Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-26

, refusal 10 denver up tho oncc, epPh.'
, for writ Of QUO cdrranto, the case wouls
Immediately have come up IN one OF th'
District Courts, from which u could hav'
been appealed TO the Supreme Court, 4
decided adversely 10 the Presidentl
views, and il would have had precedence
} over all other cases on the Supreme
Court docket
Thomas, however, permitted Stanton
10 take the initiative in the law, aud The
J process commenced Ia a criminal and
) not civil one. Under Judge Carter
warrant Thomas must be regularly IN
dicted by q grand jury and tried at the
next or some following term OF the
Criminal Court IL may not come up
for a year yet.
Your correspondent, in conversation
with leading Senator, to day, asked u
1.-THE resolution, passed in executive ses-
sion ON Friday night, declaring the Presi'
dent 10 have acted illegally and uncon-
additionally, did not commit those who
voted for il 10 the conviction of the Presi-
dent The Senator replied he thought
not, though unquestionably it looked that
way. -.
Observation-Disclosures President is guilty
of an illegal and unconstitutional act, as
the Senate has already declared, must
you not convict himY
Auswer-Not necessarily. Ii oil de-
nends on tie intentiou. IL il can be
shown that the President intended only
10 test the law in a peaceful way, he will
not be impeached. II, however, he con-
templated the forcible election of Stan
ton, he will be impeaohed.
Questionable President declared to
the correspondent of the Cincinnati
CommsrcidL two weeks ago, that he had
no other intention than 10 test the case
in the courts. Would such declaration
as that be sufficient TO clear him
| Answer-No; it must beproved by his
actions aud his orders to AdJutant Gene
raj Thomas.
Both the President and Mr.. Stanton
have been In receipt OF dispatches FROM
their respective friends in various por-
tions of the country, asking them to
stand firm. The following is specimen
of one from Philadelphia, dated last
night. 1t says: "The great flag Of the
Union League will tomorrow float from
their temple in Broad street, inscribed
with the initials S. p. A., altered from
the Roman initials in the proudest days
of the republic, meaning the Senate
and the People of America.
Secretary Stanton was informed, on
what he regarded as good authority, that
he would be dislodged by military force,
INIT the course of the President will be
exactly as has been telegraphed you, the
facts having been obtained from him as
to his course.
The President, to- night, in response to
direct inquiry, positively contradicted
the rumor that he had called for either
soldiers or marines TO enable him 10 OBJ
tain possession Of the War Department;
and, also, denies the rumor that he in
tended to send in any explanatory mes
sage of his course to Congress to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Stanton, late tonight, received
telegraph from the Missolri Republican
Convention, indorsing his course and
promising him their support
From another correspondentl
Spectators in stocks and gold are
doubtless Matching rumors of all kinds to
influence the markets, and what is heard,
unautheuthicated, should De discredited
at once. There is less excitement here
than could be expected. a quiet deter
mination being about all that Congress
men exhibit, and no fears OF serious col
lision are expressed by thoughtful per.
sons. The whole proceeding, after bill
for impeachment is found by the House,
will be of judicial character, and will
refer to the constitutionality of the bill.
Another special of Saturday night thus
refers to the excitement on the streets
and in Congress when the impeachment
question came up:
News came from Capitol
Hill, flying all over the city in newspa-
pers, extras, and through the crowds at
the hotels, on the streets, and about the |
departments, that the Reconstruction
Committee had assembled at II o'clock,
at the residence of Thad Stevens, and
had, after an hours discussion, agreed,
by party vote, to report resolution
for the impeachment of the President,
for a violation OF the Civil Tenure Act.
The detailed report of the conclusion of
the Committee will be found elsewhere.
In the meantime the scene in the
House Of Representatives was exciting;
dense masses Of people thronged the |
galleries and blocked the corridors sur
rounding the hall. The members were
in their seats. On the floor,
and within the bars of the adjoining
hundreds of persons, not
even privileged to the foor, we're stand
ing or sitting. The ladies we're present
in force, and we're admitted to the re-
porters' gallery, with full display of the
fashions Finally the Speaker, in order
to accom- modate the press, issued an or
der refusing TO admit any more; but it
was too late for manyof the reporters were
unable to get in or out of the gallery. The
diplomatic gallery was fully occupied
with the ladies Of families of the diplo-
matte corps and the ladies of members
Of Congress. The only class that seemed
to be excluded was the negroes. They
have, by q common consent, obtained
of seats in the north gallery
Of the House; but the Anglo Saxons
stole a march upon them this morning,
and occupied their seats, pushing them
off the seats upon the steps. The con-
sequence was, that there was but small
sprinkling Of black faces among the
hosts that looked down from the galleries
upon the Legislators below.
The proceedings in the House were
with the offer OF resolution
by Mr.. Eldridge to have Washington's
Farewell Address read, and that the
House then adjourn. This was objected
10 by the Republican side, aud, in re-
everything offered by the
out of the regular order
was objected to, and the House was COM
PEELED to attend to its regular business,