The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-06

The Proposed impeachment Oh PRESIDENT
From ne Worid. 'onnSY"' ni'
We recently reprinted columns Of matter from
the Chicago Tribune, advocating in vehement
and acrimonious strain. the impeachment of
President johnson, and his rem val from office
This divuIgGtion OF the sec:et intentions of the
Radicals is q little earher and bolder than we
expected; but we have for some time been con-
.viIced that, as soon az the Radicals had two.
thirds of the Senate, they would immediately
institute proceedings for an impeachment We
expressed this conviction in our hrst article on
the veto OF the Civil Rlghs bill and were
rudely taken to task therefor by the Radical
EUening Post, which, having till quite lately
pretended 70 support the President had not
been trusted with the secret plans OF the Radical
leaders. .I- .s..#
The Chicago Tribune, which leads the way in
advocating lmpeacbment is the most important
Republican paper in the West-the longest esta-
blished, the largest in circulation, the most
potent in influence. 1t gives the cue to nearly
all the local Republican papers west of Lake
Michigan. 1t has been so true and constant to
the radical cause that its editors are in the con.
capital. political Journal holding such rela-
tions seldom takes bold ground from mere fit
fulness or caprice. The sense OF responsibility
which attaches to such position, and the fact
that representative journal owes its import
ance 10 the men who act with II, prevent any
display OF the mere idosyncrasies OF its editors
on subjects oil the nTsG magnitude.
AS point OF party tactics, IL would have been
more prudent to conceal this design, until alter
the vote on the pending veto. If tie veto is
sustained, 1t is idle to talk of Impeachment; for
Ii requires the same majority of two-tbuds to
convict on impeachment that it does to pass q
bill over the veto. There may be some Senators
who would vote against the veto, who would
shrink from seeing things carried to the length
OF an impeachment. AS point of tactics, 1t
might have been more discI eet to have kept the
main desien yelled until after the veto is over
come. The fact that the mask is so prema-
tuIely thrown of, evnces the intense mallgnity
and earnestness of the Presidents enemies. Two
or three days ago, Immediately after the rejec-
ton of Senator Stockton, the radicals were
very confident they were too strong for the
veto and it was probably this delusive conf
dence that embolde1ed the Chicago Tribune
tc disclose the ultimate design OF its party CO.
adjutors. .s.. l. i.....- .0.l
We deem it unnecessary to 90, at present, into
any elaborate retutation oil the arguments
against the President. The hitch in the New
Jersey legislature and the unexpected return
of Senator Wright to Washington, disconcerts
the plans and disapponts the hopes OF the
mahgnants. 1t is now next to certain that the
veto will be sustained; and If so further talk OF
impeachment is futile, and will be toreborne
But it Is well that the President and the couu-
try should understand the virulence OF his
enemies.
There is superficial smartness in the argu-
ment by which it is attempted to be proved
that the President Is guilty of treason, az one
ground OF impeachment Treason is made, by
the Constitution, to consist in "levying war
against the United States, or giving aid and
comfort to their enemies" 1t IS argued that
the South are still enemies; and that the Presi-
dents attempt to introduce them into Con-
gress, to participate in the legislation OF the
country, is giving them aid anG comfort
This argument has enough of piausiblity to
prove that the President bas not been pre-
mature in proclaiming the end OF the Rebel
lion, The Supreme Court decided, in an
49, I. ls,,o. Il
cision on President Lincoln's proclama-
tions--that territorial war existed between
the United States and the insurgents; that, IN
consequence OF those proclamations, all the
Inhabitants OF the States and parts of States
therein designated were public enemies; and,
by logical inference, they would continue such
until those proclamations were in some way,
revoked or annulled. The character thus inn
pressed upon the Southern people was purely
technical, and the Supreme Court has this win
ter disregarded It, by resumlng the consldera-
ton OF suits brought from the Southern States.
Still, the President, as is plausbly argued by
the Chicago Tribune, has recognized the con-
tipuance OF the state of war, by the continued
suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and
other acts whose only justification is the
existence of Rebellion. The late proclama-
ton declaring the end of the Rebellion, takes
from this argument whatever sting it may have
previously had. But it does great deal more.
For, il the continued suspension of the habeas
corpus had 10 other justification than the con-
tinued existence of the Rebellion, il is equally
undeniable that the exclusion OF the Southern
representatives could also have no other justif
| cation. The Chicago Tribune virtually admits
this, in the whole texture OF its argument. The
gist of The argument is that the Southern re-
presentatlves cannot be admitted, because the
Southern States are still in rebellion. The Re
bellion being the only valid ground of exclusion
the converse of the proposition should hold
equally true, that the Rebellion having been
legally terminated, there no longer remains any
colorado excuse Tor refusing to examine the
credentials of the Southern members OF Con
gress. = - .... u. ...
The other arguments used by the Chicago
Tribune we cannot descend to discuss. They
display no semblance of ingenuity, but only
scurriity.