The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-26
IMPEACHMENT.

LEGAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES OF The uooA--
STRENGTH OF THE ASTAaoNIsT1C PowERs-THE
PART OF CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE IN IMPEACHMENT
THE TEST CASES IN CoURT-LATEsr STANTON
WAR OFFICE NEws-THE MILITARY AND THE
pREsIpENr-usE OF TROOPS IN THE coNTRo-
yERsy-aENERAL q. Il. THOMAS AND HIS BRE-
VETS.
The Washington correspondent CT the Bal
timore Sun writes, under date of Sunday
evening:
The manifestations of excitement in regard
to the impending impeachment and tho War
Department imbrogho are not so noticeable to-
day, OF course, this being Sunday, and brsi-
ness suspended, as they wero yesterday. But
nevertheless there exists in the minds OF the
thoughtful more Of solcitude tor the results
of the pending measure in Congress-, and more
of anxious inquiry as to what ncxt" IN the
controversy between the President and MIR.
Stanton. Comparatively few persons OF any
grade or position seem to have worked out for
themselves the legal and political problems
now in process OF solution; and many upon
whom we should be able to rely for intelligence
of facts and law, and for guidance i'll action,
are befOgged, and some are entirely III tho dark
as to the purposes Of parties or the legal path
that should be followed in order to reach the
threatened clash of arms and fraternal conflict.
Hence there is general 6isquictude.
The faces CT men who profess to know all the
inner workings and purposes OF the leaders IN
the impeachment scheme arc absolutely
bleached with fear and alarm for the consc-
ouences. According to these solicitous per-
sons, the impeachers expect to force their pro-
iect Immediately to the cnd-that is to q con-
yiction. They expect tho Senate on Tuesday
next, the House meantime having impcachcd
the President, to take the initiative step in
that body for commencing the trial, and that
the Senate will proceed to the elimination Of
the project with the certain conviction and re-
moval of the President within ten TO fifteen
DAYS; that the Senate, for the purpose OF hur-
rying up the deposition Of Mr.. Johnson, will
suspend all other business and all existing
rules of that body which permit debate dd
hbitun, and in eriepSo, and that III this hurry
and making of special rules for this particular
case, possibly some violation Of law, or sup
posed or real wrong may bo done to the Exccu-
tive, which may give him and his sympathizers
and supporters warrant for resistance, which
being made, we are Mt once plunged INTO cIvll
war. Some OF These persons also clalm to DC
assured that there is perfect alliance, T. tacit
understanding, between tho inpeachers and
the military power, or rather with General
Grant that each shall support the other in this
controversy; that at all hazards Mr. johnson
shall be out of the White House before the
ides of March.
What foundation there may be for some Of
these assertions your correspondent will not
now stop to set forth Suffice for the present
that these alarms, opinions and assevorations
are felt, expressed and believed tonight by 4
large portion of respectable and intelligent
citizens and sojourncrs here; and, indeed, this
concern extends throughout vhe country, Us is
evidenced by numerous private telegrams to-
day from all quarters OF tho United States.
That somo Of the impeachers are willing,
irrespective of means or consequences, to go
any length for the consummation Of their
scheme, even unto instant deposition OF tho
President before trial, is patent. But there is
reason to believe tat these extremists are
greatly in the minority, and that the Senate
cannot be used to crafty the iHtemDorate and
passionate, as the latter profess To belierc.
It should be recoll,cted that, even We're the
Senate willing to proceed in the hasiy and rev.
olutionary manner Indicted by tho impcach-
ers, that body cannot take step iii the trial
of Mr.. johnson without the presence ut Chict
Justice Chase, who, b. tho constitution, is
made the Presiding officer when tho President
is tried upon articles of impeachment.
No one who knows Judge Chase can be made
to believe he will become party to any hasty,
Incorporate or anomalous procedure 10 aid III
the impeachment Of the President. or that he
will consent to turning tho august Senate into
a town meeting, and rush things through by
simple resolution.
The Chief Justice has already, in the dis
charge of his special functions upon the bench,
sufficient of imperative duties to engage his
time until the close of the present term Of the
Supreme Court, which will not be likely to ad-
journ for two months. 1t is not probable thai
he can be induced to set aside all other con
siderations and at once take part IN the Senate
proceedings. merely to crafty those who sccl
dispose of this grave and vitality important
matter in jify.
Your correspondent feels confident in assert
| ing thus much IN reference to the Chief Justice