Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-06
IMPEACEfEIs AsEELEY-His TEsOgI-

The ingratitude of republics is being
made painfully manifest in the case OF
Mr.. Ashley, Territorial Governor of Mon
tAna by appointment, and formerly
member of Congress. While in Congress
Mr.. Ashley first became known to fame
as being extremely anxious to become
Spectator in certain public lands, upon
which he proposed to build divers,
and sundry large cities. His completely
while a member of Congress, in the pro-
posed speculation had for time ten
dency to damage his reputation in the
public estimation. This damage he at
tempted to repair SO far as the estimation
of his own political friends was concerned,
by his vigorous efforts TO procure the i'm
parchment of President johnson. 1t was
he that introduced the impeachment reso-
lutions in the House of Representatives.
He was the leader of the impeachers IN
the House. Being defeated in the next
race for Congress, he was rewarded Tor
former services by appointment OF Gen.
Grant as Governor of Montana.
But it seems that he has his troubles in
that distant territory, as will more fully
appear from the following editorial of the
Chicago Tribune, ''truly loyal" organ ::
Mr.. Ashley, of Montana, is known to
the world as the Great Impeacher-the
man who invented new accusation
against Andrew johnson every week, be-
sides demanding his impeachment upon
general principles every day. At the cleo
| ton of 1853 a sufficient number of his
constituents in Ohio voted against him
and defeated his reelection to Congress,
and President Grant, very hastily, ap-
| pointed him Governor of Montana.
| Ashley has not been a success as
Governor. He has abandoned negro
suffrage, and has claimed that Montana
is white mans country, to be governed
by white men exclusively. He has alsC
put himself on record against intermar
rage between whites and blacks. Thest
evidences of change of heart have no
propitiated the Legislature of Montana
which is exclusively Democratic. L
appears that there are three officers in tn
Territory who have to be appointed b.
the Governor and confirmed by the Coun
Gil. Ashley persists in making nomina
tions which are rejected, and
last the legislative patience became 81
exhausted that that body passed al
"officc-tenure law" just the same as Con
gress passed to restrain Andrew Johnson
This law prohibits the Governor maxim!
any removals while the Legislature is il
session unless with the consent of TIT
Council, and from making any REMOVAL
at all during the recess. 1t has simply OF
fered to Ashley the chalice from which HI
made Andrew johnson partake. Tit
Governor, however, does not accept THU
precedent kindly; on the contrary, he ha:
done what Andrew johnson did under like
circumstances, and for which Ashley pro
posed he should be impeached. lie has
vetoed the bill and now the Legislature
proposes to pass the bill over his veto F!
What makes the peculiar position Of
Ashley more striking is the fact that he is
holding his own Office under the Office,
| Tenure law. The President has nominated
his successor; but under the Officc-Tenure
law he cannot remove Ashley until the
Senate confirms his successor. Here, then,
we have Ashley, who proposed toimpeach
johnson for vetoing the Of1ce-Tcnurclaw,
vetOing the same law in Montana, and
| that, too, while he holds office himself
under such law; and his friends at
Washington are doing all they can TO pre-
vent his removal Andrew johnson is
fully avenged upon Ashley.