The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-11

Probable Result OF Impeachment.

" VuI reaueia II lutl.s LIS MlfTor inOueStly
says;
'While politics and questions Of State offer
not the special field Of our labors, there are
occasions when cain, opinions on such subjects
may be expressed not without profit to our
many readers. For this reason we are indu-
ced to write a few words upon the engrossing
subject Of the hour, and perhaps we may add
ofthe times-the proposed impeachment Of the
President From careful estimate of public
opinion, made up from a perusal of the opin-
ions f.the Press Of all parties, from close
observation Of the effect produced by the pro-
posed measure, and the attitude of the monied
interests towards the plaintiffs and defendant
in the important issue, and after bordering the
probable eventualities of the whole proceed
ings, our opinion is that the Senate will not
sustain the House, and that Andrew johnson
will come oa unscathed. -
We are fortified in this view by four weigh
ty considerations, each Of which presents
powerful reason for the defeat of this extra
ordinary Radical prosecution
Fi,st.-The Radical party is distracted by
plotting and contemplating among its own
leaders
SecondW-The Impeachment scheme was
aimed against the Democratic party, and the
Democratic party evades the blow by leaving
johnson to his fate. t bA6
IAirdW.-Congress by the Supplemental
Reconstruction Bill clothed Gen. Grant with
Dictatorial Powers, and having bound the
Executive hand and foot, have no reason to
fear Andrew johnson
Fonathy.-The lie or death of the Raai-
cal party is involved in the immediate :'re-
construction" Of Southern States and their
instant readmlsslon ia the Union on the Con
gressional basis-in time for the Electoral
College. M
No one who has been an attentive observer
OF public affairs, during President Johnson's
administration, can have failed to observe that
violent feuds and discussions have been gnaw-
ing like canker-worm at the yitals of Radi-
caIism. The detection of johnson from his
party was followed by the detection Of an army
OF trimmers and such men as Seward, Ray
mond, Weed, nay, of Stanton himself for he
1t was who strenuously urged johnson to vote
the Tenure-ot- Office Bill as dagrantly uncon-
stltutlonal, and afterwards swore solemn oath
that the said bill was constitutional See his
affidavit for the arrest of Lorenzo Thomas y
Thad. Stevens has been the only man whose
power was equal to the herculean task of pre-
serving the apparent morale Of the party Or
ganlzatlon; while nothing but an appetite for
the spolls has kept Chase and Wade, Butler
and Grant, Sumner and Fessenden, Wendell
Phillips and Trumbull, Horace Greeley and
Henry Ward Beecher in the same party lines
to this day.
| This well-known violence and brainless ia
natlcsm OF Ben Wade, initiate against I'm
I parchment, with suggestive cogency which,
however much some may affect to disregard
it, not one of the weak kueed or more respec-
table Radicals, like Bingham and Fessenden,
can fail most sensibly to feel By Wade's eIe-
walton to the Presidency, the Radical schemes
for the succession are inevitably knocked into
pi Again, the Democratic party having flank
ed Radicalism in the last Northern and Yves
tern elections, Congress made the capital blum
der OF confounding that party with the Presi-
dent, and expected to involve and overthrow
the former in the arraignment and impeach-
ment OF the latter. But 10! parturtunt mon
ties. The Democrats calmly fold their hands,
proclaim strict neutrality as between the bel
llserents, and utterly spoil the little game of
| Grant, Stanton y Co., who had combined and
contederated with Wade, Stevens i Co., to
bring about the grand cataclysm-to over
whelm the Democratic party when the Senate
should come to sign the political death war
rant OF Andrew johnson. The plot failed
egregiously and disastrously. Look at the
Cooper Institute meeting ofthe 2sth ultimo;
where were the Democrats then ? Fifth ave-
nue. and Wall street.-The merchant princes
and the respectable denizens of lordly abodes
met IN council to protest against the reyolu-
tionary course Of Congress, but the Democrat
| lc lenders were not present, or if any Of them
| were present, it was not in their representa-
| tive political character as Democrats that they
went. The World, the Times, the Herald and
the Tribune, each represent one or the other
party against OR. for impeachment, and the in
termediate grades Of opinion onthe subject
The World, which is the recognized organ of
THE Democratic party, and the organ of the
widest circulation in the country, cares not
the toss, OF. a penny for Andrew johnson per
Sc. If you elect to impeach the President of
your own choosing, it says in effect, it is not
our business, but yours, gentlemen OF the Radi-
! cal party, We meyer endorsed Andrew j ohm
| son in all bis acts, but exercised an independ,
| ent voice Of approval where We could approve,
and of opposition to his policy where his poll
icy Wasiin conflict with the principles of the
Democratic creed. And it is the terrible truth.
of this declaration Of the World which the
Radical party feels, and which gives it its DO.
tential significance The scales have fallen
from Radical eyes, and the realization is burst
ing on them at last that whether Mr.. johnson
stands or falls, the strength and compact Or
galization OF the Democratic party are Meth
er augmented or impaired, neither strength
ened or weakened by the result, in the esti-
nation Of one poor hair The events of the
past ten days have demonstrated this beyond
lall question. The Times represents the trim.
mers, among whose dry bones there is terri
BILE shaking. But still Raymond writes with
ability, and in his violent opposition to i'm
parchment he will carry many with him
Having the best Of the argument, he fluids but
little difficulty in demolishing old Horace
Greeley, who clamors like any other matatinal
seold for the impeachment Of poor Mr.. john
son, sregards the Herald it is important
only as an index to the drift Of events. It
knows neither principles OF morality and while
Nj stands !aJ ,e :, :,