The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-27


courts.
THE MILITARY AND THE PRESIDENT.
The Washington Chronicle (Forney's paper)
of Monday, says:
In connection with the question of a resor
| to force, there is an important consideration
which has, no doubt, had great weight wltt
both the President and his dd interim appointet
| in bringing them TO pacific state OF mind
and that is, where the force is to be obtained
| The President finds, to his embarrassment, thai
| his subordinates in the army have o due sense
| Of the Importance Of obedience to the laws
discovery which may lead him to conclude that
the assertion he once made OF his ability to
declare himself dictator was somewhat prema-
ture. The laws provide that no orders shall be
issued to the army except through the general
commanding. This provision was promulgated
| in general orders and thus made known to
every officer in the army after it's enactment,
and consequently any officer who should re-
| ceive an order otherwise than through the
proper chaDnel would do 30 in full! view OF the
| consequences. Very naturally, the President
has not yet found any one willing TO take upon
himself the responsibility of course which
would be at once violation Of the law and OF
army regulations.
On Saturday be sent for General Emory, who
commands the Department Of Washington,
and whose cooperation he, therefore, doubt
less regarded as very important adjunct to
his scheme. Had General Emory consented 20
become his tool, it is not likely that we should
have heard any OF the pacific talk to which we
are now treated, ut least until an attempt had
been made to use stronger measures. Bat he
was too good o soldier, and too loyal citizen
to lend himself to the Presidents purpose; and
it is even said that he informed the President
Of his position in the somewhat blunt express
sion "You can't use me-" He subsequently
called at General Grants headquarters, and
stated to him the result of the interview. We
believe he had anothe. interview with the
President afterward, but nothing is known as
to what transpired therein, except that Cen
eral Emory's position remains unaltered. 1t ls
understood that the commanding officers OF
the troops within the department OF Washing
ton have all had their attention called to the
law, and been reminded of their duty there
under. It is stated that the President subse-
ouently sent for COL Wallace, commanding the
12Lh infantry, but found him as ircorruptible
as General Emory. The only encouragement
he has met with, 80 far as we can hear, ls from
the venerable Secretary of the Navy, This
"old man of the sea" with characteristic ofil-
ciousness, has, We learn, rendered to the Pres
ident the service of the marines located in this
city, of whom there are about 400, under the
command ST General Zeihn an officer, who, we
learn is in accord with Congress-. All things
considered, circumstances seem very unfaVor-
able for resort to force against the Secretary
of War; if the President really has entertained
such design"
rmPEAcHMENT-coURsE OF PROCEEDING.
The House Of Representatives having passed
o resolution impeaching the President of the
United States of high crimes and misdemean-
ors, the public will naturally wish to have their
recollections refreshed as to the mode Of pro-
ceeding in the Senate.
The Chief Justice of the United States will
preside upon the trial, just as in the British
House of Lords the Lord Chancellor of England
presides upon similar occasions All the Sena-
tors are required to take an oath Tor to aftrm)
that they will I" well and truly Try and true do
Liyerance make" &c. The case will be conduc-
ted on the part OF the prosecution by managers
TO be appointed by the House of Representa-
lives, and on the part Of the President by
counsel of his own choosing. MIR. Stan
berry, Mr.. O'Connor, and Judge Black are
,aid to have been engaged by the President.
The House of Representatives will select as
many managers as it pleascs, and will proba-
DIV. as O compliment, select MIR. Stevens as
heir chief manager. The number will proba-
Div be less than half dozen. The consttu-
Jon provides that punishment III cases Of I'M
oeachment shall not extend further than re-
noval from Office, and disqualification to hold
any Office under the government 1t requires
the concurrence OF two-thlrds OF the senators
present to do even this.
No President Of the United States has ever
before been impeached, and therefore the
Chief Justice has never before presided over
the Senate, since he does so only in such case.
It may require weeks or months to complete
the trial. All depends upon the temper of tho
Senate,