The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-01-18
dence of the Bedford Gazette
WASHINGTON, Jan. Il.

Correspondence of the Bedford Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Jan. L.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Among the notable
events in Congress since my last, set
down the passage of the District OF Co
lumbia Negro Suffrage Bill, over the
veto of the President. The message OF
President johnson returning this bill,
with his objections, to the Senate, IN
which it originated, is one of the ablest
and clearest that has yet emanated from
the pen of Mr.. Johnson. 1t does not
leave the Mongrel authors of the meas
ure, an inch of ground to stand upon.
But, of course, the arguments OF the
President are not regarded by men
who must vote under terror of the par
ty lash. A number of Republicans" F"
in both Houses, voted to sustain the
veto, but the bill was passed by large
majority. Hence Negro Suffrage is a
fixed fact in the District, and every
"contraband," no matter how ignorant,
or degraded, will be allowed to cast his
vote alongside of the most intelligent
white man. If the people in yourState
who have been acting with the Rad
ical party, do not see the tendency
and aim of that organization, they are
truly to be pitied. r.
Another matter which may be con-
sidered of some importance elsewhere
than in this city, is the proposed I'M
parchment of President Johnson. Mr..
J. NJ. Ashley, M. G. from Ohio, few
days ago, introduced a resolution in
structing the committee on the Judi
ciary to inquire into the propriety OF
preferring articles of impeachment a.
gainst the President Of the United
States, basing his resolution upon
charges of a corrupt use of the powers
of the executive. This resolution was
passed. Judge Spalding, of Ohio, op-
posed it, and several other ''Republic-
an" members voted against it. The
Judiciary committee are empowered
to take testimony, and to this end, to
send for persons and papers. l under
stand the testimony of Ashley, HIM
self, and that Of John w. Forney, are
to be taken before this committee.
Ashley and Forney, p0rno6He trdtT7tm
If the President is to be impeached up
on the evidence of such men, an Arch
angel would not be safe in the Presi-
Dental chair There is not much i'm
portance attached, here, to this i'm
parchment scheme. 1t is bound to
fail. Nevertheless, the Radical party,
having commenced it, mast push 1t to
q conclusion. They dare not halt now.
If they stop where they are, they ac-
knowledge themselves whipped. If
they go on, the people will laugh them
to scorn. Between the horns of this
dilemma, they prefer to risk the latter,
simply because 1t is in the future, and.
Micawber-like, they expect something
to turn up which may relieve them Of
the odium which must attach to them
if they fail.
The glorious eighth Of January-Old
Hickory's day-was celebrated by the
Democrats and National Union men,
by grand banquet at the National
Hotel. The venerable FRANCIS P.
BLAIR, SR., presided. PRESIDENT
JOHNSON attended and was seated at
the right hand of Mr.. Blair. His en-
trance into the banquet hall was greet
ed with cheers and the waving of hand
kerchiefs. The health of the President
was proposed, and in response his Ex-
cellency gave the following sentiment:
'tNo State has right of its own will,
under the Constitution, to renounce
it's place in, or to withdraw from, the
Union; nor has the Congress of the
United States a Constitutional power
to degrade the people of any State, by
reducing them to the condition Of a
mere territorial dependency upon the
federal head. The one is disruption
and dissolution of the government; !;
the other is consolidation and an ex-
ercise of despotic power. The advo-
Gates of the latter are alikethe enemies
of the Union and of our Constitutional
form of Government" This senti-