The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-13
The Impeachment Question In Its Political
Aspect and Bearing.

The Impeachment Question In ITS Political
Aspect and Bearing.
There is an old saying, that ''where there is
much smoke there must be some fire." Now.
we do not think there has been much smoke
arising from or surrounding the proposition to
impeach the President, but we are inclined to
believe there is a good deal of latent fire.
which only awaits ignition to create great
political commotion. General Grant Is not as
secure against such movement for impeacn-
ing him as he may imagine or as his fatterers
may represent. Though the project has not
yet assumed very tangible or formidable
| shape. and may, In administration circles, be
smiled at with incredulity, there is no doubt
that it is seriously considered by number of
| powerful and cunning men within the republi-
can party. Nor is it likely these men
would venture upon such project
would even raise the question without
Weighing we'll the consequences. They are
aware, Of course, that they have to take the
chances Of success or failure, as the movers
for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson had
but they are too astute, probably, to take such
a step without having first sounded the shoals
and depths Of the political situation. Many
prominent men and political leaders would
naturally hold back till they see what prospect
the impeachment project might have, thong h
they may secretly be in favor of it, and though
they may for the time pretend to pooh-pooh
the idea. Oar first impression was that there
seemed something Quixotic In the proposition /;
but since the development of considerable OPP
position in Congress, from the commencement
of the session, to General Grant and his admin
istration, among leading republicans, impeach-
ment appears possible, if not probable.
| Looking at the question Of impeachment
simply in moral point of view, as establish
ing a troublesome or dangerous precedent,
| and as calculated to demoralize the political
| life Of the nation, we shoald condemn such a
proposition as that now made. 1t is only in
extreme cases Of usurpation or malfeasance
in Office, and when the public well
| fare and our institutions are in
danger, that Congress ought to resort
to such measure. The very mention of such
thing in the case of General Grant shows
the effect of the bad example set in the i'm
parchment trial of his predecessor. While
impeachment, hanging over the head of the
President like the sword of Damocles, might
have the effect of making that high officer more
careful not to overstep the bounds of his legal
or constitutional functions, the practice of
resorting to that frequently, and particularly
nAo c@r
has revolutionary tendency, and, in fact has
grown out Of the revolution brought upon the
country by the war. The trumpery charges
formulated against President johnson in his
impeachment trial would not have received
moments consideration in the early history of
the republic or anterior 70 the war. But times
have changed, and we have now to look at
facts, and the tendency of American politics
under new state of things.
The chief object in impeaching Andrew
Johnson was to remove him from the Presi-
dental chair because he was an obstacle to
the dominant party in Congress and the
country, and to put more convenient
| and flexible partisan in his place. There
was also a great deal of personal
ill-feeling arising from disappointment and
other issues at the bottom Of the movement.
Had it not been for the novelty and apprehen-
sion of the consequences of the experiment,
together with the weak grounds the impeach-
ers had to 60 upon, johnson would have been
removed. As it was he had a narrow escape.
| The motive is somewhat the same in the pro-
| posed impeachment of General Grant, except
that in his case there appears to be only a
fraction Of the republican party for it, with
certain hostile and ambitious leaders in Con-
gress to lead of. Their hope. probably, il
they are really serious in the matter, is to
make up their strength in the case from the
opposition. The democrats, no doubt, would
gladly enter into this coalition, and they are a
powerful minority in the House of Representa-
tives. Should the project be started the dis
affected republicans and the democrats to-
gether might have a majority. 1t is not Ger.
tain that they might not have even two
thirds vote. There is, undoubtedly, great
deal of opposition among the republicans Of
the House to General Grants measures
and denomination. Such coalition be.
| oWCSu poieiOH vi tuc ulSdutCIcu
republicans and democrats would not be
surprising, for that seems to be the ten
dency just now among many of the politicians
throughout the country. Should the project
be fairly started it is not unlikely that a
| greater detection of the republicans would be
seen than present appearances may indicate.
| There are number Of prominent republicans
who have no hope or future prospect before
them should General Grant be renominated and
reelected, and then there are others who would
delight in the political excitement and chances
impeachment would bring. Who can say
where Butler, Farnsworth, Sumner, Schurz
and number of other leading republicans