The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-20
Outside the COnstitutiOn-The Shadows OF
Coming Events.

Coming Events.
''Old Thad Stevens" "the Old Man." or the
''Old Commoner," as his admirers delight to
call him, the bold and outspoken radical leader
of Congress, through the war and since the
war of the late rebellion, has repeatedly
declared that the legislation of Congress in the
work of subjugating the rebel States and in
behalf Of their restoration has been of neces-
sity to q great extent ''outside the constit,-
ton" This is true, and it is true that the
necessity pleaded was satisfactory to the
people of the loyal States during the war, for
the boldest measures looking to the suppression
of the rebellion. Nay, after the rebel States
had laid down their arms il was generally held
by the great Union party of the war that the
terms of their restoration to Congress were at
the discretion of Congress, under the great
idea that the very groundwork Of the const-
tuition is the integrity and sovereignty of the
Union. That the two houses of Congress, i'm
their measures of reconstruction, have pushed
this idea so far ''outsde the constitution" as to
alarm the 'loyal North" we have seen in the
elections of 1867 and 1868; but we have not
yet seen any indications of retreat by Mr.
Stevens and his radical followers from their
extreme and revolutionary designs.
This is a significant fact. There is no pur-
pose among the radicals TO fall back. They
have gone too far to recede. They will carry
out their programme at all hazards, inside or
''outsidc the constitution. Andrew johnson
blocks the way. Their impeachment has
failed: but they are still resolved upon his re-
moval. The Board Of Managers of the House,
reserving to themselves in behalf of the House
the right at any time before the final vote to
alter or amend their indictment, are at work
again. The Chicago Convention, it is ap-
parent. will make the removal of Johnson the
test of party fidelity. We may safely predict,
therefore, that, with the meeting of the High
Court on the 26th inst, on presentation
from the House Managers, the vote on the ten
remaining articles will be further postponed,
subject to the pleasure OF the House: and
that the case will be deferred until sufficient
additions OF radical Senators from the South
shall have been made TO secure a conviction
against all contingencies. Johnson will then
he removed, and Wade, who in this event has
an important r5,c 10 play, will very soon make
u known. With Wade in the place Of John
ION the coast will be clear. and the ruling
radical faction of Congress may do just what
they please.
The removal OF Johnson Is held by the lead
ING radicals Ia be- necessary 10 make sure OF
TIE Presidential election; aud with Johnson out
Of the way the result ''by hook or by
crook, viii be sure thing. For in
stance. the spoils OF the whiskcy rings
alone are set down at hundred
nii'i"as-an cleciioncering fund of which the
radical lobby drummers have made some start
hns insinuaiions In reference TO this impcach-
ment This Is something TO Eight for: but
great a. are the temptations Of the thirty thou
sand Offices subjec, TO the Presidents dispen,a-
tim. and the larger spoils Of tbcse wbislcv
rbss, with Wade In the White House. an in
fnitely greater power may he welded over The
Presidential election We will pp,ose tho,
the campaign i In flll blast aud az white heat.
that there Il an evident popular reaction which
threatens the downfall OF radicali-m. and tha,
the sxcitcincnts Of the canvass are pushed hero
and there into elcctioHccrng fights and larlcss
moss. How easy upon tncsc prcicnce. i,
behalf ~ lAs and order and the p,,blic safety.
viii Ne FOR President Wade, In the absence
q CONGRESS. 20 proclaim the suspension of the
hab,as corpus, and the Substitution Of mar-