The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-08
THE IMPEACHMENT.

There need be no better proof Of the inherent
weakness Of the Radical party than the history OF
the impeachment question. Tho impeachment OF
the President began to bo talked Of soon after the
return of Mr. JOHNSON from his Western tour last
fall. irresponsible parties Of the extra-fanatical
stripe first took up Che cry, such as tho
provincial radical press, FoRNEYs two. papers,
and the rabid Journals of tho West but
still 1T was not thought by the Inore
sober-minded men OF the country that, in
view of all the serious, il not fatal consequences,
such step would almost inevitably bear in it's
train, that the party, holding majority in Con-
gress could be IN earnest with these threats. Gen.
BUTLER, however, in that memorable harangue ne
made In Brooklyn few months since, set forth
the full programme Of the drama. md had it oil
pat. Nothing was easier, nothing could he sim
pier. The leading journals of every party have
uniformly discouraged it. It was left 20 the
fanatics in and out Of Congress.
Early in the session. at Radical CAUCUS, ii was
determined that no articles of impeachment
should be presented in the House, unless they had
been previously agreed upon in caucus. A day or
two afterward, MIR. ASHLEY offered a resolution
structed to inquire, il any officer OF the dovorn-
ment had been guilty Of high crimes Or mis-
demeanors. This resolution was adopted, and the
first slep was thus taken. It is understood that
the Committee have since been engaged taking
evidence, with q view OF preparing articles OF I'M
peachment. The New York Herald, until then
friendly 10 the Administration, and bitter
denouncer Of tho Radicals and their destructive
policy, suddenly Yeered round about the time Dir.
ASHLEY offered his resolution, and has in every
Issue since then had one OF more leaders on this
subject tho object Of which are to show the neces-
sity OF the impeachment and removal OF President
JOHNSON; that such is the will of the people; that
there is nothing extraordinary in all this, that the
Constitution has provided this remedy, and that
nothing need therefore be feared for the country
at large; neither confusion, tumult, civil war,
financial disaster or political complication. The
Hef..ld however, we believe, notwithstanding its
diurnal exhortations, has not mado any converts
A great many OF the staunchest Republicans, both
politicians and ournaa, are still aVerse to the pro-
ject. Tho Herald has exhausted history and
fiction for parallels to sustain its view. CHnLBs
T., JAMES H., LOUIS XVI. and CHARLES 4, have
been repeatedly called on s;to point a anoral" !"
Every article ends in the same way; that it is the
most simple and harmless thing in the worldf for the
coordinate branches Of the Government to lock
horns, and deliberately oater upon life and death
struggle Truly FOOLS rush in where angels fear to
tread.
From various indications We have had OF late,
both Of direct and an indirect character, in the
proceedings of Congress-, We are lci to the con-
clusion that tho impeachment hangs fire; that the
House is divided within itself; that some OF tho
foremost members Of the Radical Church entertain