The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-11

stand aghast at the prospect OF losing tneir
bread and butter.
Mr., sTANToN's GRIP on TEE WAR oFF1cE-hEAs-
oys FOR BIS CONTINUOUS OCCUPATION OF THE
PREMISES.
A Washington dispatch, of the 9th lnstan''
to the Baltimore Sun, says:
II has been matter of some speculauon
among the curious as to why MIR. stanton con-
tinues to spend both night and day IN the war
Department after all danger OF hls summary
removal seems over. 1t seems tnat tneIe are
yerv good reasons to MIR. Stanton ana nus
friends for this course. 1t has been learned
that there are several prominent ott1clsls OF the
department who would consider it their duty,
in case of the momentary absence OF DIT. Stan
tom. to obey any orders from General Thomas,
which the latter might Issue as Secretary OF war.
This being the case, Mr.. Stanton ana nus
friends in Congress have determined that ne .3
shall never leave his post for an inst anu unIn
his status is satisfactorily settled.
THE PRESIDENTS LINE OF DEFENCE.
The Washington Chronicle says:
Since the passage of the impeachment reso-
lution two weeks ago, the Presidents legal ad-
yisers hsye been busily occupied in psrfectng
their plans Of defence. The Attorney General,
although it is not positively known that ne
will, as has been stated. appear for the Presl-
dent as one Of his counsel before the SENATE, 1s
certainly engaged in assisting to get up the
case. It is believed on pretty good authority
that the following are the main points IN the
line Of defence now contemplated, hough, OF
course, it will be subject to future !noditca-
tions, as circumstances may seem to dctate,
or as counsel may suggest:
First. On appearing by counsel on fTloay
next. motion is to be made to have the hear
inc postponed until the first Monday in May
Failing in this, as they undoubtedly will, they
will
Second. Make motion to quash the articles
OF impeachment, on the ground that, II true,
they do not constitute high crime or mlsde-
meanor.
Third. Exceptions will be taken TO certain
senators, on the ground that they nave pre-
judged the case, and that the Senate . has a.
ready declared the President guilty Of the main
charge, by the passage Of the resolution con-
demning the removal of Secretary Stanton.
Fourth. Exceptions will be taken W the lu-
risdiction Of the court, on the ground that 1t
is not the Senate Of the United States; the
Presidents theory that Congress is "a body
hanging on the verge of the govarnment,"
being here brought into play, regard OF the
fact that it would, after some time, prove him
self not to be President Of the Unitel States
q result less Objectionable to him than re-
moval from Office, and disqualification therefor
in the future.
Filth. That the Tenure of Office hill cannot
apply to the case Of MIR. Stanton, NIT only on
account of the proviso in the first section, Dut
also on the ground that having been passed
after Mr.. Stanton's appointment. it cannot be
q retroactive effect and becoming thereby an
ca post fdcto law.
Sirth. That Nr. Stanton was Jfs1n4aus Q1to'o
after the 4th day Of March, 1865, the expiration
of MIR. Lincolr's first term, and that he has
not since that date been Secretary Of War de
jure, although exercising the functions OF that
Office.
It is said that some of the Presidcnt's most
prominent advisers counsel him to tender his
resignation should the motion to quash the
articles be denied by majority OF two-thlrds
of the Senate, and thereby avoid the disqualif-
cation for office under the United States Gov
vernment, which would doubtless follow should
he be convicted. II his resignation were &C
cepted, he would thus retain his eligibility for
the next Presidency. This, however, is re-
suit in which none bat his immediate friends
and parasites are especially interested.
WHAT THE "NATIoN" THINKS OF Jan EAcHNENT.
Tho following brief editorial rom the Ma
ton, by far the ablest paper published in the
iaturvzb of Radicalisnn. has caused great SEN
sation in Washington
It cannot be said, as for as our observation
extends, that impeachment has grown in favor
with the public during the past week. In fact,
the attitude Of the public all along has been
one Of resignation rather than eagorness. The
enthusiasm about it has been confined very
much to the Original impeache1s" in Con-
gress and to those newspapers whose normal
condition is one Of enthusiasm; oven these,
however, have not been as excited as they
have seemed. Owing to their habits of never
keeping any emotions in reserve, they are
obliged to go through extraordinary contor-
tions in order to attract any notice on occa-
sUns v6s which they a Isa mean to b1 be Solemn +
is safe to say, one Of willingness 10 have MIR.
johnson out OF the way, by means Of a fair
and impartial trial, but Of equal willingness
to consign the Republican party to destruc-
ton in case the attempt to convict fails.