The New York herald., 1868-06-02
dlslncned to incur the unpopularity consequent on

disincned to incur the unpopuarity consequent on
the desertion OF their leader.
y AZ II Is, the Pres dental term eXplres IN
little more than nine months; and, after the com
mencement OF next November, when Mr. Johnson's
successor viii be elected, his influence, whether for
good or evii, viii be virtually at an end Very little
good th erefore, could be secured by his deposition,
wne ne Interior sadvanGag OF so revolutionary
a measure were likely to be OF serious character.
The pracucal go0d sense OF tile American peopie
shlank from so decisive step; yet at the same tine.
1t was felt that solemn protest should he entered
AGAINST alleged abuses Of authority which, IL com
mlited under other circumstances, might have
tailed the penalty of impeachmenL. BY giving
VOTE therefore, the moral weight Of whose censure
Is unmstakeabe, but whose practical effect is null
and void the Senate has probably acted In accord
too, that Congress itself will receive with
excessive dissatisfaction the intelligence that the
Impeachment trial has broken down. The proceed
ing acas neue, u,'gentlv denanrded on h,e country
The threat of impeachment was first brought for
ward without any serious intention of resortng to
eXtremites. Gradually, as the contest between the
President and the legislature became enbittered the
threat was used more and more, vehemently and re-
sented more and more bitterly, I'LL at last things
came to pass at which the leaders Of the
republican organization found themselves forced,
out of regard Tor their consistency to adopt the
extreme expedent they had 30 long held out as their
final resource But pubic opinions never cordially
approved of the act and the indifference with which
the progress Of the trial was watched throughout the
country showed that while the accused had lost his
earlier hold the sympathes OF the nation no deep
popular passion had been excited in favor Of his for
chile removal from Office.
Under these circumstances the Senate has acted
with manifest wisdom In aDStanng from the dep0-
sitiOn OF Mr. Johnson. The trial was conducted
with gravity and decorum not unworthy of the
tribunal of the dignary arraigned before it, and
as the investigation proceeded the opinion gained
ground that the major charges brought against the
President were not borne out by the facts That he
had used Incorporate language unbecoming his
high position; that he had heedlessly provoked q
conflict of authorities that he had shown Indifference
to important considerations Of law; that he had not
refused to excite national passions, which 1t was his
first duty rs a magistrate to hold in subjectOn-a
this and perhaps more may have been affirmed
against him. But his accusers failed to show that he
had seriously contemplated any attempt to override
the law to substitute arbitrary for legal force and
failing that they could hardly establish plea Of
sufficient urgency to justify his summary dis
missal from office. The opinion which
Mr.. Fessenden is stated to have given,
lshed, could not fall to produce the effect due to
high constitutional authority; and even before the
verdict published little doubt was felt that the
extreme penalty would not be practically enforced.
The consideration of the other counts Of the indct
ment has been postponed for a week, but after the
failure of the principal charge the minor counts
scarcely be pressed. 1t would be premature to
speculate ON the effect that this event is likely to
have on the chances Of the Presidential election
For the present zoe mag congratulate the Americans
that so intenpeq11te m speech ana hdsty in
action Senator Wade has not been raised to the
PYeSdencv aDhich he acO,ld haze been had And1'el0
Johnson been depOsed. In the course OF few
months a new President must be seated In the White
House, and no long time will elapse before the
most vehement members of the republican party
will rejoice that the highest office In the Republic
still retains its prestige unmpaired ana its repute
uudlmlnished