The New York herald., 1868-03-16
GOSSIP ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD.

Decision Of the Impeachment Court-Dis-
couragins Prospects-The Hopes Of the
Defence-The Saving Salt Of the Senate
The Main Questionable Side show to the
Grand Entertainment.
WASHINGTON, March IA, 1868.
The decision OF the Court OF Impeachment limiting
the Presidents time for the preparation OF his case
10 ten days has caused considerable surprise to all
but those who are Immediately concerned in expe-
diting the matter The President and his counsel
are not only astonished at the denial, but they are
astounded. 1t was confidently expected that all the
time asked would be given and this expectation was
based upon the suppositon that in a OF so much
Importance, where injury could to the in
terests represented by the prosecuting party, a
iberality corresponding with the practice OF the
courts OF law would at least be granted. The
result, however, corresponds with the Information
conveyed to the HERALD BY q despatch from your
correspondent few days since, In which IL was
affirmed that the House Managers would exert them
selves to drive the investigation forward rapidly
as possible, and that ten days would be the utmost
limit they would allow.
1t has also been shown from various indications
that there evidence OF restraining
tive influence in the Senate. the prevalence OF which
in the Of the proceedings would at least
as check upon the zeal and energy Of the House.
The result OF the first days session Of the court is
suggestive, and leaves room for doubt as to the
availability Of the signs that foreshadowed favora-
BILE ruling in behalf Of the defence In the present
condition Of affairs there Is nothing encouraging.
The President and his friends thus impressed by
the experience Of Fridays proceedings. They have
no alternative but TO accept the situation and the
moiety OF consideration that may hereafter be ac-
corded in the progress of events In view OF the
matter 1t has ugly look and this is the picture OF
II as 1t appears from this point Of observation
The House from the very first has taken up
impeachment as party matter, considered
1t as party matter, driven 1t through as
party matter-concentrated all its party energy
upon X, and held each radical member in the bonds
OF party. The result has been that in every STEP
from the moment the impeachment project was re-
newed, u has progressed in exact accordance with
the prescribed plan without the slightest relaxation Of
party rigor The arbitrary programme has sue
ceeded in every minute particular, to the extent
The hopes OF the defence were founded upon the
| remnant OF a conservative element that was sup
posed 10 reside In the tribunal OF statesmen whose
province II Is to decide upon the guilt or innocence
| OF the accused. II was believed that among the
| men who compose this body there were some who
| would soar above partisan considerations; who
wouid refuse TO yield TO the necessities OF party who
would cast every proposition bearing upon the
| into the evenly balanced scales OF Justice. The
steadfast purpose OF these men 10 resist pressure
| from whatever quarter has been exempfed on more
| than one occasion. From the moment their
| an impartial course, defending them against
| unworthy imputatons and conveying the idea that
they would stand firm in their resistance to personal
or political claims, they have been beset persistent
" and almost bellgerently by parties in the interest
OF those who coveted the benefits that would accrue
more anxious FOR party success and urged to vote
for Impeachment for considerations purely political
They have been told, In emphatic language, that II
! be chargeabe with disaster 10 the republican party
The question IL now, TO what extent does the work
OF Friday indicate fatering In the good purpose OF
| the saving salt that was supposed to pervade the
Senatci II is certain that Thaddeus the feeble and
Bingham the brave re- carried s1 the nine articles Of
than that OF guilty. In this purpose they were
save two. TO which they could add for their
! announcement the foreshadowcd Judgment Of
brace or Two Of Sc senator's nwso The question Of re-
| preparation TO ten days-less than day for each
srticle-was carried by vote OF 2s TO rs, Senator
| Doolittle absent and Senator Wade not voting The
proposition TO commence the trial soon as the re-
plication IL died carried by strict party VOTE
ne senate Is e up psoe so saay to s
been Jeff with the House to try, without resorting
the formality OF senatorial court with the Chief
| Justice presiding The thing to be considered is,
| how far do circumstances justify such conclusion
Does the result thus far achieved warrant the belief
t ne .ns case viii ecede @ M IRON
| inferenially assigned them The only proof to
| sustain an affirmative answer to this question Is
| found In the fact that they have come up to
| the House standard OF prompt and speedy
| action. BY their decision the President Is to
put In his answer on the 23d nst but falling to do
this and making affidavit Of his inability to COM
plete the preparations for trial he may get an ex-
tension OF times but when the replication Is filed the
republican Senators unanimously decide that the in
| vestigatou must proceed. This looks rs though
they meant business and II has too much Of an air
OF business to look favorable.
STILL bad as it is there is another side TO H. which
| we may as well present for contrast. defendant,
| In all courts always takes advantage OF dilatory
motions The President asked for forty days IA the
FIRST drawback to 0 hasty progress, md some OF his