The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-20
IMPEACHMENT PROSPECTS.
ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH NIB. JoHNsoN-How
HE TALKS AS TO IMPEACHMENT.

J.B.s. of the World has had another tall
with the President.
s'WeI, Mr.. President, you don't seem to be
pining under this infection"
ssNo," said MIR. Johnson, pleasantly.
SIT appears that the Senate is not to get
through with this business in such hurry as
was expected"
Mr. Johnson's lips curled with whimsical
smile. sfWhy, it was wagered, WASH t 1t, that
they would 20 through the whole trial and get
rid of the President by this time ? 1 suppose
I ought now to regard it as little less than O
miracle that am still here. The impeachers
are, as am told, very persistent"
"fhey are very persistent, indeed, and at
the propriety Of the question, and expect to be
corrected, I will venture to ask, Mr.. President,
what your own estimate is Of the present
chance of the trialp"
"Perhaps at this STAGE" the President re-
piled, "it would be more appropriate for me to
ask your opinion. My opportunities of COM
munication with the parties who have impeach-
meanors' are not, just now, quite so favorable
as yours"
Being thus challenged, remarked
"Well, sir, you would respect me less if l did
not say as earnestly as I believe that if the
President should be tried immediately-that
is, within 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 senators, but in
the lack Of opposition to impeachment by
the Republican press and party. While most
of the leaders Of that party would not have ia
vored impeachment upon considerations OF JUS
- al "a
now that Congress has committed itself, that
the trial must be gone through with as mea-
sure Of party necessity. It was thought, as
YOU are aware, that Congress would not out
rage Justice and the sentiment Of the people by
passing the military reconstruction bills. But
it did pass those bills, because the Radical par
ty in the North stood by the congressional ma
iority in doing 80. You said, as recollect, in
the course Of conversation some weeks ago,
that for the Radicals to hesitate at carrying out
the measures adopted up to that time would be
equivalent, so to speak, to political hdrl kari.
Having taken the present step in advance, re-
treat, as every member Of the party possessing
any brains at all sees, would be still more dan
gerous."
gloomy view Of the prospect, said MIR. john
son, laughing.
"By no means, sir; because Iapprehend that
the trial may last long enough to need such
public discussion of its merits as will yet
arouse considerable opposition to the meas
ure in the Radical ranks. The Democratic
press is bound to take more united and en-
thusiastic stand in the Presidents defence
than it has taken when the issues between him
and Congress came TO be systematically dis
cussed at the trial, and the motives Of the i'm
peachers are fairly unveiled. For these and
several other reasons, it is pleasant to hope
that the trial cannot be fastened, and will be
prolonged"
81 do not see," observed the President,
musing by patting the carpet with his foot,
show the trial is to terminate 80 very soon."
s'Haye you received the summons to appear"
20. yes; that came last night. A suggestive
document"
cit is returnable, believe, on Friday, the
18th instant"
81 suppose the President is not obliged to
put in his appearance in person, but Will re-
spond through his counsel"
"Certainly, his counsel will respond"
"Have the counsel been selected2"
s'Some selections have been made as you
have heard. I would not make any too posi-
tive statements in respect to this matter at
present"
.'The Presidents counsel will Of course ask
for time to prepare his defence?"
'sUpdoubtediy."
sand the time requisite may be considered2"
ssThere are eleven articles Of impeachment"
answered Mr.. johnson, with another smile,
s'and one would think the best Of lawyers ought
to have some leisure to deliberate upon 30 long
q list"
After a short pause, took the liberty of call
inp the Presidents attention to matter hay
ing indirect relation to the subject in hand.
"The final argument in the McArdle case is
to be begun, and perhaps concluded, tomorrow
in the Supreme Court. What fortunate thing
it would be, according to most accounts, if the
court could render its decision upon that case
before the writ served upon the President is
made returnable."
"Too short time for snch decision am
afraid. But" continued the President, 4" sup
pose the court would feel itself bound, in con-
sideration of the importance of the case, to
render decision upon it within three weeks,
and that might occur during the interval be-
tween the answer to the summons and the day
set for the commencement OF d the trial ia -, r.
is even limited that if the decision of the Su-
rreme Court should be against the constitution
ality Of the Reconstruction acts the President
might find himself authorized to remove, e.
his discretion, the military despotism from the
South, and let the Southern peeplu enjoy what
would he the luxury of governing themselves.
srThtt might seem to he. = said Mr.. johnson,
s'the natural duty Of the President. Do not
understand me, however, as intending to ex-
press premature opinion upon what Is likely
to happen eitherip the Supreme Court or else
where"
stCertaihlv not, sir. alluded to the Near
die case because it suggested some possibili-
ties which may be discreetly canvassed. For
instance, a decision upon that case adverse
to the Reconstruction acts would render it
pretty certain that sone remaining laws, in
Guiding the Civil Tenure act, will not stand
o judicial test. In that event, would not the
CONVICTION Of the President Of the first high
crime and misdemeanor, Of which he is i'm
peached, look still more doubtful p
The President, who had up to this moment
tacitly declined to discuss the question of I'M
"Convictionl" he exclaimed. "Why, every
private citizen Of the United States, or any
other country where laws exist, has the right
Of testing in court law which his neighbor
has made an excuse for injuring him. Is the
President of the United States not to be al
lowed the same privilege when his admins
tratiye rights-rights which the nation has in-
trusted to him, and for the preservation OF
which he is made responsible-are sought to
be arrogated by I care not whom?"
Nevertheless, Mr.. Presi lent, Congress as
tive. As such, il says, he is compelled by his
oath to execute any law that may be passed by
a two-thirds vote over his veto, Congress itself
being Judge, so far as it is necessary for the
President to know, of the constitutionality of
the bill it adopts"
s.There is q limit to such an assumption as
that" repliedthe President. According to it,
Congress might pass series of laws more
grossly unconstitutional than this one we have
been discussing, and the President have no
yea nor nay in the matter. Let US remember