Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-25
IMPEACHMENT.
Another Appeal from Wendell Phil
lips.

hhOthcE appear hIOuA
lips.
From the Anti-Slavery STANDARD of last week.I
The question of impeaehihg the Presi-
dent occupies a very large share of public
attention. In our Judgment more than two
thirds of the loyal masses are ready for it..
The House of Representatives, we are as
sured by the most trustworthy and compe-
tent authority, is ready to begin by vote
of three TO one. The only hesitation arises
from the position taken by certain Conser-
vative Senators-men who have never out
grown their education in the timid policy
OF the OLD WING party, ana who still retain
relations with the President which it would
be fattery to call equivocal. These men
express such repugnance to the measure,
such doubts of its justice and eXpediency,
that its friends infer they will never agree
to conviction. Unwilling to aid in what
would then be thought an abortive move
ment, one successful in its immediate result,
the friends of impeachment hesitate to pro-
ceed. We doubt whether this reluctance is
good policy. Grant the possibility of our
not securing q cOnI4ction--there ARE still
many considerations which show how val
liable the mere impeachment itself would
be. Foremost and chief Of. these is the
probable effect on the South. What
changed its honorable and healthy humil-
ity in May, 1865. to the arrogant and swag-
gering confidence of May, 1866? The
reliance on Johnson's treachery, and the
expectation that his treason would be
stituency. No one will deny this. The
stiff Northern breeze of October and No
vember has almost blown away that castle
in the air. Still, a million and more OF
Democratic votes give large room for future
hope; make it easy to confOund and dis
pute the significance ofthe election triumph.
Few men doubt that the President means
to persevere in his plot. But the whole
South watches to see what the purpose of
the North really is, and how far, even In
the presence of such Democratic mass,
the Republican party dares to go. Let the
| news go forth that the President is defied-
that the Republican leaders dare to declare
/ open battle with him, to impeach and stIs-
pend him, like the handwriting on the
wall, that Announcement will make South
ern knees, like those offormer tyrants, shake
aud smite against each other; the proud
but baSeless fabric OF Southern ambition
will dissolve, and ''leave not wreck be-
hind" Wade Hampton even may come to
bis knees. and coward brutes like Mayor
MunrOe will surely get to theirs. 1t will
be sign of Northern purpose, and of our
| leaders, understanding of, aud confidence
L - - A A - -. " d.
IN 1t, more potent than any otner evidence
can be. NO m"FemenC would go SO farToy
ward convlnchs tne Sohgn now noPeleE IS
! ner pan 10 save her. lnlIlnan III clVlllzatlon
from the verdict Wnlch NOr'her Vlct)ry
has recorded against II.
There IS anotner consideratlon OF great
importance; Inc usurpaelon ana corrup-
ton OF the Nataonal! ExecusIVe nave been
increasing every year i1r CiIs iasC quaPter Oh
century. Iyler, foik, tillmore' Fierce.
anu Bucnanal nave eacn succeeded IN
ontdoing ms preuecessorm1oe ~ increasing
servlllty anu Daseness oi -eac. making MS
PTeoecessor appear co9lpataClveiy decent.
Inc linpuhlGy wiCh Whlcn eacn was suiier-
ed 10 complete ms Vlilaluy emooldened MS
successor. oueh men are peiow tne reach
OF nonoraole m91lye, IespeGSlor character,
anu lote VI SOSu ., ~ s ul!lCy
cortupss aIIu .ho, M at ~ .ue hation