Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-24
EmPEACFMENT-WHAT MAY COME
OF IT.

HWREAafhtMENN-aF W rs II Ma ND-tA-
OF III.
The New York HOrld in a late article,
SAYS: There seems to be a universal popu-
lar impression that II President Johnson
should be impeached and deposed- the
President Of the Senate, who, by law sue
eeeds him, would continue to hold the
place during the unexpired portion Of
Mr. Johnson's term This is a mistake.
The same law which designates the
President Of the Senate as the next in
mceession when the Offices Of President
and Vice President both fall vacant, pro-
yides also for an immediate Presidential
election to GIL the two vacant Offices. II
President johnson is deposed, ace snail
hare neag Presidential election this year
The World proceeds to quote the sec
ton of the law which, in the event of
vacancy in the Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency, provides for an election by the
electoral college in the prescribed form,
before the first W ednesday in the Decem-
Der next ensuing after the vacancies are
declared. Il comments upon the danger
Gus excitement that would result from an
election under such circumstances, and
the dilemma Of the Radicals in regard to
their candidate for the unezpired term,
and adds
Congressman ike Ashley, Boutwell,,
and the great body Of their fellow~mem'
bers, whose aspirations do not rise SO
high as the Presidency, would gladly put
Mr.. Johnson ont. but the rivalry Of the
Presidential candidates would disrupt
and destroy the party If that hazardous
step should be ventured on. The more
ambitious party chiefs win oppose it, and
it is 10 be hoped that their opposition
win prove effectual Yet, fMr johnson
remains in Office, Congress IL at the end
Of its tether, perfectly impotent TO infiict
any further injury on the South than the
continued exclusion of its representatives
from Congress They cannot upset the
Southern State governments so long as
Mr. johnson Is Commander-in-Chief of
the army, and a majority of the Supreme
Court is Conservatives They would not
mend their prospects by enlarging or re-
modelling the Supreme Court with
President johnson in ONCE to appoint
the new Judges If they declare the
constitutional amendment carried when
ratified by The represented states, the
President and Supreme Court will pay
no respect to the declaration and treat
as nullity every law founded on It,
Meanwhile. an inevitable reaction viii set
in against the party which with wiilful
obstinacy blocks the restoration of the
Union, and throws away the proper fruit
Of the war
The Repuhlicanparty stands between
the devil and the deep sea lfCongress
impeaches the President, they run the
hazard of exploding tbeir party into irag-
ments if they do not impeach him, their
success in the fall elections is Z barren
victory, which advances them not a step
toward the attainment Of their fayorite
objects. They cannot deposo Mr. john
son and 60 into o Presidential election
this year without ruin they cannot post
pone the restoration Of the Union with
out ruin. They publish their perPloxity
by resorting TO so desperate measure as
impeachment, and they viii proclaim
their fears and their impotence by their
failure to carry it through The wedges
are already sharpened for cleaying the
Republican party into Earring factions
Differences Of opinion must arise IN re-
lation ia the projected impeachment