The New York herald., 1868-05-05
Chief Justice Chase and the Inpcnch-
ruent.

|
In all the turmoil and dismay which have sud-
denly come upon the High Court of Impeach-
ment through the Alta Vela controversy, which,
| like foul mist obscures such feeble vision as
there ever was of law and justice in the case
since its earliest incipiency, there stands forth
one man in whom, above all others, some hope
remains that decent regard for law may be
elevated above the intrigues of virulent and
vulgar partisanship, and that man is Chief
Justice Chase. AS he presides in that court,
the unwilling witness, no doubt, OF such scenes
as have been produced by the brawling Of
Butler, the Illogical political harangue of Bout
well, the eifervescent acidity of Thad Stevens
and the rambling introduction of Bingham-in
all of which no facts were adduced
worthy of moments consideration as
establishing crime against the President
the Chief Justice holds the balance evenly be-
tween the Interpretation of the law and the
chicancry of party. If he is strong in the con-
viction that he occupies position higher than
the Senate or the prosecutors, that the consti-
tuition declares the Court of Impeachment
perfect with him as its presiding officer, and
an imperfect court without him, incompetent
to arrive at any decision, render any verdict or
pronounce any sentence, then, of course, he
will insist upon his right to charge the court
upon such points of law as may have been
debated by counsel and to instruct it as 10 the
whole law of the case and the value Of the
testimony. But this is precisely duty and a
right which the Managers are disposed to dis
pute, not because they doubt the right as ex-
isting in the Chief Justice, but because they
fear the result of its honest exercise.
AS the impeachment case now stands it eyi-
IDENTIFY simply preludes combustion and revo-
luton for the party who inaugurated 1t. 1t is
question with the mass of the radical party
whether it was not grand mistake from
beginning to end-whether, indeed it has not
spoiled in toto the chances of maintaining
power. Uncertainty as to the consequences of
the trial is already abroad everywhere For
instance, there appear to be only about forty
or fifty prominent radicals in favor of Mr.. John.
sons conviction, while there are apparently
quite as many opposed to it. This is not the
result so much of the justice of the case
az of the expediency. The Presidential
Ben Wades unreliable and reckless character
is a source of great trouble. If he should be
put into the chair made vacant by the removal
of Andrew Johnson the radicals do not know
what Wade may do in the matter of division of
spoils-the vulgar and dsgraceful inspiration
-. g. e
Grant are in q most perplexed and distraught
condition, because they do not comprehend
whether conviction means the succession of
Wade, or mayhap Chase. Grant just now
stands upon the outer verge of expectancy, and
his supporters are accordingly cold, weak
backed and rather "nonplussed." Mr.. Colfax
who heretofore set loving eyes upon the Vice
Presidency, has rendered himself 80 notori-
ousiy incompetent for the place of the future
presiding officer Of the Senate by his tacit en-
couragement Of indecency in the House during
the Washburne and Donnelly squabble that he
may onsider himself ruled out and his aspira-
tions comfortably smothered by the wet blanket
OF respectable public opinion No party, even
as daring as the Jacobin radicals have proved
themselves, would have the hardihood to put
the name Of Colfax on their ticket for the Vice
Presidency.
In fact, the radical party ia on the verge of
grand explosion. The leaders have. in their
shortsightcd wisdom, set the match to the
fuse of the Impeachment mine, and il will
probably blow them all to pieces. Confusion
and bewilderment exist in the heart Of tho
party. They are making private bets for and
agans, the conviction of the President ,ha
odds being against it. The radical journals in
The West are growing at their friends. the
Managers, for entering into The Alia vela