Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-04-09
General Grant an Accuser.

The New York Tribune isresponsibleforthe
following paragraph, the truth Of which viii
probably be tested by the counsel for the Presi-
dent on the re-opening Of the case to-day
&c General Grant finds it not inconsistent with
his duty as a soldier, 70 announce it as his
opinion, tina, the only hope for the peace Of the
country is the success Of the pepdingimpeach-
nent trial He feels that national security
demands the removal ofthe President
When the General Of our armies entertains this
conviction, there is no room for doubt as to the
duty Of the Senate Tbeloyal nation demands
the Presidents removal"
Though Gen. Grant, in one Of his letters, so
far forgot the prophecies Of his position as to
intimate that the President had endorsed some
gross Interpretations. yet It can scarcely
be supposed that the General Is utterly ob'ivi-
Gus Of the following article Of war:
Article 5th Of the Articles Of War provides
that any officer OF soldier who shall use con-
temptuous or disrespectful words against the
President Of the United States, against the
Vice President thereof against the Congress Of
the United States. or against the Chief NagiS-
trate OF Legislature Of any o. the United States
in which he NAV bequartered, If a commissioned
officer. shall Be c1siiTei. or otherwise punish
Cd. as q court-martial shall direct; Il a non
commissioned officer or soldier. he shall suffer
such punishment as shall be inflicted on him
by the sentence Of a cOurt-martial"
We ere inclined 70 agree with the New York
HtTlld that the allegation in regard 70 lrant
IL an invention. If so. it IS his duty at once
to disclaim it. bal, several DAYS have passed
and the General is mute Ifhe does not DO
% soon. the witness stand will bring him TO his
speech
The New York Tiues Republican, conSid-
ers the Tubuues statement that General Grant
favors impeachment as a very extraordinary
one. It's object is o. ov-rawe the Senate
When did General Grants voice become so p -
tsntial that the Senate should accept his al
legged expressed opinion and remove the PreSi-
dent, When did the Tribune first begin to
accept his declaration Of opinion as IN" voice
Of the nation, and as closing thc door 20 all
doubt and debate as q the duty Of the Senate 2
Grant may possibly have expressed his per
sonal opinion, IN private conversation. 70 tie
efectdescribed. but does not believe be has either
directed or authorized such an announcement as
the Tribune makes. The senate has simply to
Judge whether the President is guilty Of the
acts charged. and whether those acts constitute
high crimes and miSdemeauors Il betrays
premature distruSt Of the verdict 81 the Senate
30 brandiSh over their heads the opinion Of
the General Of the Armies: and nothing but a
very gross over-estimate Of the Scnatss readi-
ness to obey such behests could have prompted
the Tribune 20 resort % this meuance, at this
early stage Of the impeachment trial.
The National Eptelligsneer says. aptly
" Fanaticism never has failed, and never will
fail. % run into crime sooner or later. Il is
gyagely proposed % remove the President. not
because be has offended. nor because we have
che right . be his Judges but national Sc
cuuty. endorsed az short sight by General
Grant, demands il. The theory Of the Jaco-
bins Of PARIS was that aristocracv had con-
trived somehow % III four hundred thousand
heads above those ~ less favored class. and
Marat thought 9, best Tor the Republic o. cut
them Of. Il SAYS 81 the impairment case. as
closed by the House managers that tbCre is
not = word or thing To- 70. from BEGINNING to
end. up3n which a vagrant could be committed
upon a charge Of petty larceny by a Justice Of
the peace. In another article on the same
subject it SAYS: Looking AZ the fats and
proofs dispassl onately, We cannot believe il
possible that the Senate viii hesitate about &C
gushing the President when the case shall
have been fully laid bare BY his counsel. and
the couorast be made 20 stand out, as il soon
vii be