Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-08
IMPEACHMENT.
What 1t Is Expected to Accomplish
IA Little Very Plain Talk.

We touched last week on some consid
erations which show the value of an i'm
parchment of the President, even ifthert
were little hope of its resulting in con
viction. But there are two very pres
sing reasons why every effort should be
made to secure conviction.
Every anti-slavery man remembers
what dead lock to all progress the Su
preme Court of the United States has
been in times past. lis judges, appoint
ed by pro slavery executive, selected
from the most conservative class, hold
ing their Offices for life, and growing
more and more fossil each year Of ad-
vancing age, no effort short of revolution
seemed able to resist their baneful power.
To-day that same court stands the same
immovable obstacle in our path. 1t is
understood that five judges out of nine
support the President 1t is said that
they decided, a year ago. that the iron
clad oath" was unconstitutional, and all
that the chief justice could do was to de-
lay the formal announcement of the de-
cision. One Of those judges appointed
by Lincoln has Joined the enemy. This
state of things is an almost issurmounta-
Bile barrier to some measures which are
indispensable to any safe end perma-
nent reconstruction. But all men are
mortal
Two Of these judges are very DID, one
other infrm in health. tits very prob
able that Mr.. Johnson may, within two
years, have the appointment Of two
judges, perhaps more. Of course his
nominations are subject to the Senate s
approval; but we all know he may select
men OF fair repute but welded to his
policy, whom it would be impossible to
prevent the Senate from confirming.
Such is one of the dangers of leaving
rebel at the head of the government
for two years more. We may, and prob
ably shall, have the Supreme Court re-
inforced with fresh, young blood, to last
another quarter of century, and be al
ways the refuge Of abuses and the foe Of
progress. If his crimes have given us
sufficient grounds to remove johnson and
avert this momentous danger, it is fool
hardy, il is madness, to leave the crimi-
nal untouched and run all these risks.
There is yet another consideration
urging us in the same direction. The
readiest, quickest way TO secure true
reconstruction seems to be this, for the
first step at least: brush away these
phantoms, the pretended State govern
ments, and set up territorial govern
ments in each Of the lately rebel States.
This gives room to build, gets rid of all
the lumber and cobwebs of State rights
and old laws. To day North Garolina
whips negroes by virtue of certain North
Carolina laws, all OF. which the rebellion
annihilated. To defend this atrocity
cunning rebels talk of North Carolina
laws. and confuse the people. There
being no such State az North Carolina,
there can be, of course, no laws of any
such State.
Whoever undertook to infict corporal
punishment by virtue of any such laws,
deserves, whether he pretends to be Gov
ernor or Judge, the same summary, igno'
minious punishment that any swindler
suffers who personates a policeman and
levies black-maiL If Congress remem-
bers its own selfrespect, or what 1t owes
to the nation. 1t will find some way TO
reach the meddier and punish the out
rage. OF course, the direct and effectpal
way to prevent such offenses is to sweep
away all these military committees and
rebel boards which call themselves State
governments. and SGT up proper terrific
rial governments.
There seems some evidence that Con-
eress intends TO take this course But
suppose the Radical members achieve
this resuls what next Why, the nomi-
nation OF al territorial officers belongs TO
the President He can so shape his
nominations as TO keep those govern
ments wholly subseryient to his policy.
Of course ne would not name Maqe
Hampton or Mayor Monroe 10 gosernor-
ships; he knows such men would never
he approved by the Senate. But he os7
select from rebeldem, North and South,
men more decent hut net less dangerous
indeed, for that very reason Of their
decent behavior, more dangerous than
the swaggering bTavos Of their party
and thus, sure in time of the senates
acouiesence, make ierrirsries as supple
tools AZ be has made his so-ealled States
We see, therefore. tha: i Is impossible
10 make one step in the direction Of
thorough and permanent reccnstructon
while johnson remains in Office We
have the legal right TO remove hir.i the
country. Indignant and disguised, de-
mands II; the necessity Of the situation
requires Il pelsF : dangerous, ahd
NAV be fatal Who dares to trust such
man As Andrew johnson with the power
thus 10 balk the plans Of the conqueror
--,v;th the mower beside 50 a. 70 compli-