The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-03-11

MuicH u tndl ue Is CTeuDiy iAloTneu tHuI There Ie
fifty illicit distileres In operation in that district
which had been ordered to be seized and forfeited.
Arrival Of the Collector Of the Port Of New
York.
Collector Smythe, of New York, arrived here this
evening, and Of speculation will be again rife
as to the nature Of his visit.
United States Supreme Court.
The following cases were argued in the Supreme
Court today:-No. 81, Justin VS.. Dufrf and No. 9s,
The South Fork Canal Company Vs. Gordon.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF the HERALD.
Why Did Johnson Remove Stanton-A Big
Plot Among the Anti-Radical Lcnders-The
President Advised to Fight-One Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Men to Aid Him-The
Success OF Impeachment and the Presidency.
WASHINGTON, March 9, 1868.
In these exciting times, when the air is so full of
startling both as to the designs of the radi
cal leaders on the one side and of the President OF
the United States on the other anything that comes
to ones knowledge bearing the appear Of plau
sibility and intended as an explanation or analysis
of the situation is perhaps, worthy Of being noted
down for the benefit OF the public. l do not mean
that every well contrived story, calculated to
excite the public mind and to destroy con-
fdence In the stability of the government,
should be recklessy flashed over the wires or sent
by the slower process of the mail to the daily news
paper, for that would be criminal trining with the
peace and safety Of the country. But when one gets
in even a semireliable way what purports to be an
unraveng OF the supposed plotting and counter
plotting that supposed to exist here and elsewhere
throughout the country, hold that one Is justified
In laying 1t before the public for what it is worth,
without exaggeraton or embellishments
With this view am about to repeat for the benefit
Of the public certain information that has reached
me respecting the aim Of President Johnson in his
late extraordinary movements and the objects OF
Congress in suddenly reviving impeachment APP
parenty with an earnest desire and firm determine
ton to put it through without fail.
In his perpetual contentious with he legislative
branch Of the government the President naturally
has been brought into close relationship with the
anti-radical element which Is composed OF all sorts
OF people, well those who highly conservative
as those who are ready and willing for any descrip-
ton OF adventure however wild or chimerical. 1t Is
said that some OF the latter class proposed to the
President desperate plan for defeating the whole
radical plan Demonstration They recommended the
President to resort to arms as the only OF
carrying ont his mild and bencncent policy for the
restoration OF the South and the reestabshment OF
peace and prosperity throughout the country. They
argued that to depend upon the slow, prudent course
popular reaction sts to the wSpd
first stages Of the rebellion. Had virginia,
they contended, taken firm stand in favor OF
Southern rights at the commencement OF the rebel
lion aud thrown herself into the fight at the head Of
It, instead Of allowing herself merely to drift into 1t,
lucky and Missouri to follow In her wake; she would
have taken the control entirely out Of the hands OF
the planting States, and have so operated upon the
great middle States as TO have decided the whole
controversy without battle and on terms the most
favorable for the South and the rest Of the country
Prompt determined action would then have resulted
In struggle "short, sharp and decisive" Cow
ardce disguised in the cloak OF prudence and
moderation, prevented Virginia from adopting this
course and the result that the planting States
took the lead the old Dominion was finally forced TO
participate, and her soil became the battle grounds
OF the struggle. The President, they argued,
earnest and sincere though he was in his
desire to see justice done to the South, was only
gna. The radical leaders were bent upon carrying
ont their plans OF Africanizing the South and OF thus
nsurng their perpeuaaon n p1Wep atany nee
rs an obstacle. II he Uhe PresidenO stood In their
way they would remove him certainly, no matter
how plainly right might be on his side, no matter
how .'prudenily" he might man9uvre, no matter
how frequently he might pepper them with vetoes
and protests laying bare the unconstitutonality Of
their proceedings and exposing their revolutionary
tendencies. II, then, Mr. Johnson really wished TO
defeat these radical schemes, only one means was
left him, and that was an appeal to the sword,
promptly and with determination But how was this
appeal 10 the sword TO be made, the reader will ask.
fhc people who thus advised the President ex-
planned that one hundred and fifty thousand men
at his service. Twenty thousand OF these ready
a
Five thousand in the city OF Washington would suf-
fee TO do the business. The men were already
organized who would respond to his CALL IL by
prompt action lie would only show himself worthy
Of their confidence.
How would he begins The first step he should
take they advised should be the issue OF an
order declaring that he assumed actual COM
mand In person Of the army and navy OF
the United States, as Commander-nChicf thereof
under the constitution. In that capacity he could
remove such generals as would not obey his orders.
He could then issue proclamation to the people
OF the whole country, appealing to them for
their assistance TO maintain the constitution
and the laws. Such an appeal, they urged,
would be followed by gathering OF hundreds
OF thousands OF men from all parts OF the country
around his banner, and also by reputation by the
great body OF the army OF their radical generals The
kavs was already SECURE being under the control Of
men to be relied Upon.
remove the Secretary OF War and all other subor.
dinate civil officers and as Commander-in-Chief Vi
the army, commanding In person, he would have
perfect right to issue orders and to remove and pun
Ism any officers that might not obey. Thus stanton
might be promptly set aside a new war minister In
stalled General Grant arrested by the latter new
acting Gcneral-in-C Chief appointed, ana oil would go
well. The reliable men OF Maryland would be
promptly hand ct the start TO back him up In his
lighting policy.
Such, in BRIEF was the plan said TO have been laid
before President johnson. whether he ever agreed
TO It, or by silence induced the consprators to be-
lieve that he assented, have not been informed.
The series OF moves made by the President last