The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-17
AN INTERVIEW WITH
STEVENS.
The Impeachment observation-disclosures
Opinions OF the President-Grnnf,
a.l llRa.ahli.n. EaxxnHda %

4 opinions oil the frcsiueut-eFuut,
and "Republicna Cowards."
From the Worlds Washington Correspondent
We extract from the World Of Friday
the following account of an interview
between ~. B. S.", that papers Wash
ington correspondent, and Mr.. Thaddeus
Stevens:
After the rush of members and poll
ticians into Mr.. Steveus's room at the
Capitol had ceased, and very soon after
the defeated great colnmoner" had been
| borne in his chair from the Capitol TO
his home, the writer of these dispatches,
who had also been q witness examined
in the presence of Mr.. Stevens, called
upon him. He was received in cham.
ber W here Mr.. Stevens, the dying leader
of once powerful bat now fallen ma
tional party, leaned back in an easy
chair alone, looking almost utterly ex-
hausted. Nevertheless his welcome was
cordial, and his expressed regret that
Mr.. Stevens might not feel himself
strong enough to converse upon the
subject in view was alleviated at once
by Mr.. Steyens's outspoken frankness.
"I'll say this" proceeded Mr.. Stevens,
"not particularly for publication. Aua
yet" he continued, II don't object to
your publishing anything | say. I'll
say this, that the whole question Of i'm
peachment lies in nutshell. As to the
first part of the Grant and johnson cor
respondence (Jehnson's letters l chiefly
allude toy, consider that there is
enough evidence to impeach q dozen
men. The main point is, was the Pres
ident guilty or not guilty of yio-
lation or an attempted violation Of the
Tenure of Office act He is explicit
enough himself on this subject. AL
though he states in one place that he
did not remove Stanton and put Grant
in with any reference to the Tenure-of-
Office act, but upon the authority grant
ed him by the Constitution, what is to
be said in his defence for his re-
quiring Grant, as they both agree
in all their letters, TO arrange with him
(Johnson) t. keep Stanton out of office
against the will of the Senate The
Senate had confirmed the Tenure-of-Of-
fce law. What right had President
to deny, defy, or seek to disobey, or cir
cumvent that lawi Damn it, don't
both the President and General Grant
subscribe to this vital fact, that Grant
had at least considered, and that John
son had insisted upon the proposition
that Grant should help johnson to keep
Stanton out of office anyway, notwlth-
standing the Tenure-o ot-Olhce act II
this direct attempt of the President TO
violate a law made by the Congress OF
the United States doesn't render him
liable to be impeached, what does =
a. am, as you see, Mr.. Stevens, only
a respectful listener"
We'll, then, there's the whole thing,
it's as simple as day. What the devil do
/ care about the question of veracity, as
they call it, between Johnson and
Grant, That's nothing 10 do with the
law. Both of them may call each otner
liars if they want to, perhaps they both DO
lie little, or let us say, equlvocate,
though the President certainly has the
reight of erideMce on his side. But john
son being right or Grant being wrong.
it makes no difference. If they want TO
settle the question between them, they
may both 90 out in my back yard and
settle il alone. OF course hare slight
objection to hacing that area soiIed BY either
Of them, but / wouldn't object if they
would only fix it so that we should have
no more talk. What am after is, that
the law of these United States, as made
by the Congress of these United States
shall be obeyed by the President as well
as by all men beside. There was plenty
of evidence, God knows, to convict
Johnson last year. It's all nonsense and
folly to argue against the self-evident
proposition that there is more than
plenty of evidence now."
81 suppose, Mr.. Stevens, that you may
have been little disappointed at my
testimony"
40, not at all. That was right enough.
| I've told you already that the question
/ between Johnson and Grant has moth
! ing 10 do with nv idea of impeachment.
They may fight that out themselves.
Grant may be rs guilty as the President
of a violation er of au admitted attempt
to violate the law, but Grant isn't on
trial: it's johnson whom we have to
consider; and, while we are not talking
of crimes, misdemeanOr is enough, and
that is proven against him."
"Well, were you disappointed in the
vote this morning by the commltteei
Not bit, sir. know all the towards
in this Congress. Long experience has
enabled me to black mark every one OF
them, damn them"
"What, then, is at last your opinion
on the question whether Mr.. Johnson
will ever be impeached."
"Sir," said Mr.. Stevens, with bitter
smile, ~ shall never bring up this
question of impeachment again. am
not going to daily with that or any
other committee in regard to it any
longer"
At this moment a secretary entered
the chamber, and bade the great COM
moner goodbye.
He said, as / took his hand, "come,
sir, at any time. / shall always be
glad to see and speak with you upon
this and other subjects. l shrink from
no revelation of my opinions or con-
victions." ). b. ).