The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-14
Why ANDREW JOHRsOH WAS NOT
IMPEACHED.

Some very important information,
which the historian will prize most
highly, has recently been received from
a source entitled to special credit, upon
the impeachment question; being from
no less parsonage than from the prime
leader OF the movement, the late Mr..
Thaddeus Stevens. 1t will be remem-
bered that Mr.. Stevens died several
months ago, but 1t appears that his
propensity to say few words now
and then 10 his political friends on this
earth has not been entirely extinguish-
ed thereby, if we may believe the Ban
1lcI' Of Light, newspaper published in
Boston. The last number of that paper
contains n communication purporting
to have come from him, and written
down by pow erful medium residing
in that city. 1t puts phase upon the
Impeachment question SO entirely new,
and so different from that which has
been generally believed to be the rea-
son for the failure OF the project, that
we publish the communication entire /:
"Mr. Chairman, Notwithstanding /
have visited you quite recently, l must
again beg your indulgence for q few
moments, while 1 briefly answer a
question which l have been earnestly
desired to return here and answer. My
friends say: In IL recent article appear
ing in the BIHncT' Of Light, purporting
To he II message from yourself, you say
tina. YOU now see that impeachment
would not only have been impossi BILE,
but, could 1t have been, it would have
been one OF the worst things that could
have hefAlIen the Nation. II that SEN
timent was uttered by yourself, please
tell us why impeachment was an i'm
possibility, and why it would have
been one of the worst things that could
have befallen the Nation TO be brief,
it would have been impossible to have
inpeached Andrew johnson, or to have
convicted him of the high misdemean-
ors that were laid at hts door, because
he WAS forced Into the position he oCcu-
pied by the great congress OF spirits
who possess very large power over
the destinies of this nation. They
the end would be, and all the
little minut:;e that would 90 to fill
up the case. Therefore they saw that
such a course would be taken toward
MIR. johnson, and they provided against
it, and provided so literally and SO per-
iectly against 1t that there was not
power enough in this nation TO thWart
Them. 1t was plain to be seen from the
spiritual side, but nothing but a dim
shadow from The earthly side. 1t would
have been one OF the worst things that
could have befallen the nation, for this
reason: All foreign powers are leveling
their-glasses Just now toward America.
Some OF the greatest of these foreign
powers had predicted the downfall OF
this republic at the close OF the civil
war. Had Mr.. johnson been convicted
had the plans been carried out that l
in my earthly life fought so earnestly
for, we should have lost caste and
place, as a nation, with foreign powers,
and should thereby have become eX-
ceedingly weak as nation. 1t would
have been like an asp placed at the
breast OF Columbia, and 1t would,
in my opinion, have been short
and swift in its work. Andrew
johnson was not convicted, not be-
cause he WAS not guilty, but because
it was not best for the nation that
he should be convicted. Because
the time has not yet arrived for this re-
public to lay OIL her republican robes
and don those OF the one man power
l say that time has not come, therefore
Mr.. johnson WAS not convicted. If l
have not made my position plain to my
political friends, l desire that they will
call upon me again, stating wherein l
have failed to make my subject and
my position clear, and l will return
again aud endeavor to do better.
THADDEUs STEVENS.
We always knew that the spirits had
something to do with getting Mr.
Johnson into the difficulty, but had
very little idea before tina. another kind
of spirits got him safely through his
trouble. Any information which Mr..
Stevens could give to his political
friends, in IL subsequent communities
ton, as to the probable amount OF in
terest which the spirits will take in
future political movements in this
country, the probable extent OF their
interference, and upon which side
would doubtless be thankfully re-
ceived.
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