New-York tribune., 1868-02-24

! called for the Yeas and Nays OF for a division.
Through some misconception or blunder, the Demo-
Gratis supposed that they voting on the resol-
| tion and not on an amendment. The debate was AT
| first loose and general, but after time 1t was
narrowed down to the law points, namely, the la"
power of removal and the law power OF appointment
These were the two questions before the Senate ana
OH them the debate was full and free. Almost al inc
Republicans maintained that Mr. johnson had clearly
violated the Constitution and the laws as Is SnoWh
| in the resolution which was PASSED. Senator
Edmunds's remarks were rather Dflei, anu
| he took the same ground that ne dld III
| his speeches when he introduced the Tenure
of Office hill He believed that the removal OF Mr
Stanton without the advice and consent OF the Sen
ate while that body was in session, was gross NlOl-
tion of the law. When the Senate went into EXecu-
tivn session and the subject announced, it was
| sunnosed by the Republicans that the Democrats
were thoroughly of the position OF affairs, but
one by one they dsayOwed all knowledge OF 1t.
Mcssrs Hendricks, Dixon, and Doolittle endeayored
to defend Mr. Johnson but they were ground to pieces
by the Republicans. The defense set up by them was
| very weak, and did not stand a moment In fact,
the thing seemed TO take them by complete surprise
and they entered into defense of Mr.. Johnson more
as matter of compulsion than otherwise. They
seemed disheartened and the strongest of them did
but feebly.
As hardly reasonable doubt exists that President
Johnson will be brought to the bar of the Senate on
articles of impeachment preferred by the House.
there is considerable speculation to the next pro-
ceedngs to be taken the length of the trial and the
probabilities of condemnation aequittal. Your
correspondent had an interview with leading SEN
ator one of the first lawyers Of that body, on Satur
day and the following is substantially the converse
ton on that subject:
Should the House decide to prefer the articles of
impeachment, as they probably will, how long,
Senator do you think the trial Will last
Well that will of course depend OH the framing OF
the articles and the charges brought against him. If
the Representatives should rest their case solely
upon this recent act of the Presidents, and perhaps
one or two others that might be mentioned ol course
the trial would be very short because, the commits
sion of the deed admitted the question would rest on
mere point of law. On the other hand, II the House
of Representatives should 60 into those other sub
ects which they had under consideration before, in
yolymg disputed matters of fact. it would take a
great deal longer time TO settle.
Well could the defense not manage to ritter away
time and protIact the proceedings by long argu-
ments and gasconade.
Oh. no. that would be speedily stopped. You can
.see the mode of procedure, by looking into Senator
Edmunds's bill. There are special rules on the sub
iect which have been in force since the beginning OF
the Government these rules provide for the main
tenance of order daily sessions, etc do not think
thew provide for the number Of counsel who shall
speak but they provide that all questions shall be
decided without debate. The Senators st as judges
and without consultation each has to act on his own
Judgment and answer yes or no, when his name IS
called. This leads me TO speak of Senator Edmundss
bill there is not in il single feature that has not
I T.. ~ ...ll, linz arst
the kind. And as to the Tenure-ofOiee law, AT the
time of the passage Of that Bill the whole subject
was very carefully examined, and there cannot be
| reasonable doubt Of the constitutiOnality Of the
| measure The Democrats claim that under the
Constitution the President has the power
Of removing anybody from Office at any time. AZ the
Executive power, the President has tho ght to re-
move but be has no right TO appoint except by and
with the advice and consent OF the Senate. IL is
difficult to prove this from the Con tution, but il is
nevertheless the law Tough the practice has been
little opposed to it, The National Currency bill con-
tanned in substance exactly such Inovislon-that
the Controllero Of the Currency should not be removed
except by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. Doolittle, who makes such noise now and
thinks that the President has the constitutionarght
TO do anything he peases voted for that bill. 1t was
not until after he had apostaczed that he saw that
| Congress had no powers and the President had
! them all.
! To-day your correspondent had an interview with
another prominent Republican Senator who is con-
sidered one OF the most expert of politicians The
conversation began by remark on the part OF your
correspondent, that nearly all Republican newspapers
were demanding impeachment and had demanded it
on Saturday morning yes" he replied but guess
they were rather surprised" Don't you think Con-
eress is surprised to find itself in its present atitudef
| "To that would answer both yes and no. No one
could have thought that johnson would have made
such fool of himself as to violate the law in this
manner. see in of the papers that johnson calls
| impeachment a bugbear. But We have got him fast
| now. His worst enemy could not wish him in q
worse plight. impeachment is very different kind
of a bugbear from what heimagnes. This fight will
prove his utter annihilation. 1t is bugbear, but
! Congress is the bear and he is the bug, and though
il is a small thing to squeeze, the pressure will be
dreadful" But they say that he will resist
"Oh, thata is all nonsense, he had bet
ter not attempt anything of that kind, and
| do not believe he is demented enough
TO resort to any violence. The fact is have got
sick and tired of his warfare his opposition 10 the
laws and his Iiclery. The notion that he is superior
to public opinion. to law, to the Constitution, TO
everything in this country, is absurd Well, there
is rumor that he shows some signs of repentance,
| and that if allowed he would withdraw Thomas's
| name and send in Ewingss. In that event how do
Won think Congress would act "Well, if he would
make an unconditional surrender to Congress- prom
se 10 cease his eternal opposition and give us some
quiet Congress would probably allow him to linger
out the rest of his miserable administrations but Ihave
not much faith that such counsels Will prevail with
him. lie is not wise enough to do anything of the
kind. know he hopes to be martyrin this struggle,
tI,.n flo