The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-08
Rumored Radical Plot to Declare
Gen. Grant President.
The Revolution Imminent-Rumore6 Inten-
ton of the Jacobins to Proclaim.
Gen. Grant President at Once.
From the New York Herald, April !.


WASHINGTON, March 81, ls5s.
For some weeks past we have had every
external evidence that some deep, dark and
important secret was being agitated in the
innermost penetraha of the Jacobin party.
But of what IFS precise character consisted
not even the most acute observer could form
an idea. That ii was on the highest conse-
quence might be inferred from the fact that
no ''leaky vessels $40 congressman or Sen
ators who are in the habit of wagging loose
tongues-were iutrusted with its nature.
But everywhere the overshsdowing presence
of or near approach of some last 4 cisive
steps in the Revolutionary Programme has
made itself felt, Just as men in the tropics
can foreteli the coming tornado by the dead
and deathly calm which Immediately pre-
cedes it. This tremendous secret. of which
We have had more or less direct warnings
for some time. but which has heretofore APP
peared incredible Gust as it appeared unbe-
lievable, before the first firing on Fort Stump
ter, that the South would really REBEL is at
last partially uncovered in the bill yesterday
introduced by Congressman Churchill, of
New York, for regulating the succession to
the presidency when the foregone-conclusio
of Andrew Johnsons removal from Office
shall have been attained. The bill looks
very innocent, on the surface, but is only De
signed as a stalking horse to be trotted qui
city through both Houses of Congress in two
readings after which it is to be suddenly
saddled with a revolutionary amendment
proclalming Gen. Ulysses s. Grant the sue
cessor to Mr.. johnson; and this is TO be put
through both houses without debate under
the gag law Of the previous question. just
as the amendment of Mr.. Wilson, striking
down the appellate jurisdiction of the SUI
preme Court. was suddenly and violently put
through as an amendment, on the third read
ing of Gen. Sehencks' bill, equally innocent
on its face, for giving the Supreme Court
more rapid jurisdiction in internal revenue
cases. Churchilfs bill is based on the idea
that Senator Wade, who is only President
pro tenn. of the senate, cannot constitution
ally" succeed MIR. johnson and the right
man to succeed the president must be some
officer, whether elective or appointed makes
no difference, of the United States. As a
sop to Cerberus and to quiet suspicion In the
earlier stages, the bill lurports to add the
Chief Justice of the United States to the list
of persons eligible to Mr.. Johnson's vacan-
cy. But in the third reading revolutionary
amendment, which is to declare the General
in Chief ofthe army Mr.. Johnson's successor,
is to be put through under full head of par
tisan steam. 1t is reported that Speaker
Colfax is to resign any right to the success
sion and to refuse to receive the office, thus
passing it over to Gen. Grant, in considera-
tion of which Mr.. Colfax has been promised
the nomination as Vice President BY the
next radical convention, while Gen. Grant
is to be continued at the head of the ticket.
eve will have more no change" is what the
leading Jacobins of Congress now openly
begin to say. "We will put Grant into the
White House right away on the removal OF
johnson, and we'll keep him there, or know
the reason wbyf' There are others OF the
weaker kind who see in this bill proffered
bribe to Judge Chase for ignoring his oath
of office, the laws Of the United States, aud