The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-27

Three reports were submitted TO the
House of Representatives on Monday
iu regard to impeachment. First, that
of the majority. signed by Messrs.
Boutwell,, Francis Thomas, Thos.
Williams, VIM. La .rrence, and John C.
Churchill, In fsvor OF Impeachment.
Second, that of Messrs. Wilson and
Woodbridge, lRepublicansl against 1t,
(while strongly condemning johnson, }
and, third, that of Messrs. Marshall
and Eldridge, [Dem0Grats,) who. of
course, exculpate the President and
condemn the whole ground upon
which the idea of impeachment is
based.
The following closing paragraphs,
from the report submitted by Messrs.
Wilson and Woodbridge. will be found,
we think, to embody tho common sense
view of the case generally entertained
among sober thinking Union people:
ain approaching n conclusion we do
not fail 10 recognize two stand-points
from which this case can be reviewed
the legal and the political. Viewing Il
from the latter the case IL success.
The President has disappointed the
hopes and expectations of those who
plaeed him in power. He has betrayed
their confidence and Joined hands with
their enemies; he has proved false
TO the express and implicit condi-
lions which underlie his elevation
10 power; and, in our view OF
the case, deserves the censure and
condemnation of every ell.dtsposed
citizen OF the Republic. While we
acouit him of impeachible crimes, we
pronounce him guilty of many wrongs.
HE contest with Congress has delayed
reconstruction, and inflicted vast inju-
nv upon the people OF the rebel States.
lie has been blind to the necessities OF
the times, and to the demands OF pro-
Eressive civilization. Enveloped in the
darkness OF the past, he seems not to
have detected the dawninE brightness
of the future. Incapable ofappreciating
the grand changes which the past six
years have wrought, he seeks to mea-
sure the great events which surround
cd him by the narrow rules which adj
iusied public affairs before the rebellion,
and its legitimate con- equences destroy
cd them aud established others.
Judge him politically, Rnd.coudemn
him; hut the day of political impeach-
msnt would be u sad one for the coun-
try. Political unfituesS and incapRcity
must be tried at the ballOt-box, not in
the high court Impeachment. A con-
trary rule might leave to Congress but
IiitIe time Tor other business than the
trial of imPcachmenis. We are not
now dealing with political offenses.
Crimes and misdemeHnors are now de-
manding our attention. Do these, with
in the meaning of the Constitution, ap.
pearY Rest the case upon political
offenses, and we Hre prepared to pro-
nounce against the President, for such
ofTenses are numerous aud grave. liza
Mexican experience is desired. We need
have no difficulty, for there almost
every election Is productive of a reyo-
luton. II the people Of the Republic
desire such h result we have not yet
been able TO discover IL; nor would we
favor it II its presence were manifest.
"While we condemn and cenSure the
political conduct Of the President, and
Judge him unwise in the use of his dis
cTelionaTy powers, and appeal to the
people OI the Republic to sustain US, we
still affirm that the conclusion at which
we have arrived Is correct.
"We therefore declare that the case
before us, presented by the testimony
and measured by the law, does not de.
clare such high crimes and misde-
meanors within the meaning of the
Constitution as require the fnterpOsl.
tion OF the constitutional power of this
House, and we recommend the adop
tion of the following resolution:
HReSolped, That the Committee on
the Judiciary be discharged from the
further consideration OF The proposed
impeachment OF the President of the
United States, and that the subject be
laid upo6 the table.
JAMES +. WILSON,
"FREDERIcK E. WOODBRIDGE