The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-27
2 decision in the Supreme Court of
the United States of the legal ques-

buo ~ ultc0 opl3tOosOA ZIG AS15hk AuCo0
tions involved, the status of ithe case
may be considered quite different
from what it thenwas. Ths 9Th Sec
ton Of the civil tenure Act declares
the exercise of the appointing power
in violation of tie, provisions of the
law high misdemeanor, punishable
by the same penalties prescribed
above for those accepting such 'ap-
pointments. While this is the legal
penalty of this Act, Congress pro-
poses to infiict upon the President
different penalty nnd in different
court from that which the Act pre-
scribes. by dragging him before the
Senate for trial on impeachment,
proceeding evidently partizan and
Northumberland as ought to pro-
woke the indignant condemnation of
the whole country, for it is but the
imperiling of the vital interests of all
by political agitation for purely par
tizan purposes. 1t is not one section
more than another that is interested
in the suppression of these desperate
resorts of politicians for the perpe-
tuation of their party power, destroy
ing and unsettling values, disturbing
business and interrupting and de-
pressing all the practical employ
ments of the people. But the San
and other conservative papers at the
North have faith that the good sense
of the people everywhere will vim
dicate itself on this, as on other occa-
sions, against the Vaccinations of
desperate would-be leaders.
The House of Representatives hav-
ing passed q resolution impeaching
the President of the United States of
high crimes and misdemeanors, the
Richmond Dispatch gives the follow
ing as the probable programme of
the proceedings:
"The Chief Justice of the United
States will preside upon the trial,
just as in the British House of Lords
the Lord Chancellor of England pre-
sides upon similar occasions. All the
Senators are required to take an
oath Tor to afirm) that they will well
and truly try and true deliverance
make &c. The case will be con-
Quoted on the part of the prosecu-
ton by managers to be appointed by
the House of Representatives, and
on the part of the President by coun-
sci of his own choosing. Mr.. Stan
berry, Mr.. O'Conor and Judge Black,
are said to have been engaged by the
President. The House of Repre-
sentatives will select as many mana
gers as it pleases, and will probably,
rs compliment, select Mr. Stevens
as their chief manager. The num-
Der will probably be less than half
dozen. The Constitution provides
that punishment in cases of impeach-
ment shall not extend further than
removal from office, and disqualifca-
tion to hold any Office under the Go
vernment. 1t requires the concur
renee of two-thirds of the Senators
present to do even this.
"The Senate sits as court, and
may rs court make some order
which will virtually suspend the Pre-
sident during trial. The Senate de-
liberates with closed doors, but the
Judgment is given with open doors.
"No President of the United States
has ever before been impeached, and
therefore the Chief Justice has never
before presided over the Senate,
since he does so only in such case:
"It may require weeks or months
to complete the trial. All depends
upon the temper of the Senate"
The reader will do well to remem-
Der that Gen. Thomas was appointed
Secretary of War ad interim, and
that NJ,