The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-12
Mcssrs. Wade and Patterson.


The high court ofimpcachmcnt,
Chief. Justice Chase presiding, has
had a somewhat difficult and deli.
cate point 10 sottle ut the outset.
Shall the President pro tempore Of
tho Senate and Acting Vice Presi.
dent Of tho United States sit in
Judgment on the trial of the Pres.
dent of tho United StalcsY We
should ondeavor 10 divcst ourselves
Of all feeling as parlizans and aim
to reach tho conclusion that histo.
ry will reach on this subject.
Takinga common sonso view of
tho subject, it would seem that
when the trainers ofthe Constitu.
ton provided that in caso the
President of tho United States wns
tried under charges of impeach-
ment, that not the Vice President,
but the Chief Justice should pro
sldo over tho Court which tried
him, the object was to remove the
officer who would succeed to tho
Presidents place in case Of convic
tlon, from taking any part in the
Impeachment proceedings. And as
q Vice President elected by the
people cannot take part in the tri.
nj OF the President as a presiding
ofilcer, he Of course cannot take
part in any other capacity, from
the fact that it is only as its pre-
siding officer that hc has any con.
ncction with tho Senate.
In case Of an acting Vice Presi.
dent chosen by tho Senate, like
MIR. Wadc, it would soem, reason.
lGg from analogy, that he should
occupy the samo rotations to the
Court as tho officer whose place he
temporarily fills, would occupy.
In each case tho President of the
Senate is heir.apparent to tho Chlei
magistrate who IL TO DO placed on
trIal. Does not the constitutional
provision which forbids tho actual
Vice President from taking part
in tho trial and condemnation of
the officer he is to succeed apply
with equal force to the aetna Vice
President? AS neither officer can
preside over tho Court of Impeach.
ment. is it reasonable TO suppose
that the constitution contemplated
that tho acting Vice President
should take what in reality may
be moro important part, and vote
tho condemnation and removal OF
the only officer between him and
tho highest position in the Repub.
lie! That would bo precisely as il
the heir.apparent TO tho crown, Of
England, should sit in Judgment
over his Sovereign, and pronounce
with his own voice that his prode.
cessor should vacato tho throne.
Senator Wade should not sit as
q judge in tho trial OF Andrew
Johnson. His interest is too great
--grcater than any human being
could have in tho result OF my
cause, except in tho matter of lifo
rnd death.
There is another Senator who Is
disqualified by reason of his rela
lionship to tho accused Senator
Patterson, OF Tcnnesseo-tho son.
nlaw Of the President. In any
ordinary action at law both Wade |
md Patterson would be disQuali,
ied to sit as judges or Jurors by |
'eason Of their relationship to the
parties TO tho suit and their inter
'st in tho result oftho action. And
'halla cause, involving the claim
o the position of President of this
treat Republic, be triod with less
'aution and scrupdlous care to 80.
'ure impartiality than case con.
'erning tho ownership Of a dozen
liver spoons2
1t would bo exhibiting good
oste, good Judgment, q becoming
Ielicacy offeeling, and a proper
egard TO the "propIietiesn OF the
ceasion, il Messrs, Wade and Pat.
erson should nsk to be excused
rom sitting asjudges in the trial of
ho President Of tho United States.
t:is always we'll 10 consider what,
heimpartial historian will say iii Il
uch cases. >. OHIO Stdte Journal