Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-15

| to prepare the proceedings OF the meetiHS
| for publication in the papers of Greensbo-
ro', and request the Fayetteville and Will
mington papers to copy Whereupon the
JESSE H. LINDSAY, Chm.
r. " " 8 IHan1n Secretaries.
Impeachment-A New X onstructio N
| scheme-The New Orleans Riot.
| The special Washington correspondent of
the Baltimore San, writing on Monday,
says The impeachment question continues
to be the absorbing theme of conversation
here. That which is below set forth is sub
stantially correct statement of the facts
known tonight:
General Butler is reported to have said
to-day, to several OF his acquaintance who
called on him, that lie is not in favor of
| any further action by Congress III the mat
ter of impeachment The proposition did
we'll enough for electioneering purposes,
| but it would not do for Congress to attempt
to carry it out
Senators Summer and Wilson also stated
yesterday, in a private conversation, that
| they are opposed o the impeachment pro-
ject. Very generally it is conceded that
the number of members of Congress who
oppose the further prosecution of lmpeach-
ment has greatly increased, and therefore
there are many who suppose that the House
will not adopt articles of impeachment,
even if the Judiciary committee should re-
port such articles.
But. nevertheless it is fact, all state
ments to the cont. airy notwithstanding, that
the Judiciary committee have been engaged
in procuring testimony looking to impeach-
ment, and [ am warranted in reiterating
my paragraph on that subject in your paper
of yesterday. l can state, in addition, that
no testimony in behalf of the President is
expected to be offered before the commit
tee.
There are but twenty-three of the i'm
peachers proper-Or those who are actively
and energetically working up a case against
Mr. Johnson. These members Justify the
removal Of the President upon the higher
law theory, and accord in full with Wen
dell Phillips as to the political necessity of
deposing Mr.. Johnson.
Many of the political friends of these
men, however, admit that, strictly pursu-
ing the legal definition and purport of the
language of the Constitution, viz ''Trea-
son, treachery and other high crimes and
misdemeanors, there is no evidence extant
which will sustain articles of impeachment
in view of the rule Of law that penal stat
utes must be construed strictly, and that
equity to other offences than those clearly
described and provided for.
But the promoters of the scheme believe
that the end sought to be accomplished
justifes the means they have adopted,
which consist Of pro f0rnaa impeachment
by the House and immediate suspension of
Mr.. Johnson in the exercise of his official
functions. Unless, therefore, it can be
found by previous canvass or counting
of noses that there is Il majority of the
House in favor of his plan, no attempt will
be made to adopt articles Of impeachment,
and the Judiciary committee will merely
report the testimony that shall be taken.
Should the number OF opponents of i'm J
parchment increase in the coming week in
the ratio Of their gain last week, the scheme
will be abandoned
In the meantime the action Of the recon
stru"tion committee is awaited with intense
anxiety. The committees We're called to- |
gether at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. and |
it was expected that they would bring in a
report to Congress in the afternoon, but |
they have doubtless been unable to agree
upon plan, though it is understood that |
q ma ority of the members concur upon the |
main features of a practicable measure
which, if adopted by Congress, will be ac-
ceptable to the Southern people and will |
speedily settle the difficult question of re
construction.
The committee on the New Orleans riots
have concluded the investigation, and are
their report, which, it is under
stood, will be very severe upon the New
Orleans authorities, but substantially exon |
crates Mr.. Johnson from guilty completely |
in the affair.
MI. Bingham and the Impeachment Bill.
We observe by Sunday morning paper |
that Mr.. Bingham authorizes denial that
the published conversation, alleged to have |
occurred between himself and Mr.. Ashley |
in the House on the day that the latter of
fered Ills ''bill, ever took place. The |
statement was made by Mack" in one of
his letters. He adds in the same epistle that |
Gen. Butler had "a hand in drawing up |
the Ashley Indictment against the Presi-
dent. We happen to know that Gen. But
Ter never had anything to do with the mat
ter; Gen. Butler is too much of lawyer
not to know that no military officer can be |
by Congress. The Constitution
strictly provides that civil officers only |
can be impeached. If military officer
offends, Il court martial will deal with him. |
National Repubticaa.
The above paper is the recognized or
gan of President johnson. It is growing
very afectionate latterly to Ben. Butler
What's in the wind q
Paying Debts.
One of our religious exchanges has the |
following strong remarks on this subject
They drive the nail in to the head and |
clinch it :
Men may sophisticate as they please. They can |
never make it right and all the bankrupt laws in
the universe cannot make it right for them not to
pay their debts, There is q sin in this negec as
clear and deserving church discipline in steal
ing false swearing. lie who violates his prom
Use to pay, OF withholds the payment of debt !
when it is in his power to meet the engagement,
ought to feel that in the sight of al honest men
he is swnder. Religion may be a very comfor-
table cloak under which to hide but if religion
does not make man deal justly it is not worth
having.