North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-04-22
Impeachment.

testimony OF Gen. Thomas, was surely
funny. Below will be found short edi-
torial from the N. Y Sunday Times. We
do not aoc share in the fears expressed in
the closing sentence:
1t is now maintained, perceived, and
very ably as we'll as ingeniously maintain
ed, that under just Interpretation Of the
second article of the federal constitution,
neither Senator Wade nor Speaker Cofax
Of the United States when President John
son shall have been ousted from the
White IIouse--ousted because he is not in
political accord with the majority in the
Capitol. Common sense would suppose
that after the dignifed. logical, and unan-
swerablc defence of Mr.. Curtis, not to
mention the utter failure Of the impcach-
mcnt managers to sustain with anything
like decent proof their Indictment against
johnson for high crimes and misdemean-
ors," it would be idle to canvass in this
shape the question of his successorship;
but it is manifest that the radical party,
having so unexpectedly lost Connecticut,
even under the banner of General Grant,
are only the more impressed with the ne.
cessity of securing all the federal patron
age for their own use in the coming presi-
dental campaign. Hence they must sub
stitute some political co-laborcr in the
White House for the present incumbent
The political necessity demands it, and
as the radical leaders in Congress have
not permitted even the Supreme Court to
stlnd in the way of their partisan ambi-
ton, we can see no good reason for enter.
! tanning the presumption that they will
hesitate to insist upon President Johnsons
convicaton simply because he has been
demonstrated to be innocent. We hope
we may prove mistaken, but we fear that
sufficient number of United States Sena
tors cannot be found to withstand the
mcnaces of the impeachment managers
cannot be found willing to risk party des
tructon to maintain their own indepen
| dcnce.
That no thoughtful man. after perusine
! the testimony taken in the trial so far can
believe the President guilty of "hich
crimes and misdcmeanors,' is too appar
ent to require argument. That he made
speeches that were in lamentabe taste, is
undeniable. That he believed the Tenure
of Office Law unconstitutional, and took
the only proper means within his reach to
bring it to the legal test is not denied
But, that he conspired in these things tc
violate the Constitution he had sworn tc
uphold and defend, is what no sane citi
zen can ask his common sense to credit as
Il reality. The trial is farce, solemn
farce, at best. tits partisan attempt to
get rid of President of its own choice
because he will not carry out its present
policy; and the ludicrous notion, at bot
tom, of all this fierce array Of combata-
tive legal talent denominatel impeach.
ment, is exquisitcly illustrated in Gen
Lorenzo Thomas testimony as published
yesterday. Gen. Thomas said
"Mr. Stanton turned to me and got tc
talking in very familiar manntr with
me. | said, 'The next time You have Inc
arrested please don't do it before | ge
something to eat Laughter.) l said, 4
! have had nothing to eat or drink to day
Continued laughter) He put his arm
round my neck as he used to do in ia
mil;ar manner, and ran his hand through
my hair, and turned round to Genera
Schrivcr and said, 'Schriver, have you go
a bottle here? bring it out. (Roars Of
laughter.) Schriver unlocked his desk
and took out small vial; the Secretary
then proposed that we should have
spoonful of whiskey; said would take
a little; General Schrivcr poured it GU,
into a tumblcr anu divided it equally.
"Mr. Stanbcrry--Ilc shared it evenly
A. Yes, he took the glasses up this way
| (inlcating) and measured them with hi,
! eye. Presently the messenger came in
| with full bottle Of whiskey, AID the
cork was drawn and he and | took drirl;
| together"
Now who can read this and for mo.
mcnt fancy that Mr.. St:nton, with his
arm round Gen. Thomas neck, and lo,.
ingly calling for bottle of whskey that
they might take a drink together can
represent a leading scene in what is said
to be such an outrage on the Constitution
as to call for the impeachment Of the fed
eral executive? peals OF laughter greet
ed the delivery Of this testimony by Gen
| Thomas. 1t exposed the absurd.ty Of the
impeachment SO plainly that gravity wa.
impossible, aud yet, as the Commercial
Advertisers Washington correspondent
said of Mr.. Curtis famous address: I'll
had not the slightest effect on q single
| Senator. Each one sitting in judgment
has already made up his mind how Le
will vote. The deposition of johnson
and the installation of Wade is but
| question Of time and that time is not fa1
Distant That is our reluctant impress
sion exactly.