the inquiry
that is now proceeding. No " articles of impeach-
" lit" can be drawn up till the Committee have
made their report, nor is there the least proba-
bility that the House, as such, has given any indi-
cation, such as the telegraph has spoken of, either
of willingness to abandon the impeachment, or of
resolve to press it. Nor has the absurd statement,
so confidently made here, that the House
resolved on the impeachment as an act of pessionate
retaliationfor the veto of the District Negro Suffrage
Bill, any basis of fact on which to rest. Abuse of the
veto is one of the charges made in the resolution of
Mr. ASHLEY, but it was so well known that the
PRESIDENT would veto the bill for coloured men's
enfranchisement, that the House was entirely pre-
pared fur it, and the bill was at once passed into
law by a two-thirds vote of both branches of the
Legislature. Nor is there the slightest sign of
that haste which has been attributed to the House.
Considerable discussion, and then patient inquiry,
precede any decisive step, and the exact position
of affairs at this moment is that a full inquiry into
Mr. JOHNSON'S conduct is being conducted by the
proper authority and in a strictly constitutional
way. There is, indeed, no necessity for haste. The
new House, which meets in March, will take up
and carry on the work of its predecessor, and the
large vote by which the present House determined on
inquiry will not be diminished if it should be
obliged to leave to its successor either the con-
tinued prosecution of the inquiry itself, or further
action on the information the inquiry elicits. Mr.
JoHNSON has nothing to hope, nor has the House
anything to fear from delay ; and though all legi-
timate speed will be made, it is not likely that any
time or labour will be grudged which may be
found needful for a complete and exhaustive scru-
tiny of his official career. It is Mr. JoussoN's
own fault if that scrutiny is made by hostile eyes.
He has sought in every way to bring on a strife be-
tween himself and Congress, and cannot complain
if " a fair field and no favour" is all that is offered
him now. Whether the impeachment will
proceed or not depends now on no political
combinations and on no efforts that may be
made to induce the House to relinquish it. If
the inquiry now being made should result in
showing that there are good grounds for it, the
impeachment will proceed; but if the grounds are
not sufficient to justify the expectation of convic-
tion, no mere political vindictiveness will preventits
relinquishment. It is no mere movement of the
" Radicals." All sections of the Republican
party voted for the inquiry, and we believe the
feeling is almost or quite unanimous among the
Republicans in and out of the House that the
conviction and removal of Mr. Jonxsox is the
reediest way out of the difficulties he has created,
if it can be legitimately and constitutionally
obtained. That he deserves to be removed
nobody doubts—and the only question is
whether he has rendered himself legally
liable to that constitutional penalty, the infliction
of which no power in the Union would attempt to
withstand, and no considerable party in the loyal
States would in the least regret.
It is instructive to remark the gradual aliena-
tion of Mr. JoincsoN from all his supporters and
friends. His policy has been so entirely his own
that he has not retained the unanimous support
even of the peeled and wasted renoulut of the
Democratic party. Perhaps it has been f, rgotten
that Mr. Julfxsos belonged to that section of