The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-28 00:00:00

7HE POSIT lON AT WASHINGTON.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
It is passing strange to compare the action of the
English Legislature with that of the United States ;
the Executive in each country being in opposition
to the majority. At Washington Mr. JOHNSON is
opposed by four-fifths of both Houses of Congress,
maintaining a policy directly in variance. Not only
does he set aside, but he infringes the laws passed
by the Legislature. Not only does he dismiss a
Minister Congress earnestly desires to retain, but he
replaces him with one Congress indignantly refuses
to recognize. Yet when the Legislature takes the
only constitutional means of putting a stop to this
dead-lock byremoving the obstruction it had borne for
three years most of the English papers decry the
action as revolutionary, as subversive of the Consti-
tution, and as destructive of rightfal authority.
But how does Parliament act when it tastes of a
similar cup ? Mr. DISRAELI, defeated by a narrow
majority on a great Question which many think
infringes on the rights of the Crown, desires that the
subject should temporarily be dropped till the urgent
business of the nation has been transacted, the
Reform Bill for Scotland and Ireland passed, when
the appeal could be made to the enlarged constituen-
cies, and the nation be called on to decide the dis-
establishment of the Irish Church. Every rea-
son is in Mr. DISRAELI'S favour, but Constitu-
tionally a Ministry has no right to retain office
in the face of a hostile majority. So jealous
is Parliament of this privilege, that, notwithstanding
the reasonable programme proposed by the Pre-
mier, he has been subjected to the most bitter at-
tacks, and combined efforts have been made to
drive him out. The extreme measure was even
threatened to stop the supplies ; and Mr. REARDEN,
representative of Athlone borough, has placed a
notice on the table to ask the First Lord of the
Treasury whether it would not be for every one's
interest to advise her MAJESTY to abdicate in favour
of his Royal Highness the Prince of WALES, or to
introduce a bill for the purpose of establishing a Re-
gency, that the duties incumbent on the Sovereign
might be performed during her absence. This is the ac-
tion of those, under small provocation, who condemn
the proceedings at Washington under great provoca-
tion. The Congressional majority, too, contends for
interests far more important than those espoused by
the Parliamentary majority. From the strong
action of the Opposition benches, when Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S followers found they could defeat the Tory
party, it is apparent to what lengths they are pre-
pared to go in crushing opposition. What a spec-
tacle would be presented if Mr. DisnAELidenounced
both Houses as a Rump Parliament hanging on to
the verge of Government, which he would take an
early opportunity of kicking out, and follow this up
by setting aside a law passed by an overwhelming
majority, and despatching the most subservient
soldier at hand with an order to the 'War-office for
the Minister sanctioned by Parliament immediately
to turn out, handing over possession to the bearer.
When such intelligence is announced in the Eng-
lish House of Commons, may we be there to see
what happens ! But it is only, though the cir-
cumstances are dissimilar, by bringing them home
that the English people can compare, and in their
mind's eye see the position at *Washington. Taking
all the circumstances into consideration, however
intemperate the Representatives may have been in
speech, their action has been marked by modera-
tion, while that of the Senate has been eminently
characterized -by dignity and equity. After a
careful reading of American papers of the
9th instant, both Republican and Democratic, we
see no reason to modify the opinion given in the
preceding article, which was written on the receipt
of the vote on the eleventh charge. The general
belief is, that a verdict of Guilty will be returned
on some of the counts, though none looked for a
conviction on all. Mr. JOHNSON by every account
is the one man in Washington who appears to care
least what happens. For so many months he has
been the centre round which the war has raged
that it would be a relief to him to be out of the
crush and able again to breathe freely in the open
air. He sees his enemy, Mr. WADE, rapidly becom-
ing the centre, and the shafts of malice flying
thickly at " glorious old BEN.'S " head, who is
the subject of all sorts of stories. Some say that
he has consented to resign his Presidency of the
Senate in favour of Speaker COLFAX, and in con-
sideration of a written promise from Messrs. COL-
FAX and IViLsoN to decline the Vice-Presidential
nomination, Mr. WADE being placed on the ticket
with GRANT. Rumours have been circulated through
the New England States that Senator WILSON is
doubtful on the Impeachment question; that he
cannot make up his mind to give a vote which will
aid in placing his rival, BEN. WADE, in a position
to use against him so vast a patronage. BUT-
LER, who is in turn put down for all the chief
posts, is now named for Secretary of State, and
THOMAS J. DURANT, of Louisiana, for Attorney -
General. But if the Tenure-of-Office Act is to
stand and be effective, the Cabinet Ministers may
refuse to resign, and hold their places under its
provisions for a month after the expiration of the
present Presidential term, setting " Glorious BEN "
at defiance. In case of ANDREW JOHNSON'S
acquittal, a rumour hi abroad that many changes