The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-21
The Impeachment Trial.

A Washington correspondent of the Whining
ton Journal writes as follows:
The gravity of the matter of impeachment has
not been realized by the Radicals until since the
closing of their case. All the unreasoning pre-
JUDGES Of party are to be called into play, and
the business was to be put through with whoop-
hurrah and no time was to be allowed Tor renec-
ton either ON the part of the Senate or the pub
lie, and as far as the party managers OF the
House and the Senate aud outside Of both could
control it, it has been pressed with the most un-
becoming haste. There was not Radical in
this city who had the slightest idea when this
question was sprung upon the House and the
country, that the 10th day of April, inst, would
find the trial in progress Oh, no! In less than
ten DAYS johnson was to be driven into retire
ment and Wade would be crossing his legs under
the table at the White House. Alas, for Radical
calculations. here we are in the third or fourth
week of the case, and old Ben is, in the opinion
of many farther from the Presidential Office than
ever.
Under the excitement incident to the removal
of Stanton. but few doubted that the President
would be convicted and removed, right or wrong.
and up to very recent period this opinion has
prevailed but since the close of the case for the
prosecution, the public have taken some pains to
examine the grounds of impeachment, and they
have found that, Notwithstanding the blowing OF
Ben. Butler and the anathemas of old Thad.
Stevens, and the yelping of the whole radical
pack, of all the matter charged in the Indictment
the Radical House of Representatives acquitted
Mr. johnson by formal vote only few days
prior to the passage of the impeachment resolu-
TONS save and except that pertaining to the re-
moval of Stanton, and that in this he had done
nothing more than had been done by or recog-
nized as the right of every President the country
has known and that all the talk about the
violated Tenure of office bil' was mere bosh, in
asmuch as Stanton was not within its provisions
Thus a feeling has grown up within few days
in opposition to the conviction of the Chief Ex-
ecutive on such trif1ing charges, and this feeling
is said to have reached the Senate, and grave
Senators have paused to consider whether it is
better to make this bold stroke for the temporary
success of party, at the expense of their good
name for all time to come Three or four of
those counted certain to obey the dictum
of party, are said to have declared against con-
viction within the past few days, and others are
supposed to have character enough to vote with
them against it when the question is submitted
| for their final decision.
! That there is some truth in these reports is
manifest from the long faces of the Radicals
of the party here comes out in the most virulent
and abusive manner this morning. 1t threatens
the Radicals with utter demolition if they fail to
impeach ,Johrson. They cannot, in such an
event, carry more than two three insignificant
States for Grant next fall. Rebels will be re-
stored to power the 'military districts will
resolve themselves into their orr ginal nothing
ness and the Southern States will cast their
electoral votes for some Democrat next Fall. To
all of which you will doubtless say $50 mote it
be-" Now, Forney is Secretary of the United
States Senate and has-as good opportunity as any
one of knowing how the 'cat jumps" there, and
| take it for granted that he has seen indications
of the change referred to and is trying, in con-
cert with other managers, to whip in the recusant.
The dispassionate statement of the Presidents
case by Judge Curtis, listened to with
marked attention through its entire delivery.
and made Butler aud Bingham wriggle in their
seats as if pins had been inserted therein point
upwards.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun says {:
"a very intelligent Radical, who is on terms
of great intimacy with many Radical Senators,
remarked: Curtis is delivering a great speech,
but it ght as well be addressed to the Pawnee
Indians-the case is judged now" And such
seems to be the opinion entertained in wellin-
formed circles here of both parties, despite all
the attempts made to create different impress
sion. Under that terrible influence of party
pressure. the backbones of those Senators which
needed 'stiffening" are being gradually braced
up, and no fears are entertained that they will
be able to toe the mark when the day of pro-
nouncing the verdict rolls round"