The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-15
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.
The Impeachment Question - The
HeraId.s Alarm, and how its EditO-
riuls are Made.

| WASHINGTON, January l3.-The Herald
sends down to this city now and then one
of its editors TO gather materials and write
up particular subject. These editors,
| strangers personally 10 members OF Con-
gress and to heads Of departments, spend
a few hours here, catch up curbstone goS-
sip and hotel saloon chit-chat, get intro
duced and talk to half-doZen members of
Congress, (who know less, but tell more
probably than any other half-doZen peo-
ple,) and off they go to New York to as
| toniSh the country with their observations
upon the status OF Congress, and the pur-
poses its members. Their accounts are
as unreliable, in this particular, as the
statements of recent journalistic travel
lers who having passed through late re-
hellious State as fast as railroad cars could
take them, straightway rush into print, in
dite and publish book Oh southern SEN
timcut.
The purpose of class of Radicals, Of
which Mr.. Ashley is a fair type, to impeach
and get rid of Mr.. Johnson has not been
concealed at any time since the Congress
convened in December, but every one who
mingleS with the rejecting, able members
of Congress, especially of the Senate, has
observed that in proportion as the plan and
real grounds upon which the charge OF lm-
parchment was TO be sustained became de-
veloped, the probability OF the success OF
the scheme grew smaller.
But it is not to be denied that every
effort will be made by the members of
the Judiciary Committee to make bad
case against Mr.. Johnson, for that COM
mittee is composed of the most violent
Radicals, some Of whom-MesSrS. Boutwell,
and Bingham, for eXample-werc among
the original instigators of the impeach-
ment adventure. And, as showing the
animus of the committee, it is but neces-
sary to say that they have entrusted the
taking Of testimony 10 subcommittee OF
three-all extreme Radicals-Messrs. Will
son, Boutwell,, and Williams.
With such a committee, what is likely to
be the character OF the evidence on which
the Judiciary will report, if ever it shall
make a report, may be readily surmised.
Swift witnesses will Of course be available.
The subcommittee is composed OF recog-
nized learned lawyers, and the President
might feel content to entrust the taking OF
testimony to such able jurSts, in view of
the fact that in making up the charges for
"treaSon, and other high crimes, and mis-
demeanors, must be sustained by the
facts, and not the partisan construction OF
such men as Messrs. Forney and Ashley.
But, unfortunately, this selection of an
entire committee, one already pledged to
impeach Mr.. Johnson, and the others the
implacablc enemies of the President, gives
no promise of disposition TO deal fairly
in the investigation. Mr.. johnson VIII
have no representative in that sub-com-
mittee to cross-examine the witnesses.
Nevertheless, we know the character of
the charges preferred, and knowing posi-
lively that the facts will not make up the
legal basis for impeachment, and relying
upon my knowledge Of the opinions and
temper of certain Republican senator's,
feel warranted in stating that the specula-
tons of the Herald editor are more appll-
cable to the state Of facts that existed a
month ago than to the condition OF affairs
at the present time.
Some of the witnesses who testified be-
fore the New Orleans Riot Committee
few DAYS ago have arrived here. They
complain of the partial and partisan cha.
racter of the investigation on the part OF
Messrs. Eliot and Shellabarger. Their
preliminary questions were like these
.sWhat side are you going to testify on,
sir?" "What are your politics !" &C.
And during the examination Mr.. Eliot let
off commentaries on the testimony as 1T was
given, like this: "Thats as much as We
could expect from rebel, !" &C.
| am also informed by the same persons
that the witnesses who testified before the
committee upon suggestion of the city au-
thorities were substantial citizens OF un.
doubted Union sentiments, and they all
testified that if the Presidents policy were
permitted to be carried out, and the re-
representatives. admitted at once, things
would go along smooth with the people OF
Louisiana" DATA.