Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-04
puratiou Of the Impe.chnent Trial.

u DURATION OF the lmpeachRent irihl'
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald speculates as follows
on this subject:s otgaF wal sls
The probsble length Of the impeach-
ment trial is subject of much anxious
speculation among folks here in WASH
ington. Those who are interested in q
change of occupancy at the White House
say the tickle month of April will bring
about the desired result, and May, the
month of flowers and sunshine, will dawn
upon new ruler of these States. 9th
ers contend that the whole blessed sum-
mer and the ensuing fall will be con-
sumed in arriving at the guilt or limo
cence of the accused, and that points Of
law and evidence will arise, which are
not at present foreseen. There is, how
ever, much more reason to believe that
the trial viii be speedy rather than pro.
tracted, but not to be disposed of in a
month, or even in two. Measured by its
Importance and the range of evidence
which the President will furnish in his
defense against the eleventh article of in.
dictment, three months would seem to
be about the most reasonable term to
suggest for the length Of the trial. lta
The court will very likely sit each day
for an average space of four hours, and
everybody knows four hours 90 but a
little way in the discussion of such deli
cate questions as are Involved in the case
about to be tried First will arise a long
controversy as to Stanton's admission, If
he received 1t from President Lincoln in
the first term of bis administration, and
could only hold his Office during the
pleasure Of that President, what right
can he claim to hold it now without pos
sessing any commission whstever2 The
defense will make the most of this, and
the prosecution will be compelled to
travel over great deal of ground in the
work of demoishing it. Then, again,
discussion will inevitably spring up on
the constitutionality of the Tenure-of-
Office bill and the obligation of the Ex-
ecutive to obey law which palpably
infringes upon the privileges guaranteed
him by the Constitution. 2iao- -aa
The debate must necessarily embrace
an extensive range of constitutional
pleading, and considering the ability of
the counsel for the Defense nothing will
be neglected to DO brought forward which
will tax the powers of the impeachment
Managers to argue. Ben. Buffers article
in reference to the reasonable utterances
of the President will involve good deal
of testimony, which will have to be
brought from remote sections of the
country, and If, as is stated, over one hun
bred witnesses will testify for the defense,
and that few or none have yet been suns
moned, it is easy to see that some time
will be consumed in this matter alone.
| It cannot be concealed, however, that
the Radicsls are Intensely desirous of
making the trial as brief as possible, il for
no other reason than the fact Of the pub
lie business being compelled to languish,
and the consequent complaint which will
arise throughout the country that vital
national interests are neglected in order
that partisan end may be accomplished.
At the same time il will not suit to show
disposition TO hurry up the cakes with
unseemly haste. Some show of fairness
will have to be exhibited even though
the public business may suffer by the
delay in doing so, w w