The Portland daily press., 1868-05-18

The eleventh article of impeachment charges
that on the 18th of August, 1866, the PRESIDENT
publicly declared in Washington that the
Thirty-Ninth Congress was not a Congress of
the United States but of part of the States.
intending to deny that the legislation of that
Congress was valid and binding. and that in
pursuance oil that declaration he subsequently
attempted to defeat the authority of the SEN
ate exercised in the restoration OF Edwin NJ
stanton to the Secretaryship of War, to defeat
the law OF Congress requiring military orders
to be issued through the General of the Army,
and to defeat the execution of the act of Con-
gress providing for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States. The full Senate was
present. Thirty-six votes out of the fifty. four
were required for conviction, and thirty five
We're so given by Republican Senators. Nine
teen votes were given for acquittal, and of
these nineteen seven were given by Messrs.
Fessenden, Fowler, Grimes, Henderson, Ross,
Trumbull, and Van Wrinkle. So the Presi-
dent stands acquitted on this count. The
court then adjourned to the 26th instant.
The purpose of the adjournment would be
hard to fathom, if it were not for private advi-
ces from washington explaining the matter.
Thaddeus Stevens said at the beginning of the
proceedings that in his opinion the whole
strength OF the case lay IN this eleventh arti-
Gle. Defeat on that article might well be re-
garded as irremediabe unless some new
developments were anticipated. Letters re-
ceived here last Saturday Indicate that such
developments may be expected 1t is believed
IN washington that conspiracy was formed
some weeks ago to break down the Re publican
party and effect reorganization of the politi-
cal elements. The parties to this arrangement
are said to have been Chief Justice Chase,
Seward, Dixon, Doolttle, and csrtan Repub-
lican Senators. 1t is expressly denied that
Senator Fessenden had any knowledge of the
matter. The right OF these men to abandon
tue Republican party and attempt to organize
another in an open and manly way cannot of
course be disputed. But it is alleged that
these consultations were held while the trial of
the President was in progress, and that his ac-
quittal was resolved upon as the first step to-
wards the development OF the scheme. If so
twas very foolish conspiracy, but it was no
less an outrage and moekery of Justice If
1t can be shown within the next ten DAYS that
the Chief Justice who presided and Senators
who sat in judgment at this solemn trial were
corruptly leagued together to pervert it for
base and personal ends, it will become the duty
of the Senate to vindioate its honor by
prompt expulsion of the offending members
and to reconsider its vote on the eleventh art:-
Gle. The motives assigned for this conspiracy
are mainly jealousy of General Grant and
personal piques and disappointments. Sens-
tor Grimes is said to have been active in the
matter
1t will of course be very difficult to prove
the existence of such plot. 1T is not proved
the verdict of Saturday is conclusive and we
may look for the acquittal of the President on
the remaining articles. 1t he is acquitted, it
will be the duty OF the Republican part y to
consecrate itself anew to the work of securing
the reorganization of the Southern States ON n
just and because just, secure basis. In the
history of this transaction we have nothing to
reproach ourselves with. Reluctant to apply
this supreme remedy, cur Representatives in
Congress waited long. When the President
committed his last fragrant outrage, thew
brought him promptly to the bar of a Senate
which had already declared that he had no
power or authority to remove Stanton or an
point Thomas. They selected their managers
and prosecuted the case to a verdict. That
verdict is final, unless it can be shown to have
been corruptly obtained There is no appeal
except to the ballot box. We must accept it
as the authoritative decision of the constitu-
tional tribunal. With vote of 80 Senators
to 10 we have all the moral effect of a conyic-
ton. Mr.. johnson has escaped removal, if he
has escaped at all, by only single vote. If
xUa mil f., L
In Office as result which could not be averted,
and turn now to our own duties in the coming
campaign the misfortune will not prove Sc
rlous disaster. We shall sweep the country
by overwhelming majorities this fall, and on
the 4th of March, 1869, inaughrate new Pres
ident whose administration will make amends
for the trials and drawbacks of the last three
years.