New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-01
STEALING as A HIGH CRIME AND MIS-
UENEdNOR.

Mr.. Boutwell,, as one of the assessors in Judg-
ment in the case of w. w. Bclknap, private
citizen of Iowa, will probably have some VIVID
remembrance of another Impeachment. IN
which, as one of the managers. he displayed
SO much fire and force that he was gratefully
STYLED "a steady wind blowing aft" "a cold
"and classic DemOsthencs," THE black-haired
energy of tho Prosecution" and other names
full of metaphor and endearment. 1t Is NOT
probable that Mr.. Boutwell, achieved TINS
oriental luxuliance of title by his mathematical
discovery that the guilt of Andrew johnson
was the same multiple of the guilt OF Caus
Yerres. a. the superficial content of the United
States was of the superficial content OF the
Island of Sicily; but rather on account OF the
startling and perhaps unconstitutional method
of punishment which he devised as lit rctll-
button for the high crimes and misdemeanors OF
the great criminal. 1t appears that somewhere
in the interstellar spaces there is lonesome
region of which Mr.. Boutwell, had knowledge,
but whose right ascension and declinatlon he
concealed. called the "HOle in the Sky" and
into this celestial Dry Tortugas he proposed to
calculate Mr.. johnson bodily, and to leave
him there to DO preyed upon by remorse for
an indefinite period.
Now, there is no moral Rule of Three by
winch we can compute the enormity OF Bel
knaps transgression as compared with Mr..
Johnsons. Neither Caius Verres nor any other
man can be utilized as common measure In the
solution of this problem. Andrew johnson
was without doubt n pestilent person. lie
confessed that he had policy. lie not only
spoke with disrespcct concerning the Congress
of the United States, but it was proved that
hc did this in loud tone of voice." lie re-
moved q Secretary and appointed another.
lie even declared that certain enactment OF
Congress was unconstitutional. But he did not
steal, nor pcddle sutlerships, nor did his wife
or his brother Orvil. The statesman OF tho
present day, on the contrary, blossoms ont
very naturally into larceny, and great many
reputable people have come to consider inirac-
tons of the eighth commandment Improper
and demoraiZing. If safc-burglar or sneak
thief, or an artist who has appropriated the
blanket of an Indian not taxed, or who has
absorbed the pay of n soldier on frontier
most. or who has made use of the Secret
Service fund or any other fund that belongs To
some one else, happens to be Investigated by
n police court or similar tribunal, the result
can be safely anticipated. But when such an
offender is arragned before q High Court OF
Impcachment and is defended by counsel In
full evening dress, the event Is more uncer-
tain
1t is of some interest to tho people of the
United States tn know what views are enter
tanned by the Senate in regard to the morall-
ties involved IN the pending impeachment
This interest is intensified by the apprehension
that Mr.. Bcknap may have company; for rs
all roads lead to Rome so every trail OF Official
putridity points to the heart of those concen-
tric rings which are known Administra-
"tion circles" 1t will be remembered how
the English language was made bankrupt IN
describing Mr.. J0hnsons crimes, and how
Christian people were adiured not only to
"burden the mails with appeals to the
Senatorial court, but also ito offer up
"unceasing prayer to Almighty Cod that
the vengeance of an aroused nation
might be executed. But the question now Is,
inst where in the scale of moral turpitudc shall
we rank grand larceny7 If Mr.. johnson was
TO be condemned to "gbbct of everlasting
"obloauy.n where shall we hang Belknap and
the rest? Mr.. Boutwell,, who keeps an astron-
omer of his own, might do well to have him
institute search for some more Holes IN the
Sky or other unoccupled portions OF the uni
verse into which penal colonies OF Secretaries
and executive officers could be projected.