The New York herald., 1868-05-05


which induced them either to attempt to bribe
or threaten the President for their own private
ends.
We dare say that tho non-partisan mind OF
the whole country is made up by this time that
this Is mere political trial. into which no ques-
ton Of law really enters. The intelligent,
thinking portion Of the community understand
that the President is being tried, not for any
crime known to the law or the constitution,
but simply for the offence of differing in opin-
ion with majority of Congress- right which
every citizen enjoys and which no citizen for
feits when he takes possession of the execu-
tive chair. This is all very well known, and
is by this time thoroughly understood. The
acknowledgment Of the Managers themselves,
the testimony produced, the arguments urged
during the trial, all proclaim that this is not
legal but political proceeding, most dan
gerous as precedent to the future life of
republican governments and the country looks
to Chief Justice Chase as the man who looms
up most prominently in his high station
as chief of the judiciary, presiding in
1t looks to him to maintain the dignity of that
branch of the government over which he pre-
sdcs-a branch coordinate with the executive
and legislative elements of the government,
not subordinate, as Jacobin Congress would
have us believe. What does this quarrel of
impeachment mean? 1t is distinctly quar-
rel between the clements of the government
itself; the legislative, the executive and the
judiciary are the contesting parties. 1t is
conflict that cannot last, and the country con-
tinue to hold any tenure Of safety. 1t remains
with Chief Justice Chase, as the representative
of the judiciary, sitting under his constitutional
right, as the presiding judge of the court, to
charge as to the law and vindicate the CO.
ordinate jurisdiction of his branch of the
government by expressing his views frankly
and firmly. If he does this he can save
the country and restore the constitution
to respect. If he is denied this right by
vote Of the Senate, as is foreshadowed
by the resolutions of Mr.. Sumner and the gen
eral tone of the Managers, he can at least pre-.
serve the dignity of his Office and his ermine by
retiring from the scene and permitting lawless-
ness to work out its own destruction and the
proceedings of the court to come to premature
end; for they cannot proceed without him. If
Judge Chase Insists on his right in this regard
he will elevate himself to position more ex-
alted than any man has ever held since the
days when the fathers of the republic won the
everlasting gratitude Of the people. But
whether johnson is removed or not, it is GER
tain that this trial is going to bring about
fearful convulsion in the radical party, and it
is very questionable whether it will not end in
such dire confusion as to break up the radical
convention at Chicago altogether, and through
the instrumentality of Chase and the conserva-
tive elements of the republican party, with
their well developed strength in this trial of
Johnson, spoil all the schemes of the Jacobins
and leave both Wade and Grant out of the line
Of succession. In this matter Chief Justice
Chase may hold the balance in his hands.