The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-16

~nS
( or course all guess-work, but in which
rcrhaps the reader will nevertheless be
somewhat Interested.
TUE IMrEACHERS IN EARSEsT.
Aner carefully striving to get at the
trn;h, so far as this controversy between
cnncress and the President IS concerned.
! have arrived at the conclusion that both
Congress and the President mean mischief.
The Radicals intend to press impeachment
a, the next meeting OF Congress, and the
president is firmly determined TO resist it
" Il Qrn,iS, by using all the power and
o,co,s under his control. The Radical
leaders have come TO the conclusion that
,bc President is resolved to carry out
rnconstruction on terms least oppreS-
.iye TO the conquered southern people,
and least in sympathy with the congress.
sioral negro supremacy plan. They
believe his purpose TO be to restore the
3i,.rauchised whites in the South to all
their rights as citizens, and particularly
that of suffrage, OF which they are deprived
rr6cr the present system OF registration.
They believe he will employ the whole
novcr Of the Executive TO carry out this
Ii, policy Of saving millions Of intelligent
whites from the domination Of an inferior,
;,oorant, and but half civilized class, so
-rrcatlv delivered from the bonds OF
slavery and suddenly invested with the
rights of frcemer. They see in the execu-
,ion of his plan the destruction Of the
means by which the great Republican
marty designed 10 control the South and
y. 81
,roaacc, at the sacrifice of patriotism,
ins,icc, and every right principle. OBJ
serving all this, they are naturally eager
for his removal, and now clamor for i'm
ocachmcnt with louder voice and greater
zeal than formerly.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL DO II M
PEACuED.
AN reliably informed that he will re-
gard the action Of Congress as revolution
arv. The Radicals having abandoned the
idea of trying him for high crimes and
misdcmeanorS, and iustifying his impcach-
rent merely on the ground that he is, in
the language Of Butler, an "impediment"
10 reconstruction, he will not recognize
their proceedings as legal or constitu-
tional, and will pay no respect to their re-
solvcs aud determinations. Should articles
Of Impeachment he presented and reso-
lution passed Su>pcnding Mr.. Johnson and
prohibiting him from exercising the func-
iiouS OF President should Wade be chosen
10 act as President ad interim, and, armed
with this color Of right and law, command
Johnson to vacate the White House and
turn over to him all the property, papers,
&C., pertaining to the Executive office, |
have reason to believe that Mr.. johnson
will decline, and defy Congress to
do It's worst. the Presidents view
of the matter is said to be this ::
Each Of the three great branches Of the
Government is for itself the judge of the
constitutionality of a law. Congress, in
the first place, is a jndgc. 1t passes law
according to constitutional forms by the
requisite majority over the President
veto. According to the Constitution it
can only lcgislate on certain subjects.
Well, the law is passed and it comes to
the President for execution. He is sworn
t. faithfully execute his Office, and to
"preScrve, protect, and defend the Con-
stitulion of the United States" Who is
10 determine for him whether the law
passed by Congress does not conflict with
the Constitution be is sworn to defend
II he considers it clearly in violation of
the Constitution, is he not under the most
solemn obligation to refuse TO enforce it 7
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
was not intended Us q mere political dodge
20 catch the popular favor and enlist
>oIrhorn sympathy more strongly in behalf
Of thc Johnsonan policy. The President
does not intend that it shall be a merely
Useless State paper OF! fine phrases but
empty effects. He designs it shall work
TO the advantage of the southern whites
by pardoning large class-the most in
tvlligcnt, wealthy, and socially influential
and restoring to them their civil rights, in
Guiding that Of suffrage. Ii is said he has
no power to grant suffrage to the pardoned
rebels excluded by the reconstruction
acts. He claims he has, and l have good
authority for stating, notwithstanding
semi official contradictions, that the time
is not far distant when he will enforce his
views by ordering the rc0pening OF regis
;ration, and causing new instructions to
he issued to the military commanders, in
accordance with these views.