The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-02-26
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
Tho question now Is; When will the President
be tried by the Senate, and will he be found
guilty by that body, and be impeachedl II may
be difficult to give a certain and conclusive an
swer to the above nterrogatory; still 1t is posi-
bic to throw some light upon the subject. There
are two parties In this controversy; one anxious
TO bring the trial at once, and thus dispose Of
II at as carly day as possible, in order to get
rid of an obnoxious Executive, and to bring
quiet and peace to the country, while the other
would put 1t of to get the opinion Of the Su-
preme Court upon the tenure of ONCE act, and
TO give time for the excitement to subslde, and
thus get rid of Impeachment altogether. II is
obvious that the matter has gone too far for
either party to back out. It must be carried
through, whatever shall be the verdict, and those
who have 1t in their power to precipitate the
trial will doubtless do 1t with all possible alac-
rity and with as much expedition as can well be
commanded.
The opinions of Data, the correspondent Of the
sun, may fairly be understood to reflect the prin-
ciples, impressions, and views entertained at the
White House. II will he recollected that this
correspondent, In his letter In Mondays Sun,
lntimatcd that Judge Chase could not be induced
70 hurry up this Impeachment trial. In his COM
municatlon yesterday, he says that "those who
project to a hnaity, and depose, or attempt to
depose, the President within ten days, as prom
clearly that the suggestions made by your cor
respondent last night are well founded, namely,
that Judge Chase cannot be induced to join IN
Irregular or Incorporate action in the Senate;
that at least portion Of the Republican Sena.
tors will not consent to any improper or ques-
viotion, Without giving ample time Tor prepsGa-
ton, argument, and delioeration Commensurate
the office OF President Of the United States; in
brief, that the trial will proceed regularly, and
nrzt bpfOrp o 10 hall tai ea An al
vote upon articles OF impeachment. Those who
look for the end OF the impeachment short of
three or Tour months VIII, beyond doubt, be dis
appointed"
Per contra, the Chronicle, which is understood
to be a fair representative of the opinions of
Congress upon this impeachment question, and
the editor of which probably knows al much re-
specting the disposition of the Chief Justice as
anybody, says;
1.-THE question hab been raised whether the
other engagements of Chief Justice Chase would
not compel him TO defer the impeachment trial;
but 1t is stated on undoubted authority that no
such obstacles will intervene to prevent the
speedy commencement OF the trial whenever the
House committee OF seven charged with the
preparation and prosecution of the presentment
OF the President before the Senate shall hsye
proSesd The s so se Of he chie
among which is the trial of JEFF. Davis, may be
attended to by any OF his associates, or even the
district judges in his absence. The impeaeh-
mcnt trial would IN any event take precedence,
gency OF the case, The Chief Justice, in cases Of
Impeachment, holds precisely the same relation
toward the Senate as does the Speaker toward
the House; and 1t Is incumbent upon him to re-
bpOnd at once to the call OF the Senate TO be-
come its presiding officer"
Thus we get what is the prevailing opinion on
either side.
In regard to the probabilities Of any violen
rupture or conflict OF arms to be inaugurated by
the Executive to maintain himself In ONCE In
defiance OF the Impeachment by Congress, DATA
says!
From a condition of extraordinary excite.
ment and anxiety this morning, there has been
a gradual transition throughout the day, and
ustil tonight, when we find the public mind
,omParGtyely calm notwthstsndns the adop,
of this abatement OF concern is attributable
mainly to better general understanding OF
President would resort to military force to sus,
tain him and execute his orders that he has had
no such purpose"
1t cannot be disguised, however, that there
have been plenty of people to advise him to this
course, aud people In high places, too; and we
have noticed, in not a few of our exchanges, a
good deal of this sort OF advice. Even this cor
respondent admits that
"The President received to-day and tonight
numerous dispatches from Pennsylvania, Ohio,
New York, Indiana, &c, &c., assuring him OF the
aaiIr, in men and honey 10 protect him from Rad.
!etl 4surpations, and illegal and unconstitu-
'tonaI procedure. One dispatch from New York,
tnis sentence we viii take care OF Geary's
IHcn."'
This may be all right, but men who mean to
obey the Constitution and the laws themselves,
TO not usually talk about what they will do In
furnishing men and money to put down other
people until some overt act has been committed
which distinctly violates the Constitution and
TIA" laws made in pursuance thereof The less
the President on the one hand and Congress and
as friends on the other have to say about such
dispatches, come they from whom they may, the
better. We have been told repeatedly that II
Congress should attempt to impeach the Presi.
dent that Mr.. johnson and his friends would
spFing coup ycidi upon the country, and that
blDOl would GuFcly dow. To all this we have
turncd Il leaf ear not believing a word Of 1t.
Ne have never supposed that the President
whatever may have been the notions of some OF
his pretended cnds-contcmplated for a mo-
ment any such purpose, and we are sorry there
tore that the Jolly of his overzealous friends Is
thus made apparent to the public
There Is one thing that heated partisans on
either side will do well to think Of We have
just come out Of u terrible civil war, from the
effects of which we very far from having re-
covered. 1t Is n rare thing In history that one
generation engages in two such conflicts The
Iroyocations must be very great that can involve
this nation In another interneoine conflict for a
generation at least.
PERSONAL.
!. Il. BARTLETT, u 5. A.; Lieutenant f. II