Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-25
1IERE MAY BE LITTLE DIFFICULTY ABOUT
The Impeachment Plan.

W uCll bllC buRRIotlOIl W do nISb illdQt ltldJ
the President OF the United States should
be impeached, the idea was secuted and de-
rided as the dream of over-heated partisans.
It was thought that none but rash political
adventures, desiring to make themselves
famous onfVery small capital, would be
found to advocate IKE measure. The course
of events has shown that it was no idle
wish which fathered the suggestion, but it
was part of settled policy from the Begin
ming. 1t requires time to educate the pub
lie mind up to the acceptance of acts of
revolutionary violence The same pro-
cesseS have to be gone through, of abhor-
renee, endurance, tenderness, and final ac-
ceptance, as when startling wrong offers
its temptations to the individual man, and
therefore the real movers of political ma
chinery keep themselves and their motives
concealed Tor time, until they find the
public prepared for their adoption. In a
revolutionary period, such as that in which
we have lived for several years, it requires
buta little while to accustom7 men to the
most eXtravagant propositions. Eight
weeks ago General Butler had apparently
the sole glory of the impeachment scheme,
and it was deridingly said that as he would
not be clothed with the functions of a Rep
resentative until the next Congress, the
discussion might be adjourned; yet prep
aration- has been diligently conducted
from that time forth, until the proposal
has been made by two members on the
floor of Congress in solemn form, and
by a vote of more than two-thirds
the Judiciary committee of the House
of Representatives has been charg-
ed to inquire aud report upon the
subject. Mr.. Stevens has declared that the
plans ofthe Republican party were foiled,
the Constitutional amendment failure,
and the policy of the Congressional major
ity overthrown, unless Mr.. johnson were
impeached and deposed from office. But
an important preliminary had to be accom-
plished before the matter could be avowed
as a settled purpose. That preliminary has
now been arranged. Congress has passed
a law fixing the time for the meeting of the
next Congress on the 4th of March next
Practically, this amounted to decree for
the perpetuation of the power of the ma
jority without emoment's interruption un-
til the 4th of March, 1869, and placed them
beyond the responsibility or chance of dis
turbance from the people. With the same
overwhelming two thirds vote in both
branches, and perpetual session, all the
powers of the Government are now alb
sorbed by the Legislature. The checks and
balances provided by the Constitution in the
Executive veto, and in the, distribution of
powers between the Senate and the House,
have all been practically annihilated by the
concentration of power in a single body,
the caucus of the Radical party, ruled and
governed by member from the State of
Pennsylvania. What impediment remains
in the way of an impeachment? None
whatever, ,,a.. .c ...-.,.,,,,,... ..,l, ., -.
Is it important to inquire of what high
crimes and misdemeanors the President
could be copvicted2 The answer is, that
the same power which car, put in motion
the, Impeachment will control its decision.
There are no prescribed forms or definitions
of crime to limit the articles of accusation,
nor any rules of law by which to restrain
and control the body having power to pass
Sentence. The court which is to try is com
posed, in part, Of the same men who are; to
determine upopth prosecution blind
ed majority which is sWayed through the
lis equivalent to conviction
and sentence. luh tiip 9hJ ''4lulg oj uQi2G1
Some few weelslonly remainof the presG
ent session. Within that period the neces-sI
sary formalities could ,notlbe perfected, so
that the trial should wear that show of con-
formity to- the law which would be, ,ex7,
pected by the American people, !, The mind
Of the public, hardly yet fully awakened
to the purpose of impeachment could not
very we'll bear the shock Of q preeipitate
trial nor Is it, essential to the objects in
view that it should take place Immediately.
There are hpgeripg doubts whether an inl-
peaohment Initiated at one Congress, would \
not fall unless the trial. were completed be- !
fore its adjournment. For these reasons it is
expedient that the full development should |
not take place until after the 4bh hof March.
Then, with the same assumed majority, ,in |
both branches, with the color of popular
support derived from the fact that the
members Of anew Congress come with the |