The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-16 00:00:00

The " Standard" on Impeacbment.

A strangely-worded telegram from the Washing-
ton correspondent of the limes—without date—
and made up, as one might expect, from a person
so unaccustomed to forward telegrams as a Times
correspondent in America, has here had a consider-
able effect. American stocks became flat and de-
clined, and the Standard wrote au article, showing
how " the beginning of the end" of the United
States Constitution had come. The queerly-worded
telegram announced the startling fact that a mea-
sure directly pointing to the Impeachment of the
PRESIDENT had been carried by 108 Ayes, to 38
Noes. This is the first step, the message adds, to
an impeachment, which the Radicals are determined
to press. " Who would have expected," exclaims
the indignant Standard, " that the men who held
the unpardonable sin of politics to consist in treason
to the old Constitution would be in the year 1867
prepared to risk a coup d'etat in order to depose the
PRESIDENT who obtained their votes in 1864 ?" We
confess we cannot understand what the Standard
means. What is the connection between the men
alluded to in the first part of the sentence and
those prepared to risk the coup d'etat? For what
object is the coup tretat to be risked ? The
PRESIDENT who was elected in 1864 is, we
trust, in a better world, and we cannot see how
the action of these vo“teirihseco:.oldrlda;ecetonitiiinmu.esiltire.
JOHNSON succeeded to the Presidency by a most
unlooked-for contingency, and not by the votes of
his fellow-citizens.
Standard, " has seen few more remarkable instances
" of the versatility of politicians ; humanity has
o certainly be an instance of
" rarely been scandalised by the exhibition of more
" unblushing cynicism by the professors of Liberalism
saani
nd t p
in hi
heavenant h r philanthropy."
uld pwy
." A coup d'etat directed against
a
y such an andexhibi-
tion undoubtedly
thehumanity versatility
would o
be
f politicians,scandalised b
; but, Congress vindicating its supremacy
against a person who attained to the office of
PRESIDENT in an unlooked-for manner, might
direct its wrath and indignation without exciting all
these dreadful feelings. The Standard is filled with
sorrow at the destruction it predicts of the Consti-
tution. There is little fear of any great harm to
liberty resulting from this quarrel. Liberty is the
sentiment implanted in the minds of the American
people. In striving to attain its fullest develop-
ment all sorts of blunders not only have been, but
undoubtedly will continue to be, perpetrated. Often
the people are compelled to grope along in the dark
though the goal be clear and bright enough before
them. So long as the true sentiment is firmly im-
planted iu the national mind there can be little fear
of the result, however greatly President JOHNSON or
the Republican C ongress may blunder in the steps they
are now taking. Indeed, such contests do but ex-
pose weak points, and lead to useful renovations.
President JOHNSON committed a fatal mistake in
his electioneering tour, and Congress has reaped the
benefit. Congress may now be making as great a
mistake, and, if so, it will suffer and the PRESIDENT
gain. Both parties may be taught moderation by
stern necessity. We have little doubt that Con-
gress is quite as likely to blunder as the PRE-
SIDENT ; and if this step be a mistake, it will
very quickly obtain the results of its own intem-
perate conduct. A great deal is said about
the balance of power being destroyed. This again
is an obvious error. The balance is in the hands
of the public, who turn the scale either way by
threwingina littleof their own weight. A constitution
is no Divine document, nor do the laws of the United
States profess to be like those of the Medes and
Persians, unchangeable. The House of Representa-
tives has an undoubted right to prefer charges
against a PRESIDENT. The Senate is unquestion-
ably the body before whom such charges are to be
brought. Instead of being unconstitutional, all this
is strictly in accordance with the Constitution. The
Standard argues that an unjust and arbitrary PRE-
SIDENT should not be cited before the national tri-
bunal until his term of office is expired, and it con-
siders that the brief duration of the PRESIDENTIAL
office corroborates its statement. This statement,
which resolves itself into a palpable absurdity, is
a good sample of the style of the article. The
provision for pulling up an unruly PRESIDENT was
framed to prevent the inan erecting himself into

a OM AR, and of all offices his was the one that 1
most peremptorily required the instantaneous and
forcible check. A Minister making " ducks and
drakes" of the national finances could scarcely
expect to see out his term of office, nor would the
Secretary engaged in fomenting unpopular foreign
quarrels be permitted to play out his hobby. Why,
then, should that most • dangerous of public ser-
vants—the PRESIDENT—be permitted the full scope
of his four years to carry into effect the schemes he
may have formed against the national liberty ? It
is not Congress, as asserted by the Standard, that
has thrown down the gauntlet ; it was Mr. JOIIN-
SON, in his Western tour, who thus hurled the
defiance which Congress has taken up. Mr. JOHN-
SON is backed by the Southern States, and a large
and powerful minority iu the North. lie com-
mands the army and navy and a host of public
servants, but only (let the Standard bear this in
mind) so long as he acts in accordance with the
law and Constitution of the United States. No
doubt he may " prefer to send Messrs. STEVENS
and BUTLER to the Dry Tortugas to taking up his
own quarters with Mr. DAVIS in Fortress Monroe."
The Standard enumerates the forces which may
perhaps be controlled by each party, but it omits
the very essence of the strength of the position
taken by Congress—that position is lawful and
constitutional. Mr. JOHNSON'S opposition would be
the act of a rebel if he resisted by force.—Auglo-
American 7 Imes.

Miscellaneous American News.

By the City of Boston, New York, Dec. 29, the
following items have reached us :—" It is reported
that the Radicals in a recent caucus have resolved
to attempt the enforcement of the Constitutional
Amendment,if it be ratified by three-fourths of the
States now represented in Congress. President
Johnson has expressed his belief that the Supreme
Court will sustain the Southern States in rejecting
the amendment. It is rumoured that a compro-
mise has been effected between the Governments of
Great Britain and the United States, whereby the
Alabama claims, and the claims of British 'subjects
for damages during the rebellion;will be satisfac-
torily adjusted. Minister Campbell has been
ordered to await further instruction at New Or-

leans. The Fenian trials at Sweetsburg are con-
cluded. Two more prisoners have been sentenced
to death, and six discharged."
Commissioner Wells has not yet given the com-
mittee copies of his newly-prepared Tariff Bill. It
is rumoured at the Treasury Department that he
has changed the classification of bar iron, as con-
ceded to the Pittsburg manufacturers iu the House
Bill, and has greatly reduced the rates. This is
done to meet the views of the New York iron im-
porters.
About forty Senators and members were to start
at six a.m., Dec. 21, from Washington, on an excur-
sion over the new air-line railroad, via Lynchburg
and Chattanooga, to New Orleans.

The Postmaster-General of the United States has
sent estimates to the House for the service of the
department for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1868, the sum being $17,500,000. The items in-
clude—For inland transportation, $8,600,000; for
foreign mail transportation, $620,000 ; and for strip,
steamboat, and way letters, $B,OOO. The following
amounts will be required from any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated:—For over-
land mail transportation between Atchison and
Folsom, and for marine mail transportation between
New York and California, $900,000 ; for steamship
service between San Francisco, Japan, and China,
for one year, from July 1, 1867, $500,000 ; for
steamship service between the United States and
Brazil, for the same period, $153,000. Total,
$1,550,000.
The New York Tribune says Congress has raised

the salaries of its members and of the clerks of
several departments, upon the ground that the
increased cost of living demanded an increase of
wages. With these precedents, the Committee on
Printing will scarcely report in favour of the bill to
reduce the wages of the compositors in the Govern-
ment Printing Office, and restore the ten-hour sys-
tem. They now receive but twenty- four dollars a
week, little enough, we think, and less in specie
than they were paid before the war. They have
laid before Congress an argument showing the in-
justice of the bill, and we cannot believe that such
an unwise measure will be adopted.
The war on the River Plate has for some time
been taking a turn specially unfavourable to Brazil.
There are indications that there may be still greater
troubles in store for the South American Empire.
Paraguay has long been in negotiation with Bolivia
for the conclusion of an alliance, and the last mail
brings a report that a treaty, offensive and defensive,
has been concluded, according to which Bolivia will
supply to Paraguay a contingent of 2,500 men, carry
the war into Brazil, and, if possible, republicanise
that country. If this report should be confirmed
Brazil will find it exceedingly difficult, if not impos-

sible, to defend its 'Western Provinces, the only

communication with which in former years was by
the rivers now made impassable by the guns of the
Paraguayans. It is also confirmed that both the
Presidents of the Argentine Republic and Uruguay

are powerless to aid any longer in carrying on the
war. The latter may any moment be unseated by
his. opponents at home ; and the former is even said
to be favourable to the alliance between Paraguay
and Bolivia.

Governor Cummings, of Colorado, has addressed
a message to the Legislature, in which he
argues at length against the creation of the
territory into a State, " under the impression,"
as he says, " that there is a claim upon him for a
candid statement and discussion of the whole ques-
tion." We fully agree with Governor Cummings
as to the claim, but as to the candour with which he
has attempted to discharge it there may be a differ-
ence of opinion. His principal argument is
that the inhabitants of the territory don't want
to be admitted into the Union, in proof whereof
he cities • the action of the Territorial
Senate at their last session in rejecting the
project for a State Government. We don't ap-
preciate the force of this circumstance, con-
sidering that the Senate subsequently reversed their
action, and the House of Representatives likewise
voted for admission. The new Legislature which
has just assembled, and which certainly ought to
know the sentiments of its constituents quite as well
as Mr. Cummings, is also understood to be largely
in favour of the erection of a State Government.
Mr. Cummings's statement that the party desiring
admission is only a miserable faction composed of
ambitious demagogues and place-hunters, therefore
lacks confirmation.
GALVESTON, Dec. 20 (Evening).--Gen. Kiddoo,
of the Bureau, has announced his intention to fur-
nish transportation to negroes from States where
there is a superfluity of labour to those where it is
in demand. He will extend unusual facilities to
planters desiring labourers.
The expenditures in Canada for militarypurposes
since the first of January, 1866, have been over
$2,000,000.
Application was made Dec. 19, before Chief
Justice Chase, in Washington, for a writ of habeas
corpus in the case of Dr. Mudd, imprisoned at
Tortugas, for complicity in the assassination of
President Lincoln.
A fire in Philadelphia (Dec. 19) destroyed seve-
ral large warehouses on North Broad-street, the
loss amounting to $76,000. James Rolston, who
was doing business in ono of the houses, is sup-
posed to have perished in the flames.
The Times has authority to state, that, in reply
to a communication received from the Government
of the United States, her Majesty's Minister at
Washington has been instructed to ascertain whether
that Government is prepared to accept the principle
of arbitration upon the pending differences arising
out of the late civil war, provided an agreement can
be come to, as to the points to which such arbitra-
tion should apply.
The Emperor of the French has presented Mr.
Bigelow with a copy of his complete works, and
bearing the Imperial autograph.
The widely-circulated rumour that the Chief
Justice had been offered the Presidency of the Union
Pacific Railroad, vice General Dix, gone to France,
is incorrect. No selection has yet been made.
The following commissioners have been ap.

pointed to award compensation to the loyal owners
of slaves placed in the Union army :—For Missouri
—John A. Mills, John C. Billinger, and Boswell
Marsh. For Kentucky—N. S. Moore, George W.
Blakely, and Archibald M'Allister. For Tennessee
—O. E. Davis, Henry Thompson, and Russell
Houston. For Maryland—William Flinn, Win.
H. Stewart, and John M. Miller. For West Vir-
ginia—Wilson P. Ames, John Ashley, and Roberts
Browne.

A Commission was commenced at Baltimore,
December, 1863, and continued iu session until
October, 1865, at which date it was dissolved. One
was also commenced at Georgetown, Delaware,
about August, 1864, and was dissolved March, 1865.
It was composed as follows :—M. Gunn, Albert
Curry, and Thomas Ainsey. The commission in-
vestigated and reported upon nearly 4,000 claims.
The commissioners for Missouri (October 10th)
say the negroes enlisted in the army in that State
were enlisted as general recruits, when sent by the
various district Provost Marshals, or the autho-
rised recruiting officer to the general rendezvous
at Benton Barracks. They were subject to a
second me&cal examination, but no notice
was given of the assignment. Not only this,
but in some cases at least which have
come to their knowledge, the recruits were sent out
of the State before assigned to any regiment. Many
cases have been brought to their notice, in which
loyal owners, living on the western border of Mis-
souri, themselves took their slaves into Kansas and
enlisted them in the United States service. This
often occurred before any authority to receive
coloured recruits in Missouri was given. A largo
number of slaves were also enrolled under the same
circumstances. The following abstract shows the
labour performed and the number of claims acted
upon by the Commissions formerly in session for
the States of Maryland and Delaware :

The number of claims filed in the Maryland Com-

mission was ......

Number of claims upon which awards were made 7BG
Number of claims upon which awards were rejected,
returned to claimants unacted upon, by reason of
the dissolution of the Commission 2,802

Total 3,867
The number of claims filed in the Delaware Com-
mission was 114 ; number of awards made, 43 ;
number rejected, 9 ; number returned to claimants
by reason of the dissolution of the Commission,
52 ; total, 114. The aggregate number of claims
with the Maryland and Delaware Commissions
was 3,981.

The banquet to the delegates of the Boards of
Trade of Oswego, Chicago, and Milwaukee, given
by the directors of the Huron and Ontario Ship
Canal Company, came off at the Queen's Hotel, on
December 18—the Mayor of Toronto in the chair,
supported on the right by D. 'l. Cepreol, president
of the company, and on the left by Lieutenant-
Governor Brown, of Illinois. About two hundred
guests were present, among whom were L. P. Hil-
ford ; Captain Parker and Thomas Letour, of
Chicago ; C. Ames and D. Foot, of Oswego ; Ames
Young, of Milwaukee ; the Aldermen and City
Council of Toronto ; Solicitor-General Cockburn ;
Hon. Asa A. Burnham Thurston, the United States
Consul ; the Directors of the Huron and Ontario
Ship Canal Company ; Sheriff Jarvis; Dr. M'Caul,
President of the Toronto University; Mr. M'Donald,
and other prominent personages.
The vote upon Mr. Ashley's resolution to suspend
the rules of the House for the purpose of appoint-
ing a select committee to inquire whether any
officer of Government has been guilty of acts which
are in the contemplation of the Constitution, high
crimes and misdemeanours, may be taken to be an
indication that Congress is not in a hurry to proceed
toward the impeachment of the President. The
vote in favour of the resolution was eighty-eight
Yeas, to forty-nine Nays, not sufficient to carry it
by consent of two-thirds of those present. One
hundred and twenty-seven votes, in all, were cast.
The Representatives in Congress are now one hun-
dred and ninety-six. The house of Representatives
may impeach the President on the vote of a majo-
rity, which, in a full House, would require ninety-
nine members. We suppose that it may be done by
a majority of those present at the meeting when the
question is put to vote. The trial would have to
be held by the Senate, and there two-thirds of the
members would be required to vote the removal.
Counting upon party majorities, it may therefore
be assumed that, under the present circumstances,
a vote of impeachment might be got through the
House, and sentence of removal be passed by the
Senate. Is it likely that it will be done ? This,
under the preseat aspect of affairs at Washington,
may be considered doubtful. The appointment of
a committee may be carried, and that committee
may make report, but the impeachment would be so
grave an act, and the consequences would be so
serious in the agitation that would ensue, that it
may be assumed that many members of the ma-
jority would hesitate before voting for a measure
which has not been demanded by the people, and
which might involve very serious consequences.
Congress has power to cut down the President's
patronage, and that is most probably all that will
be done. Impeachment, and threats of impeach-
ment, will be " rods in pickle," soaking for Pre-
' sidential flagellation, and remaining in terrorent
monitions of the necessity of good beheaviour.