The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-14
WENDELL PHILIPS AND IMPEACHMENT.

the auestion OF impeaching President john
son has been suffered 70 fall somewhat out OF
the evidence u would give EI, Of nsi9nai nat self
times; or, at most, Of relieving us from the per-
nicious influence of q traitor In the White
House.
of great moment But there is one result of
the Presidents impeachment and conviction
which has not been considered. When once
Andrew Johnson stands recorded, 10y the Ver-
dict of the Senate, guilty of high crimes and
misdemeanors, in attempting to defy the laws
and betray the nation, the next step must be to
treat all his recent Illegal acts as void annul
his pal dnns, and iesume the property he has
suffered Rebels Illegally to get possession Of
When once his last year is stamped as treasona.
bic end usurpGtion, all his acts, grants, and
concessions made In furtherance of mis- treason
are 10 be set aside.
The plot having been once juJicially proved,
the robbery certified as of record, then the
stolen property is restored TO the owner. This
principle Is plain enough. II JOhnso has been
acting Illegally why, of course, his acts are
illegal, and hence void. The law supplies APP
propriRte methods of setting them aside. Ia
the circumstances Congress should follow the
Eenates verdict by an act recittng the facts and
declaring what acts and classes of acts recently
done by The President are void, and leaving the
courts to settle, on special suit, whether any
There are several prominent Rebels who
must not be allowed to escape-no traitors
pardon must avail them. The courts should
Try, convict. and punish them, in spite of their
confedeTates sham pardons.
Then, again, lands have been wrung most un-
justly from the freedmen; large estates have
been surrendered to Rebels by virtue of pre-
tended paId Idons. Railways, with all their roll
ing stock and munitions of war, have been
elanted to companies of Rebels. All these
grants should be declared void Congress should
direct the agents Of the Treasury to resume all
such forfeited lands, and hold them as of the
title asserted by the nation prior to LincOln's
death. II stead of colOTed men, as in North
Carolina, being forced off these lands, and pun
ished for resisting such force, they are to be
ants fined and imprisoned. Such Rebels are to
be treated as abettors and Rccomplices OF John
son in his treason.
with these lands in our possession, we do not
need to press any further measures of confsca-
tiOn. Carrying out the policy of the war, con-
victing traitors and contiscating their estates,
holding such lands as were taken possession OF
during the war-lhese sources will suffice to
give the negroes a homestead, or to sell them
such at a cheap rate. They Will not, as now, be
forced on their knees to tempt wealthy Rebels
to sell them land, the true basis OF indepen-
dence. We shall II ot see, as to-day in Virginia,
men turned into the streets, houseleSs, in pun
ishment for their honest votes. The negro
Will be able to defend himself and his ballot,
standing on his own acres.
We demand, then, Of Congress the impeach-
ment OF johnson as the necessary preliminary
step TO our reaching the most dangerous of all
Rebels-those who fight us now from behind
step necessary To guarding for the negro his
rights in the land whiCn traitors forfeited and
he helped TO conquer.
InscTibing Impeachment, Revocation OF
PardOnS, Presumption of Surrendered Lands"
on our nag, we shall show the South what we
beyond mistake. what the North demands
That point once fixed, our trouble is ended so
far as Southern resistance is concerned.
WENDELL PHILLIPS.