Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-08
How the Radicals Intend to Carry out their

How the Radicals Intend TO Carry Out their
Revolutionary Designs.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald makes the following
disclosures:
For some weeks past we have had
every external evidence that some deep,
dark and important secret was being
agitated in the innermost penetralia OF
the Jacobin party. But of what its pre-
else character consists not even the most
acute observers could form an idea.
That it was of the highest consequence
might be inferred from the fact that no
"leaky vessels mo Congressman or
Senators who are in the habit of wagging
loose tongues-were intrusted with its
nature. But everywhere the over
shadowing presence or the near
approach of some last decisive steps
in the revolutionary programme has
made itself felt, just as men in the tropics
can foretell the coming tornado by the
dead and deathly calm which imme-
diately precedes it. The tremendous
secret, of which we have had more or less
direct warnings for some time, but which
has heretofore appeared incredible (Just
az il appeared unbelievable, before the
first firing on Fort Sumter, that the South
would really rebeD, is at last partially
uncovered in the bill yesterday intro
duced by Congressman Churchill, OF New
York, for regulating the succession to the
Presidency when the foregone conclusion
of Andrew Johnson's removal from otfce
shall have been attained. This bill looks
very innocent on the surface, but is only
designed as stalking horse, to be
trotted quietly through both houses OF
Congress in two readings after which
it is to be suddenly saddled with .revo-
lutionary amendment proclaiming Gen.
Ulysses s. Grant the successor to Mr..
johnson; and this is to be put through
both Houses without debate under the
gag law of the previous question. Just
as the amendment of Mr.. Wilson striking
down the appellate jurisdiction OF the
Supreme Court was suddenly and vio'
lently put through as an amendment, on
the third reading of General Schenck s
bill, equally innocent on its face, for
giving the Supreme Court more rapid
Jurisdiction in internal revenue cases.
Churchill's bill is based on the idea that
Senator Wade, who is only President
pro tenn. of the Senate, cannot CONSTR
tutionally" succeed Mr.. johnson; and
the right man to succeed the President be
some officer, whether elective or ap'
pointed makes no difference, OF the
United States. As sop to Cerberus and
to quiet suspicion in the earlier stages,
the bill purports to add Chief Justice OF
the United States to the, list of persons
eligible to Mr.. Johnson's vacancy: But
in the third reading revolutionary
amendment, which is to declare the Cen
eral.in.chief of the army Mr.. Johnson s
successor, is to be put through under q
full head of partisan steam. 1t is cur
rently reported that Speaker Colfax is to
resign any right to the succession and
10 refuse to receive the Office. thus
passing it over to General U: s. Grant,
in consideration of which Mr.. Colfax
has been promised the nomination as Vice
President by the next Radical National
Convention, while General Grant is to be
continued at the head of the ticket
nWe will have no more change" is what
the leading Jacobins OF Congress now
openly begin to say. We will put Grant
into the White House right away, on the
removal of Johnson, and we'll keep him
in there, or know the reason why :"
There are others of the weaker kind who
see in this bill proffered bribe to Judge
Chase for ignoring his oath Of office, the
laws of the U.itsd States and his Con-
stitutioual duties as presiding Justice OF
the Court of Impeachment. He is to be
thus made next in succession to the man
upon whose removal he is to pass Judg-
ment But the men who talk thus are
mot veil informed. The real programme,
40 far as It can be discovered, is, as stated,
to make Gen. Grant de Jacto President,
as he cannot he de jure by this revolu'
tionary measure; and when once en-
throned in power it is claimed by the
more ultra Jacobin partisans that all
necessary steps to perpetuate his reign
will be adopted" Is it not high time for
the true patriotism of the country, to
arouse itself and scrutinize keenly what
is going on. We are Q republic to-day
For how longf