The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-21
Washington RumOrs.

|
We copy the following to let our readers see
what startling rumors can be Matched at Wash
ington City. The author of this one is cores
pendent of the New York Herald paper I'M
reliable in every respect and without veracity or
principle. We look on it as mere sensation
| production:
| WASHINGTON, April 14-Events have oc-
CURED here within the past two or three days
which render it certain that the ultimate object
OF men who are now striving to control the Re-
publican party in Congress, is to effect an entire
change in our republican form of government,
| aud to submit in its place dictatorship more
absolute and arbitrary than that of Robespierre
| and the Commune de Paris. The apparent tri-
upph of the impeachers ON Saturday last, when
the Senate, after giving the broadcast license to
the managers in regard to the admission of evil
dence against President johnson, refused to the
latter the privilege Of examining General Sher-
man on points vital to the defence impaired
such confidence to the radical conspirators as to
tempt them to cast aside all caution and to boast
openly of their power and of the manner in
which they are resolved to exercise it, In the
bar-rooms and over the dinner table principles
were avowed which under other governments,
would speedily consign their opponents to fell
on's CELL
The objects of the revolutionists were declared
to be the entire overthrow of constitutional re-
publican government, a failure, proved to be
such by the war of the rebellion and the substi-
tuition in its place of so-called Government of
the People," under the delusve Jacobin cry of
Liberty and Equality" The means and process
by which this end is to be accomplished are set
forth as follows:
The conviction and removal of Andrew John
son, and the installation of Ben Wade in the
Presidency for three or four months before the
commencement Of the next Presidential term
The election of Grant as President and Ben
Wade as Vice President and President of the
Senate by the aid Of martial law in doubtful
States, it necessary.
The virtual abolition of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, by stripping the Judiciary
Of the power to pass upon the constitutionaity of
any act OF Congress relating to reconstruction or
to the business of the government.
The extension of the term of Office of the
President, Grant, the Vice President Wade, and
the present United States Senate to ten years
from the 1st Of March 1869, on the plea that
constantly recurring change in the government
is harmful in the existing condition of the coun-
try and was Of the main causes of the late war
OF the rebellion.
This is the end and aim of the radical conspi-
racy to which impeachment is only one of the
preliminary steps. The dictatorship of Grant
will be nominal only, and the real power will be
in the Senate, with Ben Wade at its head. The
appointments made by him during his brief term
OF power will be carefully selected from the tools
of the conspirators, and the patronage and in
fuence Of the ofice-holders will stand at the
back of the revolutionary commune. Grant will
not have the power, if he had the disposition, to
a cir taatu N ha
Gle creature in the action of the drama-for the
Senate will hold him in vice stronger than that
they have prepared fJr Andrew johnson. With
the latter out of the Presidential Office no voice
will be raised In vetoes to expose the true char
acter of radical legislation and acts will be pas
sed which will strike down what little of protec-
ton yet remains to the people in the barriers Of
the constitution. With paper currency food
ing the country, speculation will run Wild stocks
of all kinds will rise, railroad schemes, land
schemes and all the widest projects that ingen-
uity can devise, will find ready votarles and in
the general fire and smoke of the great revolution
the radical dictatorship will be made perpetual.
The united power of Grant, the Senate and
the national banks is relied upon to crush out all
opposition, and to enforce Reign of Terror to
which the experience Of 1862 and 1868 will be |
but trife The conspirators cite the case of
Louis Napoleon in support Of their argument that
boldness only is required to turn into an absolute
ism rule commenced under the guise of Repub- |
lican liberty.
The immediate admission of the Southern
States, with their negro constituencies and negro
representatives, will follow the first successful
steps of the conspiracy, and then the vote of
New York in the House Of Representatives will
be nullifed by that of South Carolina. The real
object of the radical conspirators is no longer