National Republican., 1873-02-25
PAt;sR AND REFLECT.

Two events occurred yestcruhy-Ohc IN
the Senate and the other In the House Of
Rcprcecntatives-whlch suggcst some doubt
whether the Congress is prepared, in the last
week Of It's political life, to anticipate that
event ts committing hari-kai at the bidding
Of somc Of the Journals Of New York.
When the case Of Senator Caldwell was
called up by the chairman Of the Committee
on Elections Senator Morton-lt became
apparent that the Senate was not inclined
to decide precipltately a matter involving
general principles and constitutional ques-
tlons Of the greatest Importance, TO say
nothing Of the honor OF Senator Caldwell
and that Of the State Of Kansas. Senator
Morrill,, Of Vermont, waI willing to have the
case go over until after the 9TH Of March.
&c. also, was Senator Carpenter. Senator
Trumbull and Senator Hill very naturally de-
sired to have II considered now, during this
term, In view Of the labor they have be-
slowed upon II as members Of the committee.
But to the suggestion Of Senator Hill that
the country would not bc satisfied without
immediate action, Senator Logan, to his
great honor, had the courage to protest
against the idea Of the Senate making sacri-
dee to Nppease the Moloch Of cahrH'ny,
Bravo! That Il one Of the fret manly and
true word. which has hcen uttered on the
subject In Congrcss.
Y MI lal.a - Nlaa
Committee on the Judiciary, reported against
the Impeachment of Vice President Colfax,
on the ground that the offences charged oc-
CURED before he became Vice President.
That looks very innocent; for nobody sup
poses that II the House were disposed to I'm
peach II could be done at the present session
Of Congress. But that was not the trouble.
Il will he remembered that In recommending
the expulsion of Mr.. Amcs and Mr.. Brooks,
Mr.. Poland's committee was compelled to
maintain that a member Of the House may bt
expelled for an act committed by him Ave OF
six years ago, and Of course not committed
by him as a member Of the present Congress
Mr.. Poland's report Is very well writteni but
he fell into the common fault of lawyers
that Is Of arguing by analogies. Ht
assumed that Impeachment Of pub
lie officer and expulsion Of legislator
belong to the same order Of ideas, and ar
correspondent remedies under the Constitu
tion; aud that, upon the question OF eNpellinl
Representative for prior act, argument
might be drawn from the assumed power I,
impeach for q prior act judge or othe
officer Thus II was that Mr.. Butler In con
tending that the Vice President could not b.
impeached for an act done before he became
Vice President, had the right to argue
and indeed was wise ne, that a
member OF the present House could not b.
expelled for an act done by him iu II preylou
Congress. Thereupon great comm otio
committee; Mr.. Banks alleged that Mr
Butler, in dealing with a case Of impcach
ment, had no business to argue a question o
expulsion, to which Mr.. Butler replied, o
might have replied, that In dealing with
case Of expulsion Mr. Banks had no right Il
argue the question Of Impeachment. The sun
Of all which seems to be that Mr.. Butler, Will
his usual ingenuity and fecuudity Of re
sources, laid before the House yesterday 4
very able aud learned argument to prove tina
The House has no constitutional potcer 10 eIpt
Mr.. Ames and Mr.. Brooks. Many person
thought so when the credit mobilier commit
tee was appointed, and have regretted from
that time to thIs that Mr., Poland's committe
did not refuse to take jurisdiction Of III
charges against Mr.. Ames aud the other aC
cused members Of past Congress,