The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-16

GOOD deal of attention and interest through the
country, but not more than it deserves. There
is a general disposition to regard it as less
serious than it really is. The people find it
difficult TO believe that the project of impeach
ment and removal from Office is seriously enter
tanned by responsible leaders OF the Republican
marty. or that the mass of that party in Congress
can be brought TO support it. We see therefore,
that Il Is widely assumed that the inquiry will
be suffered TO sleep In the Committee which has
Il In charge at least through the remainder of
the present session, and that probably nothing
more will ever be heard of IT, We think this is
a mistake, and that the country Will fall into
setious error if it rests on this belief.
Those who have brought forward this project
are not only serious, but they are Jealous and
resolute in pressing II to eXeCutiOn-not on It's
own account. not merely or mainly to punish
the President Tor alleged misconduct or to vim
dIcate the cause OF justice, but because 1t Is
absolutely essential to the omplishment of
their political purposes. The removal OF An
drew Johnson from Office is sought rs means,
not as an end. Wendell Phillips, who Is the
author of the scheme, denounced the President
more than year ago-not as criminal to De
punished, but as an "Ob5idoje TO be removed"
He was in the way OF the Phillips policy. He
had not then done any OF the acts for which Mr..
Phillips now arraigns him; he had vetoed no
bills, and made no removals from Office; ne had
neither "swuug round the CIRCLE" nor branded
Colonel FOrney as a dead duck.n Yet Mr..
Phillips demand for his impeachment and
removal was just as imperative rs it is to-day.
General Butler, who came somewhat later
into the field, and who now considers himself
the leader OF the impeachment movement, IS
not quite so open in HIS ayowal OF motives, but
none who know his character and ambition can
believe that disinterested and holy iudlgna.
tion against official misconduct has alone IN
spiIed the ieryor which he displays Governor
Boutwell,, member OF Congress- aad also a
Itafo hae
this matter undcr consideration, said in n recent
addtess after enumeTatng the difficulties in the
way of reCous1uctiOn:-"l say further, after
the most careful reflection, that see no possible
way out Of these difficulties while the present
Chief Magistrate Is at the head OF the Govern
nent.n And again:-"Congress Is strOng-but
IT Is pOWerless to execute. II has no hand by
which it can WELD the vast powers of this Gov
ernment. Therefore, l say, that during these
two years, IRON the Attn OF March next, il Mr.
johnson continues to be President OF the Unted
States during that period, do not know
how long the restoration OF this Government
will be delayed And stll again:-'I make
no prediction ms to what the future has in
store for us with reference to the President
in office; but only say that If he continues in
Office during these two years to come, know
of no means by which human life can be pro-
tected, by which human rights shall be regarded
as sacred, or by which any efficient means can
be taken for the restoration OF these ten states
to their ancient place in the Government OF the
CoIntry.n Governor Boutwell, is a man whose
ideas are always clear, who is always cautious
in the language he uses; and while heiavoids
distinct declaration that the President must be
impeaChed In order to accomplish the political
objects ne deems desirable, he does declare, in
the most explicit and impressive manner, that
his removal from Office in some way is abso-
lutely essential to all the great ends of govern
ment In the Southern States. Thaddeus Ste
yens has repeatedly asserted that unless the
President is removed, none of the bills for re-
constructing the Southern state Governments,
and imposing universal suffrage upon them, can
be passed.
These declarations from leaders of the i'm
peaChment movement might be multiplied IN
definitely. But we have given enough to show
that his removal from office Is deemed ahso-
lutey essential TO the success of their political
programme and that they are, therefore, pro-
foundly and resolutely in earnest in pushing it
forward to consummation. II they abandon
that, they abandon their whole scheme OF re-
construction. They must give up Their attempt to
reduce The Southern states TO a territorial con-
dition, or to abolish their present State Govern
ment, and substitute Others in their stead, or TO
impose universal suffrage upon them, unless
they can remove the President who, while in
Oihce, Is an inyiuCble 'ObstQcle' 10 all these
schemes, Are they likely thus to abandon All
their cherished plans! If they do, their career
is ended. They nave gone too tar 20 retreat or
TO halt. 1heT failure Is the Presidents success.
Unless they reconstruct the Southern state
Governments, those Governments stand as they
are; and every day they so stand adds to their
strength, and increases the difficulty OF over
throwing them.
So faT as the leaders of the movement are con-
cerned we may look for the most Jealous and
vigorous prosecution OF the Impeachment pro-
ject. But Will the great body OF the Republican
party follow them! Not willingly, perhaps
but the past SHOWS Wha. we may expect i'm this
regard for the future. The extreme men have
never yet JAILED to bring or drive the mass OF
the party TO their posiuou; and this has more
than once been done in the teeth OF their most
vigorous protests and struggles. On this very
question large majority OF the party ia caucus
decided that no steps looking to wards impeaCh-
ment should be taken, without preliminary in
qulry by committee; yet on the very next day
formal articles OF impeachment were presented
in the House, and Il Committee was authorized
to entertain and examine them; and scarcely
halt-a-dozen members Of the party dared 20 20
on record against tins proceeding. The "yeas
and nays" ave vague but very pO.eat terror
for the statesmen OF Con Iress, and Jhe extreme
men, who stake everything on success, avail
themselves OF 1t with remorseless and unrclent
ing rigOr.
Many members, while voting for the refer
encc protested that they were only voting foI
inquiry" that they were not 20 be held com
mitted to the movement; but they are ia On,
current and il will be much more difficult fol
them to turn back than il would have been Il
keep out. AT what point will they stopl Do
they expect TO vote that the acts OF which thl
Commlttee may accuse the President are no
proved, or that they are not otfenses deseryn
punlshmentg They win lind themselves brande
as taithless to public morals. as well as TO party
II they go on record thus. They have CON
mitted themselves to the movement, and the
will be coerced into carrying II through. Unt
the President is actually impeached the publ
clamOr for his impeachment will be incessau
and commanding. The scheme will bp pushed
Just as every kindred scheme has been pushe
hitherto with vigor, courage, and determination
And the man who ventures to oppose Il at an
stage will very soon be denounced as Johnso
man, a CODDerhead, and Rebel, by the leader
OF the movement and the press which they con
troll.