Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-11-30
THE IMPEACHMENT

OF the Judiciary committee The report Of the
majority, consisting of Messrs. Boutwell,, Will
liams, Lawrence, Thomas and Churchill-the
latter gentleman having, it is alleged, under
gone miraculous change of opinion at very
opportune momentfor party purposes IN Ia
yor of impeachment. Messrs. Wilson CHAR
man of the committee) and Woodbridge, repuo-
licans, make q minority report, dissenting from
the conclusions Of the majority, and Messrs: FL
bridge and Marshall democrats, another minor
ity report, sustaining, in the main, the views oil
Messrs. Wilson and Woodbridge, but differing
from il in some particulars. The reports OF the
committee are very long, covering hundreds OF
pages, but we give comprehensive abstracts ana
the conclusions arrived at in another part oil inns
paper. We also publish, in the main, the highly
interesting testimony Of General Grant, and ao-
stracts of that of Messrs. Mccullough, Seward,
Judge Chase, ex-Aiiorney General speed ana
others. including that of the inevitable l.. I.
Baker, which is quite characteristic. The Ia
nous scheme, so long iucubating, and whlchhas
excited such intense interest, has been deliver
ed al last and the long agony of public curiosity
and suspense Is over, but we hardly suppose the
majority ofthe committee have any expectation
of their recommendation being adopted by The
House, or, if il IS, that it will be sustained by
popular sentiment. We must say that ltlooks
I 10 us very much like a political trick TO have
( their own party vote it down, and that the sud-
/ den conversion Of Dir. Churchill may have been
/ effected with a view 10 accomplish that OBJECT.
The testimony Of General Grant before the
! judiciary committee will be read with great IN
! terest. II shows that while there was originally
a difference of opinion between the President
/ and himself on two points in the amnesty proc
| Misunderstanding the military leaders oil the
rebellion and the $4,000 clause-and winch
. seems 10 have been modelled after the views al
first entertained by the President that the lead
ers of the rebellion should be punished and urea
son made odious, yet, subsequently, Gen. Grant
concededed that the President was nearer right
than himself in reference to the $4,000 clanse,
] although be Gen. Grant, still continued 10 ad-
here to his opinion that so long as the Conleder-
ate officers ard soldiers observed the conditions
of their parole to obey the laws of the United
States, they should be protected from arrest and
trial. This conviction of Gen. Grant the Pres
! ident, few months after the North Carolina
proclamation of May 29th, 1865, also came.
| Since that PERIOD the magnanimous and patriot
: ic policy of forgiveness and reconciliation has
been the great distinguishing characteristic Of
President Johnson's administration, and Gen.
Grant appears to have been in accord with him
in endeavoring, by wise clemency, to heal up
the wounds and restore the integrity Of The ma
! ton.
{ I'd
: Gen. Grant states that it was 4 continuation Of
( the project submitted by Mr.. Lincoln, and that
( they were substantially the same paper, if not
: the very same. Gen. Grant says that he him
self suggested 10 plan for civil government, but
he wanted 10 see some civil government estab-
lished in the South, though he looked upon the
proclamation as simply temporary measure
ill Congress should meet and settle The whole
question. Altogether, the testimony oil Gen.
Grant seems to have been very pquant, and he
sometimes answers questions as II he conceived
the committee to be putting him TO needless
particularly. He exhibits throughout, an lnde-
pendent, soldierly spirit, and is no wise slow as
to taking the responsibility Of his agency ID pro-
curing the pardons Of rebel generals.
The testimony OF Judge Chase and Attorney
General Speed is mainly as 10 the delays IN Inc
trial of Jefferson Davis, and it does not appear
that the President has been inimical TO 1t at any
time. Secretary Seward testifes that the Pres
ident desired Mr.. Davs's trial"
WAsnxGroN, Nov. 25.-The House galleries
were filled to-day with spectators, anxious 10
hear the report on impeachment. During the
session about half Of the Senate were present.
|! had become so well known that the majority
report would recommend impeachment that lew
were surprised when the surmses were confirm
ed, but none probably expected postponement
B
impeachers claim that delay will strengthen
their forces, whilst the opponents Of the measure
argue that the longer a final decision IS put oil,
the more certain will be the defeat of the pro-
iect. Each party confidently assert their GER
tain success, but there is scarcely doubt that
the party opposed to impeachment has already
q very decided majority in the House.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-It is the prevalent
impression tonight that the chances for carry
ing through the impeachment resolution are rap
idly decreasing. The friends Of the measure
assert their confidence in majority report
next week, if the matter can then be brought
to an issue. On the other hand, many of the
! most solid men of the Republican party de-
nounce the scheme in unmeasured terms.
A prominent Western Senator declares il 10
be his opinion, that the President will forCibIy
adjourn Congress at It's assembling on the I'd Of
December, unless in the meantime the majority
report on impeachment be tabled by the House
of Representatives, and in this opinion he is
sustained by leading member Of the House
from Ohio. These gentlemen are both Repub-
licans. Whether or not there is any just ground
for this belief, it indicates apprehension in the
ranks Of the dominant party. The friends of
the President are generally reserved and non
demonstratye.
We extract the following paragraphs from
few prominent exchanges as illustrative Of the
opinions Of the press upon the recent impeach-
ment report of the Judiciary Committee
From the New York Herald.
Once upon time Git is an old story a noun
tain was reported in labor, and great multi
tude of people-savans, politicians and pediers,
old women and darkies-weTe gathered together
to witness the awful event. The mountain was
envelOped in fog, smoke, thunder and lightning,
and It's fearful groans and rumblings, it was
thought, portended the birth Of some horrible
fiery dragon-perhaps beast With seven heads
and ten horns--when, 10 and behold the grand
achievement was only poor little ridiculous
! mouse. And such is the upshot of the painful
labor Of twelyemonth Of the Judiciary Com
mittee of the House of Representatives looking
10 the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.
From the New York Times.
The phase which the question has now as
sumed would indeed be deplorable, if there
were any probability of its success. The pre-
valing hope is that the moderation and good
sense Of the majority Of the House will triumph
Al. ;rfn 81 n,r4rn