The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-13


.olk with the President.
uWcl. Mr.. President, you don't seem
+, No mining under this inhiction."
az a." said Mr.. johnson, pleasantly.
.It appears that the Senate is not to get
t,-orch with this business in such hurry
as was expected"
Mr.. Iohnson's lips curled with whim-
s;rs1 smile. "Why, it was wagered,
wasn't it, that they would go through the
whole trial and get rid Of the President by
this time l suppose ought now to re-
card it as little less than miracle that
en- still here. The impeachers are, as
am told, very persistent"
"Thcy are very persistent, indeed, and
i; present very determined. Although |
doubt the propriety of the question, and
expect TO be corrected, will venture to
ask, Mr.. President, what your own esti-
mate is Of the present chance of the
trial?"
"Perhaps at this STAGE" the President
replied, "it would be more appropriate
for me to ask your opinion. Ny opportu-
mites Of communication with the parties
who havo impeached the President Of
lust now, quite so favorable as yours"
Being thus challenged, remarked:
"Wcll, sir, you would respect me less
if | did not say as earnestly as | believe
that if the president should be tried i'm
,0cdiately-that is, within week-thc
Senate would probably convict him,
though not upon all the charges. The
reasons for this belief are found not only
in the previous declarations and present
temper of majority of senators, but in
the lack of opposition to impeachment by
the Republican press and party. While
most of the leaders Of that party would
not have favored impeachment upon con-
sidcrations of justice, they are as we'll con-
yinCcd as Congress is, now that Congress
has committed itself, that the trial must
be gone through with as a measure Of
party necessity. 1t was thought, as you
are aware, that Congress would not out
rage Justice and the sentiment OF the peo-
ple bv passing the military reconstruction
bills. But it did pass those bills, because
the Radical party in the North stood by
the congressional majority in doing so.
You said, as | rccollcct, in the course of
conversation some weeks ago, that for the
huLiICdlS " HtSildlI az Soii 'bS Wv VIZ
measures adopted up to that time would
be equivalent, so TO speak, to political hars
kari. Having taken the present step IN
advance, retreat, as every member OF the
party possessing any brains at all sees,
would be still more dangerous"
"You take, it must be confessed,
rather gloomy view Of the prospect said
Mr.. Johnson, laughing.
{" BY no means, sir ; because l appre-
bend that the trial may last long enough
to need such public discussion OF its
merits as will yet arouse a considerable
opposition TO the measure in the Radical
ranks. The Democratic press is bound to
take a more united and enthusiastic stand
in the Presidents defence than it has
taken when the issues between him and
Congress- come TO be Systematically dis
cussed at the trial, and the motives OF
the impeachcrS are fairly unveiled. FOR
these and several other reasons 1t is plea
SAINT TO hope that the trial cannot be has
tened, and will be prolonged"
81 do not see" observed the President,
musing by patting the carpet with his foot,
show the trial is TO terminate so very
soon"
"IIave you received the summons to ap-
pear ?"
40, yes: that came last night. A sug-
grstive document"
cit is rcturnable, believe, on Friday
the 18th instant"
Eyes"
q suppose the President is not obliged
to put in bis appearance in person, Dut
will respond through his counsel"
"Certainly, his counsel will respond"
"ltave the counsel been selected :"
"Some selections have been made, as
Won have heard. | would moi make any
too positive statements i'll respect TO TINS
matter at present"
1.-THE Presidents counsel will of course
ask for time to prepare his dcfencef"
Undoubtedly"
"And the time requisite may be con-
sidcred ?"
"Thc.o arc eleven articles of impeach-
ment,' answered Mr.. Johnson, with an
other smile, land one would think the
best of lawyers ought to have some leisure
10 deliberate upon so long u list
After d short pause, took the liberty OF
calling the Presidents attention to mat
ter having indirect relation to the subject
in hand.
"Tno final argument in the McCardle
case is to be begun, and perhaps concluded,
tomorrow in the Supreme Court. What
fortunate thing it would be, according to
most accounts, if the court could render
It's decision upon that case before the writ
served upon the President is made return
able"
Zoo short time for such decision l
am afraid. But" continued the Presl-
dent, ~ suppose the court would feel it.
self bound, in consideration Of the impor-
lance Of the case, to render a decision
upon il within three weeks, and that might
occur during the interval between the
answer TO the summons and the day set
for the commencement of the trial."
"True; what grace that would be
also 1t is even limited that if the deci-
sion of the Supreme Court should be
against the constitutionality Of the recon-
struction acts the President might find
himself authorized to remove, at his dis
erection, the military deSpotism from the
South and let the southern people enjoy
what would be the luxury OF governing
Themselves"
"That might seem to be" said Mr.. John
son, "the natural duty of the President.
Do not understand me, however, as intend
ing to express premature opinion upon
what is likely to happen either in the Su-
premc Court or elsewhere"
Certainly not, sir. ! alluded to the
McCardle case because it suggested some
possibilities which may be discreetly can
vassed. For instance, a decision upon that
case adverse to the reconstruction acts