The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON; THURSDAY EVENISG, MARCH 19, 1868.

PROGRESS OF IMPEACHMENT.

THE WORLD'S COAL SUPPLY,

In May 1865, during Earl Russell's tenure of the On the Friday night, when the Senate decided
.e oreig,n Office, he issued a circular despatch to each that Andrew Johnson had no legal right to remove
British representative abroad requesting him to furnish an the Secretary of War, and the motion to impeach
annual report of the coal industry of the country to which '
the President in the House had been referred to the
he was accredited. Statistics of great value and of high im-
Reconstruction Committee, Washington continued
portance have been the result
The return for 1867 has just been presented to Parlia-
ment. Lord Howard de Walden reports that in Belgium sensational city. Through the thronged streets the
the number of mines is stationary, but their activity had wildest fabrications circulated freely. Gen. Grant
considerably increased during the year. Nearly 13,000,000 was said to be in arrest ; Stanton to have been
tons of coal were raised in the twelve months. The ex- ; ejected at the point of the bayonet; a strong force
portation to France shewed an increase of 11 per cent. from Maryland was moving on the Capitol ; the
The exhaustion of the coal mines had, as in England,
South had risen ; Pennsylv *ilia was organizing in
commanded considerable attention, but the result of
examination had removed all disquietude. The support of Congress ; and the Western States were
Hainault colleries alone were good for another gathering their forces. Such was the strained ex-
zentury and a half. Coal of good quality is raised in I pectation, that few slept, but among that few was
Brazil, and the supply is limited only by the want Andrew Johnson. In the War-office Stanton re-
ef a good means of transport. From China we learn mained fortified, Congressmen passing continually
that the precious mineral has been discovered in Pond-how, in and out. The house of Thaddeus Stevens was a
the chief island of the Pescadores. The Chinese were very Republican headquarters. Telegrams were flying
anxious to keep the matter a secret, but, after a long to and fro, and the instruments were incessantly at
parley, Consul Swinhoe induced the islanders to chew him
work. The march of every relief was mistaken at
where the vein was. So at length they shewed him a top
the AV ar-office for the military party of ejection.
layer of lignite, which promised better things if they could
The sleepers awoke with a start, and the watchers
go deeper. The elders of the island have since presented
a singularly-yorded petition to their chief, imploring him were kept Constantly on the qui vice. At seven
to keep away the British from the place. Very good o'clock on Saturday morning, William A. Pile
bituminous coal is found in Japan ; the chief diffi- of Missouri, carried the warrant, granted by
culty of raising it is the scarcity of labour. Justice Cartter of the Supreme Court, for the
Prussia is rich in mineral fuel, especially in very good arrest of Adjutant-General Thomas to United
coals. Calculations have been made which promise a
States Marshal Gooding, who with a sheriff
supply for the next 3,000 years, taking the annual quan-
and bailiff arrested General Thomas while at
tity raised at 2,500,000 metrical tons. In Wurtemberg
breakfast He was brought to the Court-house,
there is an increased activityin theworking of the collieries.
In Tasmania anthracite and bituminous coal is distributed and liberated on bail of $5,000 to appear for exami-
over various portions of the colony. In Trinidad the coal- nation on Wednesday. Thomas proceeded to the
bearing rocks cover an area of 318 square miles. If the White House, and, instructed by the President,
fuel were attainable at a small cost, it would prove highly I again attacked Stanton in the War Office. He
valuable to the colony. The coal-fields of the Indian found Mr. Stanton surrounded by his friends, and
Empire are almost entirely concentrated in a band of in reply to a request for an interview he desired
deposits which extends more than half across the country - -
him openly to state his business. On this a collo-
from near Calcutta towards Bombay. The quality of the
quy of the " No you shan't," "Yes you shall," style
mineral is, however, inferior to the coal which is raised in
followed, which ended in Thomas leaving the de-
this country
partment, when General Grant entered. " I am
surprised," he said chaffingly to Stanton, "t find
been driven

EMPLOYERS AND TVORKMEICr.

The arrangements for the forthcoming conference be-
tween an equal number of employers of labour and repre-
sentative working men—trades unionists—as proposed by
the Working Men's Association, are advancing towards
completion. It being the object of the conference to
agree upon and devise some measures, legislative or other-
wise, whereby the extensive and disastrous strikes and
lock-outs may be avoided in the future, considerable
trouble has been taken by the committee charged with
the arrangements to obtain the consent of employers to
act on the conference of sufficient weight and influence
in their respective branches of trade to make it probable
that the decision of the conference would be acquiesced in
by the employers of labour throughout the country gene-
rally. It was the original intention to confine the num-
bers to twelve on each side, but the desirableness of having
not only the staple trades of the country represented, such
as the cotton, woollen, silk, iron, coal, and pottery trades,
but the important ones of engineering, building, ship-
building, tailoring, &c., also, it is probable the num-
ber will be increased to eighteen. About ten of the most
extensive employers of labour in the country, including
six members of Parliament,have up to this time consented
to act on the conference, and it is expected the whole
❑umber will be filled up by the close of the present week.
The same care has been taken in selecting the represen-
tatives of the workmen, in order that the representation
may be a national one; and to effect this object the
trades councils of Glasgow, Dublin, Liverpool, Manches-
ter, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, and other
large towns, the London Conference of Amalgamated
Trades, and the associated iron, cotton, woollen, coal, and
pottery trades, have been requested each to elect one repre-
sentative from their body. Several of these councils and
staple trades have already elected their delegates, and in
other cases special meetings have been called for the pur-
pose. It is expected that the while of the members to
form the conference will be appointed within the next
week, in which case it is probable the meeting will be held
before Easter, at the Westminster Palace Hotel, or some
similar place. It is also intended to invite some gentle-
man of public influence, independent of either employers
or workmen, to preside over the sittings of the conference.
The meeting is being looked forward to with great interest
all over the country, and if it does not realise all the expect
tations of its promoters, it cannot do otherwise than result
in very beneficial effects.

teer army would hurry to the defence of Congress.
The Round Table, iu a leader condemning the ex-
treme acr'imony of the President's assailants, which
it asserts - materially weakened their cause, gives the
following extracts from the debate :—" The un-
grateful, Olespicable, mean, traitor President," said
Mr. Farnsworth, of Illinois, " turned his back on
the men wia.o elected him and the friends who rallied
round him. He turned his back on loyal men, in-
cluding thoi 3e in Tennessee, who supported him, and
went over to the party he had fought not only in
the ballot-bc.x but in the field. Who is this Andrew
Johnson, that he should set himself up against Con-
gress, the courts, and the people? By what autho-
rity did 'tie take upon himself to oppose the law
passed in accordance with the constitutional forms ?
Vas it because God gave him more brains and
moral character and a clearer judgment than he
had given. to other men? Let this House and the
Senate teach Andrew Johnson that there is a power

stronger than the President, namely, the power of
the people, whose representatives were speaking
h ere to-day." The same gentleman, in the even-
resumed his remarks, and concluded his speech
by expressing his belief that the Senate had patriot-
ism and firmness enough to convict Andrew John-
son, a nci to remove him from the office which he
had so long disgraced. The nation had been too
long dillgraced by this accidental President—
by this man who had been made President
by the assassin's pistol. He should be re-
moved if it cut short his term by only one day, and
should be• ,sent down to posterity degraded, and in-
capable of holding any office of trust or profit under
the Govern meat of the United States. Mr. Kelley
observed the t he and his friends " were about to

arraign the great criminal of the age and the coun-
try—a man who had been for two years plotting
with bloody aod deliberate purpose the overthrow
of the country's institutions. This day two years
the President ha d appeared in the streets of Wash-
ington, eurrounde I by a rebellious rabble, and bad
pointed out by name Senator Sumner and Mr.
Stevens, of Pennsr:vania, as objects of the lawless
mob whom he then bailed as friends." Mr. Logan
asserted that " the President stood before the coun-
try to-day the violator of public law ; and it was
the duty of the House to decide whether he was,
1 and if so, what course should be taken to punish
him. There had not been a reconstruction law
passed by Congress which Andrew Johnson had not
laid a ruthless hand upon and obstructed. Ever
since the apostacy of that man, two years ago, he
had in every possible way- obstructed the execution
of the laws. He had not only insulted the nation
by his conduct and disgraced his high office,
but he had dragged in the slime and filth of
demagogism the Presidential robes of office."
Fernando Wood, of New York, in a lengthened
speech, condemned the course of Congress, and
depicted the evils which must result from persis-
tence in impeachment, the social disturbances, the
collisions at the polls, the increase of taxation, the
atgumented decay of commerce, the depreciation of
American securities, the growth of contempt for
law, ending in general civil war. Thaddeus Stevens,
in the best speech of the day, closed the debate,
being too weak to read it himself, he asked permis-
sion for it to be read by the Clerk. He charged
" Andrew Johnson with attempting to usurp the
powers of other branches of the Government ; with
attempting to obstrUct and resist the execution of
the law ; with misprision of bribery, and in open
violation of laws which declare his acts misde-
meanours, and subject him to fine and imprison-
ment ; with removing from office the Secretary of
. War during the session of the Senate, without the
advice or consent of the Senate, and with violation
of the sixth section of the Act entitled An Act
Regulating the Tenure of Certain Civil Officers.'"
The impeachment question was purely political ;
Congress is acting in the interest of forty millions
of citizens. If the charges against Mr. Johnson be
true, be is guilty of atrocious usurpation; but, if not
true, Congress is guilty of a cruel wrong. Reviewing
the facts from the commencetnen t of Johnson's Presi-
dency, he supports the necessity of impeachment. At
five o'clock the vote was taken, the rules having been
suspended, and amidst a profound silence the clerk
called the names. Excuses were made and noted
for a few members absent, and it was clear that the
Republicans would act in a solid phalanx. Samuel F.
Cary, of Ohio, was the only one of the party who broke
away from the ranks. It was doubtful how Thomas
E. Stewart, of New York, would vote, but he went
with the Democrats. Speaker Colfax descended
from his chair and voted in the affirmative, assert-
ing it to be a duty he owed to his constituents. The
announcement was then male that the Impeachment
Resolution had been passed by 126 ayes to 47 nays.
Thaddeus Stevens again rose, and moved that the
vote be reconsidered, and the motion to reconsider
be laid on the table, which was done, the subsequent
proceedings following quickly, and as matters of
course. Thaddeus Stevens and John A. Bingham
were ordered to go to the bar of the Senate, and in
the name of the House of Representatives and of all
the people of the United States to impeach Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, of high
crimes and misdemeanours, and acquaint the Senate
that the House will in due time exhibit particular
articles of impeachment and make good the same.
A committee of seven members, consisting, of
Messrs. Boutwell, of Massachusetts; Stevens, Bing-
ham, Wilson, of lowa ; Logan, of Illinois ; Julian,
of Indiana ; and Ward, of New York, all Republi-
cans, were appointed to prepare and report the
articles of impeachment, and were gives power to
send for persons, papers, and records, and to take
testimony under oath. After a session of eight
hours and a half an adjournment of the House closed
the proceedings. While matters were thus pro-
gressing in the House, the Senate had assembled
at 12 o'clock, when a message was received from
the President, based upon the resolution of the
Chamber denying his right to remove Mr. Stanton.
This message accompanied the nomination of
Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, as the Secretary of
War. The President herein discusses the laws
bearing on the appointment and removal of
Cabinet Ministers. He refers to the Act of
1789, which provides that whenever the Secretary
of War shall be removed the duties of the office
shall, during the vacancy, devolve upon a chief
clerk. Others are cited, and subsequently passed,
showing the President's power to fill vacancies,
as also that the power of removal is recognised
by statutes. He demonstrates the necessity
for a President's holding such power ; he
then touches on the Tenure-of-Office Act, which he
admits prohibits the President in one section from
removing a civil officer without the consent of the
Senate, providing for temporary suspension only
during the recess. The Act contains a proviso that
Cabinet officers are to hold office during the term
of the President, who appointed them subject to
removal, by and with the consent and advice
of the Senate. Andrew Johnson argues that he
did not appoint the Ministars now in office,
who were nominated by Mr. Lincoln, therefore he
has the right to remove them without the consent
of the Senate, as the Act intended to limit his
power justifies this course. He concludes his
Message with these words :—" Although I have
been advised by every member of my Cabinet that
the entire (enure-of-Office Act is unconstitutional,
and therefore void, and although I have expressly
concurred in that opinion in the veto message which
I had the honour to submit to Congress when I re-
turned the bill for reconsideration, I have refrained
from making a removal of any officer contrary to
the provisions of the law, and have only exercised
that power in the case of Mr. Stanton, which, in my
judgment, did not come within its provisions. I have
endeavoured to proceed with the greatest circum-
spection, and have acted only in an extreme and
exceptional case. I have sought carefully to fol-
low the course which I have marked out for myself
as a general rule,
faithfully to execute all laws,
though passed over my objections on the score of
constitutionality. In the present instance I have
appealed, or sought to appeal, to that final arbiter
fixed by the Constitution for the determination of all
such questions. To this course I have been im-
pelled bY the solemn obligations which rest upon
me, to sustain inviolate the powers of the high office
committed to my hands, whatever be the conse-
quences merely personal to myself. I could not
allow them to provail against a public duty so

you here, for I thought you would have
to my headquarters for protection." Thomas then
proceeded to take counsel with his law adviser, and
afterwards had an interview with the President,
who, it is reported, upraided him for his weakness
in not ejecting Stanton. Thus inauspiciously
opened the anniversary of the Birthday of the great
Patriot, at a city to which he has given his name—
a circumstance that has raised a superstitious feel-
ing in many who can recall coincidences not unsi-
milar during the past few years on this great Ameri-
can holiday. The crowds that for many hours had
ttholr,onwgheedrethtehsetreateetps
anaonwdpgrersosuenddt:wwaerrdesbltaheekCwaiptih-
the solid mass. The Chamber of the House
overflowed, and the corridors and lobbies were
impassable. The farewell address of Washington,
pArbeoseuntte2d by ei‘mioncriath,awddaesurausletdeveonuat, ofrfomorder.
the
Committee of Reconstruction, arose and read the
wreapaorntoptireoepd thatosing
et vhey
erreistoelpuutiboinieaanlremadeymbgeirveonf.
the
Committee bad signed the report, and all were
therefore prepared for the unanimity afterwards
displayed in the Republican ranks. In conclusion,
Mr. Stevens waved his right to speak, and Mr.
Brooks, Democrat of New York, arose to defend
the President. He was followed by Messrs. Spald-
ing and Bingham, of Ohio, who explained why they
had opposed impeachment on the last occasion,
while they voted for it now. A despatch from the
Governor of Illinois was read representing the
peeophleoefn. ThettbeSta Hteaosusee decided to
excited, and
takedemanding im-
peachment. thevoteat
5 p.m. on Monday, and adjourned at 11.15 p.m.
In New York the gold speculators carried on their
great
tt
Ah em premiume
tti ov a
11
04f3t T
aaanhd-
othpuearaetnioduesd,
thfoerlcasintgg
ington's birthday. A still more sacred day fol-
lowed, checking the operations of the rival fac-
tions. Yet all through Sunday, Stanton remained
fortified in the War Department, where he
was visited by Grant, among many friends,
who assured him, if matters passed to an ex-
tremity, of military support. General Emory,
commanding the Department of Washington, fur-
nished double guards. The President sent for
Emory to ascertain the truth of a report that
Stanton had ordered a force of regulars to be in
readiness for service, and this was made the foun-
dation for another alarming series of fabrications.
Messages continued to fly along the wires. Go-
vernor Geary, of Pennsylvania, telegraphed to
Senator Cameron, " The news to-day has created a
profound reaction in Pennsylvania. The spirit of
1861 seems again to pervade the Keystone State.
Troops are rapidly tendering their services to sus-
tain the laws. Let Congress stand firm." The
Missouri Republican Convention, in session at
Jefferson city in that State, pledged Missouri to the
support of Congress. The President was not with-
out congratulatory despatches, receiving as many as
his opponents, and numerous Democratic clubs in
Philadelphia and New York announced their readi-
ness to march to Washington at a moment's warn-
ing, while the services of the Maryland States troops,
about 10,000 strong, were tendered. The President,
however, adhered to his purpose not to go outside the
civil power, and to get the question speedilx before
the Courts he directed the Attorney-General to apply
next day to the Supreme Court for a writ of quo
warranto directed to Stanton, to show cause why
he held possession of the office of Secretary of War.
He also decided to nominate Thomas Ewing, of
Ohio, heretofore a Republican, for Secretary of
War, and prepared the necessary Message to send
to
snow
0 thew
storm, S a Senate. Monday
yet thick
aitnrhAnda y o pgeli
secokas the ef
ankeedloa
ewat
nitl a
e•
the violent
people
cm the Capitol, being packed in th • galleries, lobbies,
ianddaittiionrialanfo
rI
eneo towf i tphositiae
en dwi nags
etrp‘
.hlikwidi
required
oeao radmnstdlatastode
cold as
a w
l dte
heasitaywfasor members to their seats.
atmosphere outside,
stifling,the livinga n
d i
nm asthes
crush the usual deference of Americans for women
was forgotten. Though Mrs. Stanton claims success
for the cause of ?he Revolution, the ladies were left
to battle for their rights in the snow and mud
t'len as
struggle a
out-
side, and if the small proportion of them that
butgainseede
second
dm
bestittae
in
ne
tbhee k
test, t ,
et
vh
ee
ryy cameone
foroff
himself." The programme had been arranged in
caucus, and Impeachment Ashley opened the de-
bate. Mr. Johnson, he said, had appointed the
worst rebels to office ; was responsible for the
massacre at New Orleans and Memphis, and for
all the Union blood that had been shed in the
South; bad prevented reconstruction; had la-
boured to get the electoral votes of the Southern
States for himself, with intention, failing in that,
to precipite a revolution on the country. Im-
peachment of this man was demarded by the
country. Mr. Boyer (Democrat) said that
the Tenure-of-Office Act did not apply to E. M.
Stanton, who had been appointed before the passing
of the Act; moreover, the Act was without doubt
unconstitutional. Mr. Blaine (Republican) said
that the President had openly and plainly violated
the law, thrown down the gauntlet, and dared Con-
gress to the issue ; and Congress could not shrink.
Mr. Washburne (Republican), of Illinois, had long
opposed, for reasons of policy, the impeachment of
the President ; but he could not longer resist the
performance of that solemn duty. He proceeded
for 20 minutes to denounce the President and his
advisers as " red-handed rebels," " filthy creatures,"
" low reptiles," &c. Mr. Woodward (Democrat),
who has been a judge, offered a legal argument ; he
essayed to show the President had violated no law ;
that the Tenure-of-Office Act is unconstitutional ;
and that to impeach the President for the removal
of Mr. Stanton would be " worse than a crime—a
blunder." Mr. Wilson (Republican), chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, said that to yield now
would be to make the Executive supreme ; iu his
opinion the President had violated the law ; Mr.
Johnson was a criminal, a disturber of the public
pt•ace, and must be removed. The President had
previously rushed upon his own destruction. The
President's plea that he had removed Stanton in
order to test the legality of the Tenure-of-Office
Act, was preposterous. Mr. Woodbridge (Repub
lican) reci ed various Acts of the President described
as unlawful, and said that Mr. Johnson would
be removed, and if riot Ulould follow the old voltm-

c ear to my own mind and so imperative. If
what was possible had been certain, if I had been
fully advised when I removed Mr. Stanton that in

thus etc-fending the trust committed to my hand,

my own removal was sure to follow, I could not
have thesitatA, actuated by public considerations of
the highest character. I earnestly protest against

the resolution of the Senate which charges me in
what I have done with a violation of the Consti-
tution and laws of the United States." The Senate
considered the matter for a short time in secret
session, and referred General Ewing's nomination
to the Military Committee. In the meantime
General Lorenzo Thomas had again made a dash
at the War Department, where the indomitable
Stanton still remained entrenched. Much the same

controversy again occurred—" Yes, I will." " No,

you shan't." After the interview General Thomas
proceeded to the apartments of various subordi-
nates, requiring all letters and communications to
the Secretary of War to be sent to him. This Stan-
ton countermanded on peril of instant dismissal,

and, Thomas again defeated, sought shelter under

the President's wing in the White House.

day long message 3 flowed to and fro from
Washington to the extremities of the Union.
Meetings had been gotten up in various places,

and Legislatures were busy discussing resolutions,
New Jersey went in favour of the President, Cali•

fornia followed suit, the Pennsylvania Senate
favoured impeachment, the Union League Clubs
fired salutes in various cities in honour of the course
of Congress. In New York a military organiza-

tion was attempted, and a society formed, called the
Andrew Johnson Club, in which 4,000 names were
enrolled, when the police entered the premises in
Broad-street, arrested two or three, and seized the
papers on the plea that a breach of the peace was
threatened.

On Tuesday, the 25th of February, the
interest was transferred to the Senate. Shortly
after ten o'clock Thaddeus Stevens entered,

leaning on Mr. Binghatn's arm. The Clerk had
announced the adoption of the resolution of the
impeachment by the House. Although scarcely
able to move Mr. Stevens entered the central aisle,
and, leaning on a bench, thus spoke in a feeble

voice :

" Mr. President,—ln obedience to the order o
the House of Representatives we have appeared be
fore you. In the name of the House of Represents
tives, and of all the people of the United States, we
do impeach Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States, of high crimes and misdemeanours in office;
and we further inform the Senate that the House of
Representatives will in due time exhibit particular
articles of impeachment against him, to make good
the same ; and in their name we demand that the
Senate take due order for the appearance of the
said Andrew Johnson to answer to the said im-
peachment."
Mr. Wade replied—The Senate will take order
on the premises ; and a resolution was adopted re-
ferring the Message of the House to a special com-
mittee of seven, when Messrs. Stevens and Bingham
retired. Nothing of importance occurred outside
the House on this day, and it was evident that
popular excitement was rapidly subsiding. Stanton
was no longer attacked in his entrenchments.
On Wednesday Adjutant-General Thomas ap-
peared in Chief-Justice Cartter's court-room, which
was crowded with a highly interested audience, to
answer to the charge made against him by E. N.
Stanton. It was arranged that Thomas was to go
to gaol, his release to be obtained on a writ of
habeas corpus, and appeal made to the Supreme
Court. This was checkmated by the Judge, who
was Stanton's friend and political ally, dismissing
the case. Thomas immediately instituted a suit for
false imprisonment against Stanton, claiming
$150,000 damages. The Secretary of War re-
mained encamped in his office entrenchment, and
the Adjutant-General made no further attack.
Senators Doolittle and Dixon, Secretary Welles,
several Representatives, and General Thomas had
interviews with the President. The counsel
for General Thomas have compelled Mr. Stan-
: ton to supply a copy of the commission issued
to him as Secretary of War by President Lincoln.
; The words are to act " during the pleasure of the
President for the time being." The excitement con-
tinued to subside throughout the country, and the
impeachers, becoming aware of their strength,
ceased to hurry to and fio in their late frenzy. The
House committee examined Gens. Emory and Wal-
lace, as well as Thomas. The President met a de-
' putatiou from Baltimore, whom he informed " that
no personal sacrifice was too great for him to bear
in defence of the Constitution ; he was sure the in-
telligence and patriotism of the people would yet
rescue the country from the threatened ruin."
On Thursday and Friday Washington had sunk into
all the repose it ever allows itself. Stanton still hung
on to the War-office under the shelter of a double
guard. Indeed, on Friday evening the building
was surrounded by a cordon of soldiers. His drafts
on the Treasury are honoured, though Thomas had
been invited by the President to attend a meeting
of the Cabinet as Secretary of War, ad interim,
which he did. Many prominent Republicans, among
whom is Grant, urge Stanton to resign, but there is
little probability of this obstinate man complying
with the request. The President applied for a writ
quo warrant° to compel Mr. Stanton to show cause
why he holds possession of the War Department,
but the application cannot come up until the
December term of the Supreme Court.. On Friday
the President gave Thom-as a full commission as
Secretary of War, ad interim.