The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-01

CONGRESS- DECLARED TO BE TRAITORS TO
THE SoUTH-A NATIONAL CONVENTION TO
BE CoNyoKED IN WASHINGTON To FORCE
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
a meeting of the Southern Republican AS
ISOLATION, held at their rooms on + street
last evening, Governor Hamilton, of Texas,
presiding, the subject of bene6ting the
loyalists Of the southern States in the
speediest manner was under discussion
during the meeting. The various repre-
sentatiyes of the States, to the number of
twenty, took part in the discussion, the
main point being upon the calling of
national convention to meet in Washington
on or about the 4th of March next to
represent the loyal spirit Of the impeach-
ment party, and thereby instruct the
Fortieth Congress that.it is the will of the
nation that Andrew Johnson should be i'm
peached, as the only hope Of the southern
States for speedy reconstruction.
Pending the adoption OF the resolution
to further this measure, it was ELECTED
from the various speakers that Hon. Thad-
deus Stevens, Hon. Mr.. Boutwell,, and
Hon. Benjamin T. Butler, who had been
consulted, were friends of this movement,
especially the former. The members OF
the association were fully satisfied that the
South had nothing to hope from the pre-
sent Congress, that it was useless to petit
ton or beg of body that had been SO
direlict in duty to their friends. They
were weak kneed, and unless something
was done to frighten the next Congress into
definite action, nothing could possibly be
hoped for. The only question was whether
the force should be concentrated on recon
struction or impeachment, and it was the
unanimous expression of the meeting that
impeachment was the strong point of the
loyalists. While the various representa-
tives of the northern States were undoubt-
eddy their protested friends, they had taken
every step to discover the spirit of the pre-
sent Congress upon the subject, and were
satisfied, beyond q doubt, that nothing
more could be done with the matter.
They were tired of waiting and begging.
The time had come for manifest action.
New York bankers had lobbyists at the
capitol every day pleading with members
of Congress to drop the subject OF I'M
parchment for the financial welfare OF the
country. The members Of the association
had done all in their power to counteract
this influence, but wealth was more potent
than right.
One of the gentlemen announced that
he had yesterday obtained very important
Information desired by Mr.. Ashley, and ne
hoped every member Of the association
would be as active as the committee had
been in strengthening the hands OF the
chairman Of the impeachment COMMITTEE.
Another measure in connection with the
subject of impeachment was to urge, Con-
gress to demand why the confiscation OF
property in the South had not been carried
on according to the tenor OF the resolution
passed in 1862.
The final triumph Of the loyal South was
at hand if President johnson could be I'M
peached. One thing was certain the
Thirty ninth Congress had the honor OF
inaugurating this movement. 1t remained
for the Fortieth Congress to carry II out
and if this was not done, they would brand
themselves before the world as q set OF
poltroons and fools forever. .gI rg
The last and the surest hope would be in
the assembling Of national convention,
composed Of delegates from the East and
the West, the North and the South, and
let them declare, under the shadow of the
capitol and within hearing Of Congress,
that il is the will Of the people that the
President should be impeached at once ;
and unless the convention met, there was
but little hope of ever gaining that recog-
milton which bad been so long denied, and
that recognition could come alone through
impeachment. -National InteltgenceT, 3iSt'