The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-24
Two Candidates

a.
General Grant is said to have remarked to
Stanton, Friday afternoon, that Gen. Thomas
was candidate for honors under the fifth
section of the Tenure of Office act That sec
tion provides that "if any person shall, con-
trary to the provisions of this act accept any
appointment or employment in any office, or
shall hold or exercise, or attempt to hold or
exercise any such office or employment he
shall he deemed guilty of high misdemeanor,
and upon trial and conviction thereof he shall
be punished therefor by fine not exceeding
$4,000, or five years imprisonment, or both
said punshments at the discretion of the
court" The provision of the act which Thorn
as has violated is that which declares that Cab
met Off GERS shall hold their positions for the
term of the President by whom they are APP
pointed and one month thereafter, subject to
removal By and Nth the advice and consent of
the Senate. The President has appointed
Thomas Secretary of War, and the office has
been accepted, without waiting for the consent
OF the Senate to Stanton's removal The ex-
ercise of official power upon which the prose-
cution before Judge Cartier appears to bs-
founded, is the issuing Of an order by General
Thomas as Secretary of War, directing the
Department to be closed on the anniversary of
Washington's birthday .r5
A few weeks ago, when the President fool
ishly dreamed that Grant would serve as
catspaw in this same matter, he gave assur-
ances that he would suffer in his own person
all the pains and penalties to which his sub
ordinate might be subject under the Tenure
of Office act. But inasmuch as his own ae+;'n
renders him liable to precisely til same PEN
IL. i
al from ofsc. viii perhaps be unable to make
tLiS v1carious atonement. He, too, is a candi-
date for punishment .rt ID. u
The impetus which the impeachment moye-t
ment has gained from the last usurpation of
the President is indicated by several striking
facts. .a.f- .9.at. s. w..
When impeachment came before the Recon-
struction Committee upon the occasion of the
PRESIDENTS directing Grant to obey no orders
given by Stanton, Stevens was supported by
only Boutwell, and Farnsworth But Satur-
day the COMMITTEES reported articles of i'm
parchment to the House, the three other Re-
publicans on the Committee, including Bing-
ham, having agreed to the report. The House
would have acted upon the report immediate
g, but Brooks and Beck, the Democratic mem
bers of the Committee, wanted time to make a
minority report and the vote is delayed till five
o'clock this afternoon.
Again the temper of the House was shown
by the unanimity with which on Friday it was
agreed to hold regular business session on |
Saturday, Mr.. Pike of this State having called |
out "Stand up, impeachers," when the vote
was taken. .-...
In the Senate, the only Republican member
who opposed the resolution which denied the
authority of the President to remove Stanton
was Judge Edmunds of Vermont, Senator
Fessenden, of this State, took the lead in sup
port of the resolution. Judge Edmunds is
the author of the bill prescribing the course of
proceedings in case of impeachment, and au-
thorizing the suspension of the officer on trial
while his case is pending AS appears from
this mornings dispatches the President will
resist this law, if it passes. assuming that it is
in its nature es post facto; but there are not
wanting those who hold that under the Con-
stitution itself an officer on trial by impeach-
ment is suspended from the exercise of his
functions. .H... r4 -r
The attitude of the Cabinet at this time is
not matter of paramount importance, but if
rumor referred to in Washington dispatch
to the Worcester Spy to the effect that Mr..
johnson is opposed by every member of that
body, in the removal of Stanton, is true, it is
only further evidence of the irrational obstin-
acy which has made the elevation of Senator
Wade to the Presidential chair almost fore
gone conclusion. ..