Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-27

ISpeeia! Dispatek to the Baltimore SHn.l
abatement of Public Excitement an Washington
-ImpeachnieM and its Legal COurse-Latest
Occurrences ofhe Day-Hrt Of Quo Var
ranto-The 0ase of General Thomas-Ea-
cordginy Messages TO the President.
WASHINGTON, February 24.-From con-
dition of extraordinary excitement and anxiety
this morning there has been gradual transi'
ton throughout the day, and until tonight,
when we find the public mind comparatively
calm, notwithstanding the adoption Of the I'M
parchment resolution. The cause Of this a.
batement of concern is attributable mainly to
better general understanding of the situation;
1t is now apparent to those who feared the
President would resort to military force to sus-
tain him and execute his orders that be has had
no such purpose. And those who expected
Congress to rush the impeachment project to
finality and depose, or attempt to depose, the
President within ten days, as promised by some
of the radical members, now see clearly that
the suggestions made by your correspondent
last night are we'll founded, namely: that
Judge Chase cannot be induced to Join irregu-
lar or incorporate action in the Senate; than
at least portion of the republican Senators
will not consent to any improper or questiona-
bic procedure, nor " hurrylng up" to a convic-
ton, without giving ample time for preparation,
argument and deliberatlon commensurate with
the gravity of the trial and the dignity of the
office of President of the United States; in
brief, that the trial will proceed regularly, and
that the decision Of the Supreme Court will be
first obtained before the Senate shall take f.
nal vote upon articles of impeachment. Those
who look for the end of impeachment short Of
three or four months, will, beyond doubt, be
disappointed.
The important occurrences to-day were but
few. Gen. Thomas made another demand on
Mr.. Stanton for possession of the War Depart
ment and was refused by the latter. The Pres
ideut nominated Mr.. Ewing to be Secretary of
War and sent message to the Senate in re-
Spouse to the resolution Of that body of Friday
night last, and setting forth the law by which
his action in the Stanton matter is sustained
The House impeached Mr.. johnson, and the
latter had one of the most brilliant receptions
Of the season this evening at the White House,
attended by democratic congressman, members
Of the foreign diplomatic corps, cabinet and
other distinguished men, magniicently cos
tuned ladies, and several radical members who
to-day voted to impeach the President These
comprise the events of to-day in a nutshell.
The vote on impeachment was quietly taken
and no demonstration followed the announce
ment of the result though the immense au-
dience present listened to the proceedings with
profound interest.
The quo lcaraRtO mentioned last night as
contemplated by the President to-day, was not
applied for by the Attorney General, for rea-
sons that will be made apparent shortly 1t is
expected that the case against Gen. Thomas,
to be tried by Judge Cartier day after to-mor-
row, will be decided this week, and that the
proceedings will be certified to the United
States Supreme Court at an early day of next
week.
If that court shall give the case a position
on the docket for early hearing, a Judgment
may be had upon the consttutionality of the
tenure-oi-oifice act within a couple Of months.
It's understood tonight that several repub-
lican Senators have indicated that they prefer
to hold back the impeachment trial until, the
Supreme Court shall have rendered its decision.
The President received to-day and tonight
numerous dispatches from Pennsylvania, Ohio,
New York, Indiana, etc, etc, assuring him OF
the support Of the people, pledging any re-
quired help in men and money to protect him
from radical usurpations, and Illegal and UNI
constitutional procedure. One dispatch from
y ew York, representing a large body of men
winds up with this sentence. 1--WE will take
care Of Geary's men" DATA.