The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-19

he 10 and are made sufficient to condemn
eltbonch that l9 would be but traction
ovar one. fourth of "a. the whole number OF
SENATOR'S from 81 stAtee. The presiding ON
COR of the court-and in the case OF the I'M
peechment of the President, TINS wan De,
chief Justice ChAse--is vested with full pow
er to issue all processes, and to demand the.
aid of the military power; that 49, Gen.,
Grant and the army, TO ENFORCE ms orders
and the decisions Of the court
A significant part OF the bill provides that
when the President or Vice President Is nm
peached, he may, during the tendency of the
two.thirds Of the members of the court; and
the duties of the Office shall be performed,
in the interim, by the person next in the Or
der of legal succession.
Therefore, if the House impeach the Pres
ident,- the Radicals in the senate may sus-
pend him at once, and make Ben. Wade
President, and Gen. Grant, with the army,
shall be under the direction of Chief Justice
Chase. 70 keep Ben. Wade as President.
This is the senate bill. The house has
also bill on hand supplemental to this pro-
| iect and in aid of it.
The Legislature of Ohio has superseded
| Ben. Wade by election Of Mr.. Thurman, TO
take his seat after the 4th of March, 1909,
the day of the Inauguration OF new Tres
ident. The title of Wade to be Acting Pres'
| ident comes from the fact of his position as
| President of the senate, and he could not
| well he President of the senate when nc
longer a senator. ;.
The house bill provides for his case, and
| removes the disabilities that would affect his
being President when he ceases to be Sen
ator. The difficulty could be surrounded by
electing another as President Of the senate,
| whose term overlaps the duration OF tins
| congress, and who would continue to have
a senatorial title to his place. But the house
project, in order to secure the succession tt
| Wade. makes his succession to the presi
dency a title vested personally. 1t euact'
that when the term of a senator, who ha
been elected president of the senate, and by
virtue of that Office has become acting Pres
ident, expires by limitation of his term o
service, he shall nevertheless hold over a
President until President is duly elected
and qualified.
The suggestive fact of all these arrange
ments is, that no such legislation is required
indeed, every part of it is superfuous a
we'll as illegal, if it be not contemplate
4 that there will be no uncontssted Presiden
duly elected, to be sworn into Office on tn
4th of March, 1869. 1t is a provision 10
the filling up of an anticipated interregnum
and distinct exposure of the expectation
and design that their own acts may create
disputed possession, and that they mean t
retain possession for the radicals by extrs
ordinary enactments, to be supported by tn
army.
. Combining these movements all togethe
they look like extended plot, of whicl
these are the several parts:
Grant and Stanton are to seize the Who'll
control of the army, and disarm the Pres
dent of all capacity TO resist
, The house of representatives will recoI
} slider the Impeachment project, and mi
, iority will send up articles 10 the senate.
Two thirds of the senate will suspend II
President and make Ben Wade President.
} Should the elections go against them, {
a conflict arise about the constitutionality {
: fairness of an election, Gen. Grant wi,
the army at his back, will keep Ben Wad
5 in the chair; if it shall not be decided thi
he had better seat himself in it at once.
That these designs are entertained is q
r most demonstrated. But it is not so eles
r that they will succeed. The frenzy of par
e madness has already had some very sign
a rebukes at the hands of the people; and
may well happen that the desperation whiC
invokes such violent expedients to retain
!. power that is slipping out their hands. ms
! prove to be the folly which brings on spec
;, Ter destruction.-N 0. Picoyune.