Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-11
The Impeachment Question.

The impeachment Question.
-, WASHINGTON, March 3, 1868.
As the impeachment movement progresses
step by step men begin TO realize its import
ance and estimate, its consequences. Partic-
.ularly is this the case among Radical Sena-
tors, who cannot avoid, however cautious
they may try to. be, giving some intimation
as to the private views Of the party, and Of
the probable motives and feelings which more
or less must control their action. even while
sitting as Court Of Impeachment.
=, There is q good reason to believe in the
first place that the present presiding officer
Of the Senate, Ben Wade, is very unpopular,
even with his Radical colleagues. 1t is very
certain that lie could not now receive over
one.third of the Senate for the position he al
ready holds, and the peculiar circumstances
of the case only prevent the Senate from Sc
.lecting another presiding officer. just at
this time, leading Senator's say this would be
done but for. the fact thatit would appear the
Senate had determined in advance to convict.
and was selecting another man for the sue
cession. This is all which now saves the
neck of the lover of Mother Goose's melodies
from being wrung. It is ealso whispered
around, conGdentially, in Radical circles, that
the fact that Wade would succeed to the E1-
eculive power should Mr.. Johnson be removed,
will be strong card in favor of the latter.
Fessenden, Trumbnll, and Grimes, despise
him, and his colleague, Sherman, charges thai
his profanity, more than anything else, lost
The Radical party the Ohio Legislature.
Again, it is said that apprehensions are en-.
tertained that if Wade should hold the reins
Of power Chandler will be the driver, and
will run the machine to suit his own purposes,
This apprehension is understood to be enter.
tanned by several of the leading Radical SEN
ators, and fears are expressed among the i'm
peachers that it will endanger several votes
Wade and Chandler were on the War Com
mittee together, and those who probably know
say Chandler's influence over Wade is such
that he would be able, st least, to divide the
honors of the Presidential Office, if he did
not assume to direct the whole machinery
All these facts, the impeachers saw, embarrass
their movements and may defeat their pur.
poses. A leading Radical Seuator tonight
declared to your correspondent that he would
feel much more certain of MIR. Johnson's con
viction if Fessenden or Trumhuli was. .Presi
dent of the Senate.
The movement of the impeachers in th'
House to-day to amend their articles, has lei
to much amusing comment on the streets
The reconstruction; measures were amended
semi-annually, but the articles of impeach
ment concocted, reported and passed unde
the operation of gag law are less than da,
old, when it is found necessary to commenc
amending and under.pinning the shaky fabric
Stevens declared that without his article the
could never convict the President OF an,
crime and Butler was equally confident ifhi
amendment was omitted there would beroth
ing left on which to try Mr.. Johnson. Mi
Wilson, the Chairman of the Committee, wa
the only member who objected to tie adop
tion of Buffers amendment, and he made
strong speech against it. He evidently hold
Butler in great contempt. as was manifested
to-day in his manner aud language.
It is understood among the Radicals t
night that the articles as amended will b.
certainly reported to the Senate tomorrow
That anticipating the patching process ST
soon begun by the House, the Senate to-day
had seven cushioned seats placed before Ber
Wade's desk for the accommodation of tht
seven managers, and the sergeant-atarm:
took bis position at the door to announce
them. Sumner. Howard and others were OF
the qui rive and directing their glances at th'
main entrance. and one of the more enteYpris
ing correspondents of the press, to be in I'D
vance of all competition, flashed off the new
that the Committee had appeared at the ba
of the Senate and reported the articles of I'M
peachment.
The patching process, however, had com
menced in the House and the performances o
the Senate was postponed for another day
The Senators settled themselves again lazil,
in their seats to listen 20 two hours speecl
ON the finances from Mr.. Morrill,. of Vermont
- ----:-iI----:ii Ie -~S',-'-l
will next day organize themselves into
Court and proceed ut once to prepare for th
trial,