The New York herald., 1868-02-28

Oclovk j. M Tomorrow Tor OnaTeston =. cOnueCt.
| ing with steamer for Florida ports
Tic stock market steady yesterday. Governments
closed steady. Gold clo.ed at 14l2s.
Tho Miserable Impeachment Farce and
Its Probable Consequences.
Already the imposing and overwhelming
proceedings OF the House of r representatives.
in the impeachment Of Andrew Johnson are
assuming the appearance of a solemn but ridi-
culous farce. Already upon the case against
the accused it is apparent there can be no con-
victiou BY the Ssnate. What are tho high
crimes and mis- lomeanors upon which he is
indicted-the Overt acts VII ch legally render
him subject 10 removal from Office? The
removal OF Mr.. Stanton as Secretary Of War
and the appointment Of General Lorenzo
Thomas TO the ofice. In this removal and in
tais appointment, i! is charged, Mr. Johnson
hos fully violated the Tenure of Office law and
defed the sovereign authority OF Congress.
But here these questions recur--Is Mr.. Stanton
removed? and is Mr.. Thomas filling his place
in the War Office? No. Nj. Stanton still
holds absolute posse sion of the department,
and General Thomas, after making his daily
mlnl for surrender of the Office, gracefully
tires, leaving Stanton still master Of the
situation. Stanton sticks to his pos but Mr..
Sumner, in his HOT haste in enjoning him to
"stick,' has spoiled ihe impeachment Of
Johnson.
IL point Of fact, however, Stanton is the man
who ought to be impeached; for he is clearly
guilty OF the ''high crimes and msdemeanors'
Of resisting tue authority and disregardng the
orders Of his superior officer and OF returning
and remaining in the War Office against the
express commands of the President. What is
the government out that of q mere cabal or
French Directory if this or that subordinate
official can hout and defy his superior because
the subordinate ia under the protection Of the
dominant party Tor the time in Congress? We
sly, in this view, that no conviction of the
President can be secured in the Senate for b is
efforts to get rid OF this obnoxious and intol-
erable subordinate, Stanton.
Twice before has the House Of Representa-
tives attempted the impeachment of Mr..
Johnson upon high crimes and misdemcan-
ors," such as usurpa.ions, briberies corruptions,
&C.; but in both instances the attempt was a
signal failure first before the House itself, and.
secondly, in the preliminary investigation by
hc Committee on Reconstruction. The same
committee, by party vote, upon this third
experiment did make up case, and the
House, BY clean party division, has
sustained and reported that in behalf
"of all the people Of the United
States the charges TO b. preferred will be
made good before the Senate. The indictment,
then, is this time success but the trial has
yet TO come. The Senate in this trial assumes
the character and responsibilities Of court Of
jusiice. Party considerations, party annoy
ances and party prejudices must be cast aside,
and the guilt or innocence of the accused must
be determined by tbe law, the fact. and the
evidence. From this ordeal we undertake to
say that there will be no conviction, but that
The President win come off the victor from the
field for lack Of law, facts and evidence upon
Which to condemn him.
What then? The next thing, then in order
will be the impeachment OF this radical party
IN Congress before the bar Of the American
people. Nor will there be any scanty budget Of
"high crimes and misdomcanors" in the general
indictment against them. Their attempts to
take away the constitutional powers Of the
Executive Department; their efforts to upset
the Judicial Department or to reduse it to a
mere party machine their negro SUPP emacy
policy OF Southern reconstruction their tinan
cial iolcs, extravagances, spoliations and cor
rupuons will all be in the bill and we shall
probably have an inklng in the approaching
New Hampshire election OF what is to come
in the auItrmnal Congressional elections. In
New Hampshire the impeo chmcnt question is
now uppermost, and tho election U0th Of
March) will probably be determined upon
this Issue. II Is hardly possible now that the
Senate can reach judgment before the l0,h
OF March. They may keep Andrew Johnson
for weeks. and months suspended between
heaven and earth, like Mahomet's coffin, but
II the democracy carry this New Hampshire
election II Is all up with this radical party in
power, whatever they may do with Johnson.
Thls impeachment farce, however, we say,
will finish them, because the Senate cannot
remove the President upon the himsy charges
presented and If they cannot, out OF their
own mouths will these revolutionary radicals
stand condemned, and all tho public money
and time they have squandered, md all the
distresses and financial embarrassment they
havo brought upon the country in their negro
schemes OF legislation, and in their persecu-
tions and prosecutions OF Andrew Johnson
will react upon them to their destruction,