Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-26
The Msatinr Of Congress.

to. day. As this session, legally consid-
cred, may be set down, like that Of July,
as but a continuance Of the 4th Of March
session, fixed by law, it is understood
that the Presidents annual message will
be withheld till the regular meeting on
the first Monday in December.
Megntime the question recurs. What
will Congress do to fill up the interval TO
the first Monday in December2 II is
probable that the two houses will, after
short session to day, adjourn over to
Monday next, and that the intervening
time will be mainly occupied in caucuses
and consultations, and in the counting OF
noses upon the great issues of the day
and the course TO be pursued thereon by
the party in power. On Monday, it is
given out, two reports will be presented
from the House Judiciary Committee on
impeachment-a majority report against
impeachment and a minority report in
favor of impeachment We have some
hints that this minority report from a
majority Of the republican members OF
the com mittee will astonish the country
with its heavy catalogue of charges and
specifications, facts and testimony of
"high crimes and misdemeanors' against
Andrew johnson. 1t is said, too, that
he is somewhat apprehensive that the
impeachment faction will carry their
point, and that hence he has been calling
considerable reinforcements of troops
into delenses of Washington, in view OF
the possible contingency of resolution
or bill to suspend him in the functions
of his office during his trial
We guess, however, that Mr.. Johnson
may dismiss all such apprehensions,
that the resolution indicting him and
handing him over to the Senate for trial
will fail, and that the debate upon it and
the charges and specifications from the
Judiciary Committee will hardly amount
to anything more than a nine days
wonder. The whole of the coming week
in the House may be devoted to the dis
ousson of the subject but we shall not
be surprised-if put TO the vote by Sat
urday evening, the 30th-if there will be
a definite settlement Of the matter in the
abandonment of the prosecution. The
President, perhaps, is waiting to shape
his animal message as the upshot of this
impeachment movement may require.
In any event, we expect that this mes.
sage will be exceedingly interesting, and
not without some points and recommen-
datiens of great Importance on Southern
reconstruction, on negro suffrage, on the
national finances, and on Walrussia and
st. Thomas, and probably some other
real estate speculations of Mr.. Seward.
There is one matter upon which any
action upon the impeachment question
may be postponed for time. We refer
to the case of Edwin M. Stanton, late
Secretary of War. The tenure of office
law provides substantially that no mem
ber of the Cabinet shall be removed by
the President unless with the advice and
consent of the Senate, and that If in the
absence of Congress the President shall
suspend any Cabinet officer, he shall
within twenty days of the reassembling
of Congress submit his reasons for such
suspension. Then, if the Senate concur
in such suspension, it shall hold good
but if they shall by vote declare the Pres
ident's reasons for such suspension in
sufficient, the suspended officer shall be
reinstated.
This law covers the case of Stanton;
the law was made for Stanton, and there
may be some trouble about it. Mr..
Speaker Colfax said, at the Cooper la
stitute some two weeks ago, that within
twenty days after the reassembling OF
Congress Mr.. Stanton would be restored
to his post in the War Department How
does Mr.. Johnson intend TO meet this
difficulty? His reasons-if presented
for the suspension of Stanton we know
will be rejected by the Senate. The re-
moval of Stanton, if indicated by an
other appointment submitted to the
Senate for ratification, will probably
result in a resolution pronounclng re-
moval and appointment illegal and void.
What then? The President, it is said,
will appeal to his construction of the
law and make case for the Supreme
Court. As yet we hear of no regular
appointment in place of Stanton, and 1t
may be withheld for some two or three
weeks longer
The party of impeachment may insist
upon a suspension of any action on the
subject until Mr.. johnson shall show his
hand in the case of Stanton. Otherwise,
within the coming week, from the facts
and charges against the Executive from
the impeachment committee, we shall be
prepared for the quashing of the indict-
ment The late elections cannot have
failed to make an impression upon the
dominant party in Congress which will
clip the wings of the Radicals upon i'm
peachment as well as upon negro
suffrage York Herald, 2lst
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