Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-04
The capitol a Bss'ils.

From the NMuOuhi AUTOMATICALLY
The proceedings of the House yester-.
day only verify what has been intimated
before In the columns OF the Infetif-
oencer, namely that the popular branch,
as IL is called, Of Congress, II thwarted
by the Senate in its fell design OF revolu'
tisnizing the Government, would, under
The lead Of the Buffers, Binghams and
Steyenses. proceed to extremities to en-
force their further usurping designs. IL
is idle To- suggest what Butler might
moi do Az for Bingham, he is the au :
thor of the blasphemous expression that
nbis committee, to effect their objects.
would sit until the day of resurrection"
None bu, man whose course in politics
was in the last degree demoralized would
indulge 10 such blasphemy. Sit until the
day OF resurrection The next minute
might see the end of one who thus pirates
In the phrase of the Divine law, and es-
pecially conveys the idea that the lin
tied official life OF the offender and his
associate consbirators should reach the
period at which the heavens should roll
away as a SCROLL II it we're so, what fate
and what place might not a moderate
sketch of imagination prescribe for the
guano impeachers-for Butler who has
been guilty of that betrayal of truth and
honor that so materially aided to whelm
the nation in sea of blood; and for a
Stevens, who thirty years ago proposed
10 treat an election in Pennsylvania as
IL it had never taken place. who at
tempted to overthrow the State govern
ment; ard who, for his infamies at that
date. was denounced by Colone Forney
AS "villain at heart, who could not es-
cape thepenaltes Of the laws OF Pennsyl-
yania.
Mr. Wooley is fated, as we understand
it. by the proposed resolution of the
House, to suffer solitary confinement,
without power to give direction In
writing or verbally in respect to his
business affairs, or other private or do
nestle matters, except by the knowledge
or consent of the House OF Representa-
tives. He has testified, as has been re-
ported, that he had used no money in
connection with the Impeachment trial,
bat he has declined to say aught as to
any other disposition of his means. We
take it that there is no jurist of the land
that would not repel farther proceedings
against him after that revelation. Ger
tainly no parliamentary body-to say
nothing of Congress-has ever furnished
an example Of brutal tyranny like
that which DEGREES close confinement in
prison to one who is arraigned upon a
charge of contumacy to the authority of
a political body. The country which,
through the better portion of its press,
has strongly condemned, not only the
initial proceedings in impeachment, but
especially that phase of it which, after
an acquittal Of the President, has re-
suited in the designation of an inquisi-
torial committee, confined to Jscobips
alone, which has lswlessly instituted
private searches and seizures, and which
proposes to consign to dungeon q man
who will not disclose his private affairs,
though denying that they have related
to impeachment, will not fail to set the
seal Of its utter hostility upon the men
and the party that are responsible for
the crime and cruelty that it is proposed
to visit upon an American citizen.
A bastile is established, and the
day is not far distant, as things
go, when the instruments and
means of torture of which history
has horrible record-the rack, the wheel,
and the thumbscrew-will be applied to
innocent victims until their agonized
shrieks shall resound through the vaulted
arches of the Capitol.