The New York herald., 1868-02-27
The Lull mt Washin9tOn-The Politicians
and the Presidency.

The Lull mt Washington-The Politicians
| and the Presidency.
All seems to be reasonably quiet again on
| the Potomac. There has been no requisition
| for the Pennsylvania volunteers offered by
! Governor Geary for the support of Congress
| and the country, and no call for the fighting
Philadelphia democracy or the Maryland
militia, who have pronounced in favor of john
son and the constitution. That inoffensive but
too highly fattered old gentleman General
Lorenzo Thomas, still smelling of the dead
men and bones and dust and mould of the
national cemeteries, among which for many
months he had made himself useful, has proved
unequal to campaign against the terrible
Stanton, as remorseless as Danton. 1t was
sheer folly on the part of this amiable old
General Thomas to attempt the expulsion OF
the Giant Grim of the War Office, before
whose awakened wrath Mcclellan and Buell.
and the mighty Blair family. and host Of
Others had all come to grief, and from whom
even Sherman would not have escaped but for
the timely interposition of General Grant. If
the Hon. John Morrissey had been appointed
Secretary of War ad interim, and sent over to
the War Department with an order to remove
Stanton, the order would have been carried
out on scientific principles but Mr. Johnson,
deficient in his knowledge Of men, has seldom
hit the Napoleonic idea of the right man in
the right place."
Before the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia it was thought, IN some quarters,
that upon the case OF Stanton versus Thomas
judgment might be obtained which would, in
an appeal, carry up the question Of the const-
tuionality of the Tenure Of Office law to the
Supreme Court of the United States, and thus,
perhaps head off the impeachment of Mr..
johnson but this case has fallen to the ground.
General Thomas is brought before the court at
the appointed hour his counsel are ready for
the examination OF witnesses, and wish the case
to so on; !; but Mr.. Carpenter, of counsel of Mr..
Stanton, feels quite unwell and asks days
postponement. Then the other side submit
that, the bail of General Thomas having been
surrendered, he stands in the condition of a
prisoner, and 1t Is suggested that he may as
well be discharged, and so thinks the Chief
Justice, and 50 the old General of the ccme-
teries is allowed to go scoL free. The proper
Interpretation Of this proceeding is that the
| impeachment of President Johnson, like the
previous question, cuts of all amendments and
lnits OF nothing that will interrupt the settle
ment Of tae main question. SO we conclude
that neither mandamus nor quo warranto need
be attempted in fvor Of Mr. johnson as
flank movement against his Impeachment.
Upon the issue OF I'll, trial, therefore, for
which the Senate is preparing, tie fate Of Mr.
Johnson entirely depends. II found guilty by
| q two. thirds vote OF the Senator'S present OF the
charges preferred against him by the House be
must retire, and Benjamin Wade, of Ohio,
President pro tenn. of the Senate, and filling, in
his position, the place OF Vice President, will
become President of the United States. The
politicians on both sides, including their Office
holders and office seekers, are accord
ingly beginning to consider the ways
and means of meeting this momentous contin-
gency. With "Old Ben Wade' IN the White
House there will be great commotion among
the army of office holders from the New York
Custom House to the Post Once at Confederate
Cross Roads, (which is in the Stait of Ken
lucky" The yegsrable Thurlow Weed ard
! Ii. lobby retainers are doubtless in dreadful
state of perturbation in contemplating the
| chances under "Old Ben Wade; !" and herein
| lies all their interest in the saving interposi-
ton of the Supreme Court In any event, Sthe
! demands of tn Presidential election from the
loyal leagues upon Mr. Wade, if promoted to
the White House, must result in fearful
wedding out OF unfortunate conservatives.
Such ls The prospect with the return OF the
flowers of spring "Come, gentle spring."
says Ihomson but what says Johnson?
Strange rumors, too arc in the wind touch
dency. Some Of the outside Tammany Indians
II is said, without the fear OF Hoffman before
their eyes, are beginning to sound the praises
OF Mr. Seward, and some alarm thereby exists
in The inner temple. Down East they are begin
ming to talk Of John Quincy Adams, Jr. From
Kentucky comes the Stentoran voice of her
new democratic Senator who says he is ready
to march 'at the first call of the buple. and
when, in November next, the glorious name of
Pendleton or Seymour or Hendricks or Fill.
more shall be inscribed on our banner" &C.:
80 that even Fillmore is alive again. There il
hope, then, for poor Pierce and for "Old
Buck" likewise. Various other democratic
availablities have been named but never
voice for Andrew johnson. Mr.. August Bel.
mont and his National Executive Committee. in