New-York tribune., 1868-04-18
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
POLITICAL.
SPEAKER COLFAX ON IMPEACHMENT.
LETTER TO THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB.

WASHINGTON. d. c., April ls, lsss
GENTLEMEN Were 1t possible would gladly accept your
kind invitation to attend the inauguration Of your
Club House next Thursday evening. but never having
felt at liberty to leave Washington Congress In
session, you must take the will for the deed
goo o gOHr paoe and it's
record during the years OF ITS existence Is nva-
pOrant port work concentrating and pressins the pub;
fc sentiment OF the loyal men OF New Yorkthe material
abe ae 90 oans asged 50 sadly the interior
prompt and cordial adherence to the pocy OF cur MAJ
oppressed go free its manly defiance OF popular pre.
dice when your Union League onp puohs sass raisaS %
and It's infexble determination that loyalty should rule
in all the region that loyal saerces mao Ss reaS ~
your honor And your children shall remember VIII poe
that in the darkest hour Of ps to ae Of
the Republic but, on the contrary was Wiling 70 .nlo"
his ali into the scale to our nationa existence
And congratulate YOU also gentlemen, ON tho we'll
founded hope that distracted land Is az ast 10 nave
swerving fidelity with the action Of the other
branch Of Congress the South has been saved from the
to surrender it, decided that duty 70 the country
at tie bar Of the Senate and end possible the dscords
and antagOnisms he seemed determined 70 perpetuate
War ana the amounting successor while the Senate
in session ter falling induce the General OF the Army
IN his S stead to the Imprisonment which the law entaed
upon its yolators proved to the House as L d 70 mo
without the slightest attempt at party concentration by
caucus or otherwise, the Republican Representatives
sue which the determined to force
them should be promptly met; ,,,o, ,0nr.on was IN.
augurated into the Vice Presidency from whsh aa' an
greatest Of American trials progresses day by day;
Amid the sharp encounters OF the able lawyers arrayed
Presdental oath by which, in the pointed and peculiarly
Impressive language OF the Constitution the Chief Mags-
@ e a se a%s SSo5e be sy 9aa %a aSd
side with that Presidential oath memory constantly ar
,lo of he fNOE
not presumng to discuss the question with senators
accused and justice the people whose representatives
appear at their bar as his accusersl nave net peeh VIII
Ing to doubt the result His conviction ends the incessane
resistance to law which revived the rebel spirit Of the
South with its mournfu record OF RIOT pnDno
massacre aud private assassination and which has kept
thewhoe country turmoil and dscord His acquittal
ndorses all his claims Of power for the remainder Of TINS
Have Won considered what these claims are. which will
he thus conceded aud ustned In his answer by whcn
he makes up issue with the House he explicitly states
that he has the right, under Ne Constitution TO suspend
an officer, OF as high rank as Caonet minister
should hare acted upon NE case" but Indefinitely and at
ne pleasure Of The President" quote his exact words.
and this when the Senate is in session and have notified
that they refuse 10 concur In the SUSPENSION. A
be also declares in the same answer. tIat Sheh
quoted In full the law that enacted that the headquarers
Of the General OF the Army shall be at no
shall not he removed suspended OF renevea rom Soo
mand assigned TO duty elsewhere except at ms
quest without previous OF the %
all orders relating TO military OPERATIONS sIii DS d ,
through him. the President. again quote DIS exact lan
accordance with the Constitution OF the United states,
which makes commanders r-In'cnel OF ule aIuy anu
RaId RaTy or OF the language Oh inc 'O''''-0A INV" '
such are the claims of the President which he has not
concealed and which doubtless 10 be carried out III no
goes from the Of the Senate acquitted The country
scarcely realizes how much i has been indebted 70 In
Grants delty law, aud his lnhexlDle IeInshA 70 VS.
used in aid of its violation Had some otner oeer oseh
in his place who would have consented to carry olt no
Presidents purposes the claims so boldly ayowed m hs
answer would long ere this, have rpened into acton
With the President acquitted, ana nis answer VI Ms ~
hy does doubt tldt inc satIB
hand That struck down the manned heroes a. the war,
SIckes and Swayne, for faithful execution OF the .eo
laws and removed those other gallant o
GERS sheridan and Pope, for similar hdely Woau hsI
about striking at Gen Grant, Decisrins the Jaw
that now protects him the blows that Ieb ON MS as
sooates 10 be 10 his opinion as ne nos
dlreddy declared q, h,s anser ne as t os m $ t5
leave the Generals faithful comrades ~ aruis % ,ht
and Geo Thomas VINO REUSED M % ns of he sabsb
Of the Division Of the Atlantic. with MS hsadns
hers @ ~ SR m ag M Ie H. as 81 he does IN his to
the sth Article that ms sole intent Was TO hs
f means 10 bring the question 10 final decision
fore the Supreme Court OF the United states Ana ne
doubtless cod say 1t, as that Court has ncT adjourned
Acquitted does any one doubt that with this answer
thus affirmed, he would suspend any and oil officers he
chose indefinitely aud nc the pleasure OF the President
and refuse beside TO obey any law that he deemed n-
final decision before the Supreme Court OF tie United
states' after the Presidential election, and about tho
Bat the impartial justice Of the Senate VIII save the
Republic. trust and believe from sueh eaamuesi sn1
thwartlng the laws and restoring the CONCORD pet"eeh
the Executive and Legislative Departments which & was
expected when the same party and tle same vo;sIs
elected both. may hope for revived prosperity, just
ie'oHS'i very r truly yoars SCHUYLER CoIYAx.
Messrs C. p kIRkLASD. NJ II, GESysIL D W.
BoNSEY, A. 7. STEWART, and ID. VAN NosrRAND, Com.
Of Invitation Union League Club, ~ \.
MICHIGAN.
TIE RESULT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ELECTION.