The Portland daily press., 1867-02-12
(From Harper's Weekly, Feb. 9th.J
s,n. aud TupeachEueut.

Until the report of the judiciary Committee
is presented to the House the air will be
thick with rumors of every kind from Wash
ington. We are very glad. therefore, that Mr.
Wilson, the chairman of the Committee, has
stated that nobody but the members OF the
Committee know any thing about the progress
of the Investigation, and that all the reports in
regard tol are wholly groundless. 3t5
The Judiciary Committee is usually consid-
cred very radical body, and it is probably the
general impression that it will report in favor
OF impeachment. But it will be remembered
that this much-abused Congress has not been
swift to take extreme action of any kind MOI,
withstanding great national eXcitement, AM ana
the natural evaporation OF the LeSIsii,hu, LeSi H.,
with an Executive who first betrayed anu eneh
denounced; Notwithstanding also ITS enormous morn ~,
majority which enables it to dispense Win VT, tle
Presidential approval, the acton Oh the Ihirty-
ninth Congress has been sInguiiil ,enhpcra,e.
1t knew that at an epoch iike TINS, time is the
trnest friend for time only can reveal the cir
cumstances upon which wise legislation can be
based Unon ihe one hand, MIR. Wendell
PhilIips charged it with hypocrisy and swind-
linz. upon the other, Mr.. Raymond prayed il
to leave its damnable faces and begin. But
Congress waited and investigated and deliber-
ated, and time, which it trusted has yindicat-
ed its wisdom Had it decreed confiscatiop
and territorial governments and universal suf.
frage at its last session, it would have outrup
pubic sympathy. But by proposing only the
mild amendment 1T gave the country full op-
portunity to learn the controlling facts of the
situation, and won public opinion to its pres.
ent advanced position. f-..
during the last session there was much hot
ana ioohsh defamation, but the decisions We're
deliberately and wisely made. Mr.. Thaddeus
Stevens was called the leader of the House.
lie unbridled his tongue and urged summary
measures; but of all bis serious plans, during !;
sessiol4 OF seven months, Congress adopted out
one-the appointment OF Recon I'll ucIioh
Committee Rivaling the wise patience OF MI.
Lincoln, it endured the sneers OF an lss eng, enc
mics and the adjurations OF some oflts trlends.
We confide therefore, in the wise report Oh
the Judiciary Committee and the subsequent
action of Congress Should the CoInmittee de-
eide not only that the evidence authorizes I'M
peaehment but that circumstances render ii
desirable we have no doubt that the testimony
and arguments will be SO fully and fairly stat
ed as to command public approval; and we
presume that upon the presentation of such q
report the House will defer action until it can
ascertain the feeling of the country.
There is probably little difference of opinion
among loyal men as to the usurpation by the
Executive OF the functions of the Legislature
But as IL is not generally believed to have haC
originally bad Intention and as it has beer
wholly defeated in its perilous tendency, it i,
questionable whether upon that ground alon,
Impeachment would be expedient. There il
equally little doubt of the illegal dispensatioi
OF the prerogative of the Senate by the Execu
tive acUion iii official appointments. But tina
is with ample precedent, and is a disputed
point upon which impeachment is plainly in
expedient More ominous was the Presiden
tial conduct at the time of the New Orleans
massacre LII it shall clearly appear that un
der any pretense whatever the President o
the United States connived at the slaughter o
citizens peaceably assembled for discussion, the
public indignation viii be profound, but it viii
not necessarily regard impeachment as the
wisest nolcv And if the Com fnittfe slIal