Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-03-18
our Washington Correspondence.

! Our Washington Correspondence.
The Ne,c Hampshire Election-h Impeachment,
! md comments thereon-Progress of hgisto-
tion-SPringta
WASHINGTON, D. c., March Il, 1868.
Mr.. EDIToR The New Hampshire cleo
ton has reioiced the hearts of all good and
true men here, for though the majority was
somewhat less than was hoped, it was much
greater than expected
The Democrats had made all their arrange
ments for grand celebration, but the result
was so unexpected to them, that hardly a
word could be spoken, and all haste was made
to cover up their preparations as quickly as
possible. We can always trust New Hamp-
shire now, for every possible influence has
been brought to bear on its citizens this year
Money has been freely spent, the great power
of liquor has been given and the feelings oil
the dissatisfied have all been enlisted in favor
of the Democratic party. We never look in
vain for help and encouragement from any
of your liberty-loving people, and were it not
for them and the seeds they SOW in all parts
of the country, we should often have cause
to despair of the Republic.
Impeachment is the al-absor bling theme
here, for it is recognized that on the result
of that, hang the future issues of the coun-
try. The proceedings are now fairly inaug-
urated and will be hastened forward as rap
idly as the magnitude of the affair will allow
Chief Justice Chase's letter the Senate
on the propriety of that body making rules
for the Court of impeachment was sought tc
be perverted in such way as to sho" that
the writer was attending to support the Pres
ident and Under the trial as long possible
| No one who knows the Chief Justice will
believe that these representations mean any
thing more than design on the part of va
rious political power seekers to bring him
into distrust among those people who would
: prefer to see him President, on account of
his uncompromising adherence to right and
his surprising ability as a statesman. Sc
unscrupulous are all these men and so will
ing to gain power at the expense Of the rep
utation Of the most faultless.
On the organization of the Court objection
was taken to allowing MIR Wade to be sworn
and take his seat as member of the Court,
on the ground of interest, he being the sue
cessor Of Mr.. johnson in the Presidential
Office After much discussion it was how
/ ever concluded to leave the matter for settle
mcnt at the time of the trial. especially as
the same objection was made to Mr.. Patter-
son of Tennessee, the President S son-in-law
whose loss would more than compensate for
Mr. Wades
The Court being formed. Mr. johnson was
summoned to appear on Friday the 18th,
/ yesterday and answer 70 the charges made
against him. In accordance with this sum
mons on yesterday the President appeared
by his attorneys, Messrs. Stanbery, Curtis
and Nelson. 1t is understood that Judge
Black and Mr.. Eyarts are to assist in his de-
Tense, but they were not present yesterday
The first proceeding yesterday was motion
by Mr.. Stanbery to allow the President
forty days in which 10 answer, which was. Of
course, opposed strongly Mr.. Butler sug-
sested during the debate that no one ever
need say that the articles were frivolous if
five of the best lawyers Of the country as
long time was necessary to prepare an
answer to them that the world was drowned
in forty days and that an untold amount of
damage might be done by bad man in pow
or during that time
After long discussion and full considera-
ton by the Court, ten days were allowed by
them in which Mr.. johnson was to plead and
the trial was to proceed Immediately the
filing OF the replication, which it is thought
VIII take place in two days after the plea.
There seems everywhere a desire to DO JUS
tiee To try the case fairly and allow the
President all the time necessary, but not to
permit anything TO be done merely for delay.
There was some surprise manifested at the
choice Of the board Of managers on the part
of the House. heard that one of the Judges
Of the Supreme Court expressed his surprise
that Judge Poland was not chosen, for he
said that in an argument in the Supreme
Court on the legal tender law-which he also
said was the finest argument he ever heard
in that Court-he showed himself to be a re-
markably fine lawyer and one who would do
credit to any position he might occupy. 1t
is certainly true that il Mr.. Poland had been
chosen and Mr.. Logan permitted to remain
simply a member of the House. the managers
would have been very much stronger and the
proceedings and results might be more salts
factory From this choice of the House it
shows how very hard it IS for body of poll
ticians to choose men for any service simply
on account of merit and not to be governed
by political influence.
There is some fear expressed to whether
the Senate will, should the evidence be suffi-
cicnt. convict Mr.. Johnson. | think there
need he very little doubt on that matter, fo1
even if there should be some Senator's with
out very strong sense of justice, still the
certainty Of the consequences and the final
result, would deter any one of them from
rushing headlong to destruction and CARRYING
, the country with him. Mr. Butler very wei
remarked that the great question was wheth
or the Commander-in-Chief should use hi.
, power unlawfully and by the slightest breach
, of the law impcril the very existence of the
Republic.
We to have a short respite from
| the excitement of impeachment, the Cour
1 has adjourned till the ODD inst. Meantim,
legislative business is progressing finely, anC
there is reason for a long session, provided
, there be moderate expedition in the impeach
T mcnt trial.
. The reconstruction bill, providing that &