The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-06

proposed July session of Congress.
From 1ie Herald
On Saturday last, at noon, Congress ad-
journed until the first Wednesday in July
(the third day of the month), with the quail
fcation that unless on that day, at twelve M,
d quorum of each House shall be present the
recess shall be extended Ito the regular first
Monday in December. Another resolution
some days before this had been adopted in
the House, instructing it's Committee on the
Judiciary to resume the investigation of the
charges OF impeachment raised against Presi-
dent Johnson in the last Congress, and autho-
rizing the Committee te prosecute its labors
during the recess, in view of report in July
or December recommending the trial of Presi-
dent johnson before the Senate, as the high
court of impeachment or his acquittal of
''the high crimes and misdemeanors" alleged
against him.
1t will be observed here, in the first place,
that reassembling of Congress in July is left
subject to contingencies. Had not the two
Houses, however, entertained controlling
suspicion that in the absence of Congress
certain contingencies might happen of dan
gerous character if the recess were continued
the precaution of leaving the door open for a
session in July. What, then, was the suspi-
clon resulting in this precaution2 1t was the
suspicion of bad faith on the part of the Exc
cutive in executing these Southern reconstruc-
tion laws, if left without check to pursue
his own course through all the long interval
to December next The next question sug-
gested is, why is this impeachment investiga-
ton resumed, and why has it been, and why
is it to be prosecuted during the recess of Con-
gress The object is unquestionably to give
the committee at once check-rein upon the
President, with the power to send for persons
and papers, should he attempt in the absence
OF Congress to set aside, misapply, or fail to
execute these aforesaid laws of Southern re-
construction. Nay, more-theTe are certain
members Of the committee, and of both Houses
outside the committee, who expect upon this
test to make up clear case of impeachment
against the President, even in the short inter
val to July.
Such are the contingencies upon which a
July session of Congress will depend. If there
are meantime no executive impediments, in the
shape Of snap judgments, or flank movements,
or legal quibbles or bitches in the work of
reconstruction, it is morally certain that the
impeachment will hang fire, that there will
not be quorum of eitherHouse present on the
Sd Of July, and that, accordingly, the recess
will be prolonged to December. On the other
| hand if the Judiciary Committee shall be fur
nshed in the interval with the positive facts
and evidence required to make a promising
| indictment from the House as a grand Jury for
a trial of President Johnson by the Senate
there will be quorum of each House present
on the Sd of July, and a trial of the accused
before the Senate, resulting in his conviction
| Of high crimes and misdemeanors,' and his
removal from office. We are sorry to say
that, from present indications, the implacable
radical enemies of Mr.. Johnson have reason to
be hopeful of making up strong case against
him. He has gathered about him and his
exploded Southern policy large body of in
triguing, restless, and mischievous Southern
and Northern politicians, and they, it appears,
are now industriously working to make up an
original case, or case of appeal for the final
legal tribunal of the Supreme Court, under
the impression that a decision may be thus
obtained which will declare all these recon-
struction laws of Congress null and void.
This is the last resort of a desperate oppo ST.
ton, and if there were any prospect that the
| question involved could be brought directly
| before the court, there would be some reason
| for serious apprehensions in view of the party
! division of that body-fve Democrats of the
| old Southern State sovereignty school against
! four radicals and conservatives of the national
sovereignty school. But as it appears that
| the test question contemplated could hardly
/
! Court for two years to come all misgivings
on this head may be dismissed. There is,
| however, another matter which, unless great
caution be exercised by Mr.. Johnson, may
bring him into the impeachment trap left
open to catch him. 1t is that matter which
! duplicates him, at least, as an apologst and
| protector OF certain parties alleged to be
! chiefly responsible for that shocking New Or
leans massacre of last July.
| We learn from WASHINGTON that letters have
! been received there from New Orleans which
| indicate that General Sheridan's removal of
Mayor Monroe, Attorney General Heron and
Judge Abel was caused by a scheme on their
! part to bring about the test of the constitu-
tionaity of the reconstruction laws of Con-
gress the plan being to originate the issue
before the court of Judge Abel, and then, by
! a writ of error, to carry it up to the Supreme
Court. 1t next appears that Mr.. Johnson's
chief law officer Stanbery, EAttorney General
of the United States, is now engaged upon an
! inquiry into the power of General Sheridan,
as commander of the Fifth Southern Military
district, to remove these aforesaid local officers
and that it is expected that a report against
Sheridan and reinstatement OF said officers
will soon follow. Here is the danger to Presi-
dent Johnson; for these removed officers, it
| appears, are unreconstructed Rebels, and
from General Sheridan's testimony, we cannot
resist the conclusion that they were the ring
leaders in the New Orleans massacre. Secre-
tary Stanton, we believe, has approved the
act of Sheridan in their removal and if the
| President would escape the Impeachment trap,
he will avoid any other issue with Stanton on
this business. A word from Stanton to
Speaker Colfax, of the House, and President
| Wade. of the Senate. will unuueStiOnablY