The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-11-23
The Impeachment.

be 4 most exhaustive analysis OF the eVi'
dence submitted by the Investigating
Committee. No argument yet submitted
to the House has been so free from ex'
traneous considerations,so so entirely divest,
cd Of all matters not bearing directly up,
on the issue. How strongly the lucid ar
gument Of the Judge has impressed itsell
upon the minds Of the members remains to
be seen, There are.pOwerful influences
at work the nature Of which may be re-
vealed in the near future. 1t ia evident
that matters have assumed degree Of i'm.
pOFtance to which 1t was perhaps never
presumed that they would rise. The Sa-
chems Of the party have gathered them
selves together in council, United States
Senators and Congressman all, with one
exception, are here. They have not come
as body. Some of them have been on
the floor Of the House for days watching
the progress Of things, and one by one,
like autumn leaves, the others have
dropped down upon the scene, and now
they are all here, l. it merely acct.
dental gathering, or is it crisis worthy
the attention Of the consolidated wisdom
Of the party that calls them here2
| At this "stage OF the gamen the man.
aging committee have been deserted by
the gentleman from Jefferson, Mr. Mason,
who opened the proceedings on the
Thursday last with all the plenitude
Of the ore roiuado, and who came
forth from the solitude Of his own
originality laden with precedents drawn
from history backward TO eternity.
Has the gentleman become convinced that
he Is in error, that his precedeRts are but
tho myths OF the dead past, unreliable
and inappliCable to the present case,
Has he become convinced that with the
light thrown upon the merits OF the evil
dence by the prOtracted discussion which
has taken place, he cannot consCientiously
continue in the discharge Of the duty as.
signed him, Let the gentleman answer
for himself. In addressing the House to
a question Of privilege he said that he
found himself deserted by his friends
Welch and Blakemore. He thought that
their desertion put him in false posi-.
tion, made him appear ns taking sides
with the Republicans against the Demo.
cratic party. lie did not intend to an.
tagonise his political associations. Tell
1t not in Gath, publish It not in
the streets Of Ascalon, that n
legislator yields his convictions Of right
andduty to his standing with u party.
Does the gentleman forget that It Is only a
contracted understanding that deals in
little schemes, which disllonor II they
fail and do no credit II they succeed. In
one instance at least tho party lash has
not been welded in vain.
Notwithstanding the desertion, at the
last hour, Of one whose departure is only
conspicuous by reason Of tho conspicuity
Of his entree, the cause Of the people will
be ably advocated by the remaining mem.
bcrs Of the management. 1t Is not cause
that stands or falls upon the attitude Of
n single individual.
We had hoped better things Of the gen.
tlcman from Jefferson, butii his Is not a
case in which vuulting ambition has o'er-
leapcd itself we fail TO form correct opin.
ion Of the constituencywhich he represents.
We are sorry that his course may give
coloring to the proposition that the whole
question has been reduced to a party
squabble, resembling in its conclusion the
the pomp Of mock tragedy wherein the
Legislature and the accused will be alike
subjects Of derision.
We Ray that II Is not justice to the
Auditor and Treasurer TO drop the pro.
ceedings now; II Is not justice to the
members Of the Legislature ITSELF II Is
not Just to the people. It Is unjustto the
accused, because 1t will leave them under
black cloud, as cilectually destroying
the confidence Of the people in their in.
tegrity as II they had been tried and con-
victed. II will be unjust to the members
Of the Legislature, because II will make
them appear to have Shirked their re.
sponsibility, seemingly like towards pre-
ferring infamy to danger. It will be un-
just to the people, beCausc they have
right to know whether their affairs are
being managed in their interest or for
the enrichment Of their officials. There
is therefore no consideration, whether Of
party or principle, that can justify the
suspensiOn Of the proceedings.
The reckless extravaganza Of the peo-
pie and the dishonesty Of officials are
the Legacy Of the war. The hard times
incident to The return Of the business Of
the country to the normal conditions Of
trade, have measurably corrected the
former, and the times impetutively de.
mand the restoration Of official integrity.
The burden Of debt ehtailed by the life
struggle OF the nation Is an incubus upon
itS prosperity, and the Strictest economy
and fidelity in hnSbanding the resources
Of the people are indispensable 10 re.
turn Of prosperity. The loss Of integrity
is The banetul curse that lifts lis hydra
head in every department in the States
and In the nation. It's restoration must
be begun, as II were, on the instant, IRE.
Spective Of the past. II must be com.
menCed somewhere, and II must he pur.
sued with vigor.
Cities and States az we'll as the highest
officials In the nation are engaged in the
work Of reform. II Is IIerCulean task,
but we believe the strength OF the people
Ia equal to the emergency. They will not