Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-14
IMPEACHMENT.
Mr.. JOhnsOn's Views OF the I'M
parchment Business.
The Absurdity or the Indlct-
ment. .-
The Presidents Position UnaS-
sailable by the Impeachers.

Correspondence of tho New York world.

patches had on Sunday evening the fol-
lowing conversation with the President. IL
is deemed best to give the whole dialogue
publicity from the beginning TO the end,
because what was said on both sides in the
first part Of it will serve TO show what led
the President into expressing at least some
Of impeachment:
"Well, Mr.. President, you don't seem to
be pining under this infection. | congrat-
ulate You"
"No." said Mr.. johnson pleasantly, as
he invited me 70 seat; Il must have lost
very little in weight, if anything. The
rack used to be called in Venice, you
know, great appetizer"
On thai case, Mr.. President one may
presume that your dinners will have live
ly relish for some weeks. 1t appears that
the Senate is not to get through with the
business in such hurry as was expected
Mr.. Johnson's lips curled with a whim-
steal smile.
"Why, il was wsgered, wasn't it, that
they would go through the whole trial and
get rid of the President by this time?
suppose | ought, now, tO-regard it as little
less than miracle that | am still here.
The impeachers are, as / am told, very
persistent " tE
"Ihey are very persistent indeed, and,
at present, very determined. Although |
doubt the propriety of the question, and
expect to be corrected, | will venture to
ask, Mr.. President, what your own esti-
mate is of the present chances Of the trial 2"
perhaps, at this stage" the President
replied, sit would be more appropriate for
me to AJAX your opinion. My opportunities
of communication with the parties who nave
impeached the President of high crimes and
misdemeanors' are not, just now, quite so
favorable as yours
Being thus challenged, | remarked:
"Well, sir, you would respect me less If |
did not say as earnestly as believe that II
the President should be tried Immediately
- that is, within a week-the Senate would
probably convict him, though not upon all
the charges. The reasons for this belief are
found not only in the previous declarations
and present temper of majority of Sena-
tors, but in the lack of opposition to i'm
peachment by the Republican press and
party. While most Of the leaders Of that
PARTY would not have forced Impeachment
upon considerations of Justice, they are as
well convinced as CongreA@ is, now that
Congress has committed itself, that the trial
must be gone through with as measure OF
party necessity. 1t was thought, as you are
aware, that Congress would not outrage
Justice and the sentiment of the people by
passing the military reconstruction bills
| But il did pass those bills, because the
Radical party in the North stood by the
Congressional majority in doing so. You
said, as | recollect, in a conversation some
weeks ago, that for the Radicals TO hesitate
at carrying out the measures adopted up to
that time would be equivalent, so 10 speak
to political haTI kari. Having taken the
present step in advance, retreat, as every
member of the party possessing any brains
at all sees, would be still more dangerous
'You take, it must be confessed, a rather
gloomy view Of the prospect" said Mr.
Johnson laughing.
"By no means, sir-because | apprehenC
that the trial may last long enoughtO nee,
such n public discussion of its merits a
will yet arouse considerable oppositsoi
to the measures in the Radical ranks. Tn
Democratic press is bound to take a NOR
united and enthusiastic stand in the Presi
dents defense than il has taken, when th
issues between him and Congress come &
be systematically discussed at the trial, an
the motives Of the impeachers are fairl
unveiled. For these and several othe
reasons il ia pleasant to hope that the tria
cannot be fastened and will be prolonged.
81 do not see" observed the President
musingly, patting the carpet with his FOOT
1 hon hn Nuul - 70, NaWr- ia rTar
soon"
"Have you received the summons TO al
pear g
30, yes, that came last night. A sue
gestive document"
at is returnable, | believe on Friday
the 18th, instant"
"Yes."
81 suppose the President is not oblige
to put in his appearance in person, but wi
respond through his counsel"
Certainly, his counsel will respond"
Have the counsel been selected p
Some selections have been made, as 70
have heard would not make any to
positive statements in respect to this ma
e ter at present"
; The Presidents counsel will of cour
ask for time 10 prepare his defense"
Undoubtedly"
p and the time requisite may be consi'
, cred 2'
( There are eleven articles of impeac
! ment,' answered Mr.. johnson, with anoth
D smile, "and one would think the best
LAWYERS ought to have some leisure to d
liberate upon SC long a list"
After a short pause, / took the liberty
calling the Presidents attention 10 a matt
? having indirect relation to the subject
hand.
"The final argumentin the McCardle ca
is 70 be begun, and perhaps concluded,
morrow in the Supreme Court What
: fortunate thing ii would be, according
most accounts, If the court could rend
its decision upon that case before the WI
: served upon the President il made retur
sble."
TOO short time for such decision
am afraid. But" continued the PresideI
II suppose The court would feel its,
bound, in consideration OF the importan
Of the case, 10 render a decision upon
, within three weeks, aud that might 0cc
during the interval between the answer
!. : the summons and the day set for the col
=. mencemenl OF the trial"
rs "Trne what grace that would be, ais
" Il is even limited that, If the decision
i- the Snpreme Court shonld be against {
n constitutionaliiy of the reconstruction &C
n the President might find himself auth,
=. lied 10 remove, az his discretion, the mi
iary despotism from the South, and let |
Southern people enjoy what would be
luxury Of governing themselves"
That might seem TO be, " said Mr.. Jol
son, "the natural duty Of the Preside
~. Do not understand me, however, to expr
=" a premature opinion upon what Is iik
DO 10 happen either in the supreme Court
elsewhere"
Certainly not, sir. ] alluded to
\, McCardle case because il suggested 30
in possibilities which may be discreeily G
yassed. For instance, decision upon {
case adverse 20 the reconstruction 1
would render it pretty certain that some