Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-05-07
IMPEACHMENT.

In the progress Of the trial Of the President
Mr. Boutwell, alluded to the fact, as one fsome
significance. that Judge Black had Withdrawn
from the defence of the President-therebyi in
Lucng the impression that he considered the
cause a desperate, if not a bad one. Judge
Black was counsel for the claimants of Alta
Ve'a. a Guano island in the Dominican wa
tars. discovered aud claimed under law of
Congress by some Americans.
"This gratuitous and uuprovoked accusation
the National Iatstligec1 SAYS was answered
the next day by Mr.. Nelson in becoming terms
when he took occasion 20 recite the material
facts and 20 state that four Of the managers viz:
Nesr- Butler, Bingham. Stevens. and LOGAN.
together with other leading Radicals Of the
House. had signed n paper dated the 9th Of
March. i which the President was recommend
eI % take torcible possession Of the island Of
Alta Ve4. fr which claim Judge Black was
one oj the counsel.
When this statement was made the mana
ayers were an present IN their places. and It
was remarked that not one of them rose 20 o.
fer aa explanation Of conduct which upon its
face e, the mos. suspicious and damaging. and
which. under any circumstances, would he an
outrage Of an the prophecies for which these
very managers have profeSseiiv arraigDed the
Prc>l.ut. 10 was not until after days Of re-
Election AMI preparation that any attempt was
made 90 meet this exposure. and then with q
lame and nnpotent conclusion, in the form
of an affidavit from one of the counsel Of the
claim that ev1dcs the real issuc-tbe date, or
point NJ time-a1j is wholly unsatisfactory in
other respects.
Butler has since attempted an explanation,
covered with the fllsehood that he had only
given am opinion " on the case some time be-
fore the impeachment movement, but Mr.. Mel
son produced the letter addressed TO the Presi-
dent. and removed an doubt as to the date, the
9th Of March. showing that the most rampant
of the impeaohers We're urging the President
to make war upon Dominica whilst Congress
was In session. It is evident that the move
meut was intended either TO coax or intimidate.
The claim IS for over a million of dollars. The
hfF'7sgev thus puts the schemers in the pill
io-y:-
Stained and stigmatizej as the managers
thus are by universal consent, the contrast pre-
ser,ei by the bearing Of the President whom
these men have impeached is that Of light COM
pared with darkness. He not only refused %
entertain the proposition, but rather than soil
his hands with so questionable a matter, he
preferred 90 sacrifice the services Of the counsel
upon whom he most Immediately relied, and
who had already entered upon the discharge Of
that high trust. When the passion and Tarti-
sarsbip OF these corrupt and exciting times
shall. have passed away and poSterity shall read
these events 10y the light Of truthful history.
no act VT. rebound more to tie credit of An
drew Johnson, or to the dishouor Of his accu-
serS. than that which now so Justly excites the
indignation Of the American people. This
single Illustration puts 10 bold relief the selfish
and yiudictive motives Of Impeachment. and
brings out into strong view the real character
Of itsiussiEa gators It's ftto be chrouicled with
the legislation Of men who, by extravaganza.
corruption. and prodigality, have squandered
the peoples treasure and in their desperation
would now invite ruin and anarchy upon the
country
Whatever NAV he the fate Of this trial, one
thing is certain. the "Guano managers. with
Butler at their head, have earned a sobriquet
which WI, endure as long as its records sur
V.vs. TIE distinction. such as IL Is, Is Of their
own making. and viii not he envied or disputed
bv honest men