The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-25

(Gen. Grant, to a thorough under
standing OF the subject aud to a
fundamental change Of opinion. Mr..
Schurz, on the other hand, received
new light and conviction in the OPP
posite direction, and from the point Of
extreme Republicanism he gradually
changed bis creed and became, first a
distracting element in the ranks OF the
party, and afterwsrd nj Of its
Malignant opponents in a great
national struggle in which Gen. Grant
was the leader"
THE BREACH BETWEEN JOHNSON AND
c0EGREss.
Events now moved rapidly, and Gull
minated in the memorable 22d OF Feb
Iuary speech OF President johnson. in
which he violently indicted his Re-
publican opponents in Congress. The
calm pages OF history can scarcely re-
feet the angry light Of that conflict,
where vetoes abounded and the White
House waB a storm center. The de-
tails Of various stages in the develop
ment Of reconstruction theories have
less fascination than the men who
made history so fair yet nc student
or citizen can afford to be ignorant OF
the particulars here lucidly set forth.
The various political conventions in
1866 gave opportunities for widening
the breach between the administration
and a large majority of the people.
The Pittsburg convention OF soldiers
and sailorH had Gen. Butler for a lead
ing spirit. OF this convention Mr..
Blaine Gays: "Their convention did
more to p~opularize the fourteenth
amendment a. a political issue than
any other fundamentally of the year.
Not even the members Ct Congress,
who repaired 10 their districts with
the amendment as the leading ques-
ton, could commend il to the mass Of
voters with the strength aud with the
good results which attended the
soldier orators who we're inspired to
enter the field" The New Orleans
massacre on July 30th was another
event which stirred up the North in
hostility TO the Presidents policy, nor
did his "swinging round the circle
fail TO confirm this enmity.
THE TKNURE OF OFFICE BILL.
Later on, the teoure OF Office bill
was passed TO restrain the President,
an act OF vital interest at present. Re-
fsriing 10 this measure Mr.. Blaine
says:
according TO q long accepted con-
Btruction Of the constitution, the Pres
ident'a power of removal was absolute
and unqualified. Appointment to
Office could not be made unless the
consent of the Senate was given in
each aud every cese-but the consent
OF the Senate had not been held as re.
quisite TO the removal OF an officer.
The constitution was silent upon the
subject, and the existence or non-ex.
istence OF power in the Senate to pre-
vent q removal from Office had been
matter Of dispute from the foundation
Of the government. = y Against
the eatly decision Of the founders OF
the government, against the ancient
and eafe rule OF Interpretation pre-
scribed by Lord Coke, against the re-
peatedly expressed judgment of Ex-
President Madison, against the equally
emphatic judgment OF Chief Justice
Marshall, and above all, against the
unbroken practice Of the government
for seventy-eight years, ths Republi-
can leaders now determined to de-
pTive the President OF the power Of
removing Federal oficers."
The veto Of the bill was written by
Mr.. Seward, "He wrote as n who
felt that in this particular ifsue with
Congress, whatever might be the ad.
verse votes OF the Senate and House,
time would be sure TO vindicate the
position Of the President. But the
message did not arrest the action, in.
deed scarcely the attention, OF Con.
gress, and the bill was promptly, even
hurriedly passed over the veto-in the
Sonata by 30 yeas to II nays; in the
House by 1873 yeas to 81 nays"
~BUTLER's ADVENT.
The meeting OF the fortieth Con.
gress brought Gen. Butler to the
House. This is a part of Mr.. Blaine'f
portrait Of him "Gen. Butler had long
been regarded as a powerful antsgon,
list at the bar, and he fully maintained
his reputation in the parliamentary
conflicts In which he became AZ once
involved. He exhibited an extraor'
binary capacity for agitation, pc ssess'
ing in a high deRtee what John Ran
dolph described as the talent for tur'
bulenOe. His mind was never at rest,
While not appearing to seek contro-
versies, he possessed a singular power
Of throwing the House into turmoil
aud disputation. The stormier the
stormier the scene the greater his APP
parent enjoyment and the more strik'
ing the display of his peculiar ability,
His readiness Of repartee, his great re-
sources Of information, his familiarity
with all the expedients and subtleties
OF logical and illogical discussion, con-
tributtd to make him not only promi-
nent but formidable in the House fol-
many years"
ANDREW JOHNSON AND THE rMPEACH.
MENT.
Philadelphia Press: The most dis,
graceful feature Of Andrew Johnson's
administration is left for blunt Zach
Chandler to touch in this fashion. II
was on a proposition to repeal a por-
ton of the coniiscation act of 1862,
authorizing the President to grant Ger.
tain pardons, that the big MichigandeI
spoke in the Senate, December 13,
1866. Mr.. Chandler said; at is 9
notorious iact-ss notorious as the
records Of q court-that pardQns have
been for sale around this town, fol
sale by women-by more than one
woman. The records Of your court in
the District OF Columbia show this
Any Senator who desires this dis
graceful business to go on of course
desires that this clause shall remain
Matters went from bad to worse
with Andrew Johnson for three years
and when finally, in May, 1868, the
attsmpt for his impeachment failed by
one vote, Mr.. Blaine sums up the stu.
alton in part as follows, after describ
ing the progress Of the trial:
1.-THE sober reflection Of later years
has persuaded many who favored i'm.
parchment that It was not justifiable
on the charges made, aud that its sue
cess would have resulted in greater in
jury TO free institutions than Andrew
Johnson in his utmost endeavor was
ohla - ipfitci No ;n,poAioI raada,