Year: 1868

Speculntions ON the Issue of the Impeachment


Trial-The Radical War Chief Justice


Chase-Radical Dcviations In support OF I'm.


pcachment-The Squabble for Tickets to the


National Exhibition.


WASHINGTON, March %. 1868.


The absorbing interest felt in the great impeach-
ment trial seems to increase. All the legal works
that have the slightest bearing upon the method Of
proceeding in cases of impeachment and which
hitherto have been regarded too dry and dusty for
the perusal of any but professors Of the abstruse
science Of John Doe and Richard Roe, are now
eagerly sought after and perseveringly studied.
People who never could be brought TO comprehend
the simple process OF habeas corpus now talk
earnedy upon the nice points of law involved in a
trial Of impeachment. Book stores display large
pacards informing the public that they have on hand
full and accurate descriptions OF the trials Of Warren
Hastings, Judge Peck Judge Chase, &C. The
constitution Of our country was never before SO
assiduousy studied and SO diligently thumbed as it
is now to acquire a thorough knowledge OF its pro-
Visions especially those parts OF it which the terrible
articles OF impeachment charge Andrew Johnson
with having violated This popular thirst for knowl-
edge on the supreme law Of the country, whichever
way the trial Of President Johnson may be decided,
cannot fail to have beneficial effect upon the ct
Zens Of the United States The nature and princ
pies of our government will be better understood,
and the judges who about to investigate the
charges against the President OF the United States
and who are expected TO pronounce guilty or not
guilty. according to the belief that may exist in their
minds after hearing the evidence on both sides OF
the question, and having the laws, pro and CON- ar
gued the best lawyers In the land have great need TO
look well to 10 that, in pronouncing their verdict
they are Influenced by nothing but the law and the
evidence. They cannot fail to that they must be
controlled by no other motives than the desire to
out the strctest justice for the country at largo
is searching out and dgestng the law that governs
the case, will listen to the same testimony that Is
given In the Senate chamber, will read the same
legal documents, and will form Its opinion as to
the guilt innocence Of the distinguished prisoner
at the bar.


Rumor, Of course, Is still busy with the present
views and opinions OF Senators, and a dozen times


day perhaps, It is proved by some garrulous poll-
tician, who assumes to have confidential relations
with different members OF the Senate, and H. there
fore well posted on the subject that the President s
frequently proves conclusivey that such result is
an utter mpossbility.


mentioned well informed individuals, and having
made as and careful inquiry into the predi-
lectons OF Senators is possible under the circum
stances, your correspondent is convinced that not
only s IL impossible to 0retell the finding OF the
court the disposition OF oil the Senator's, but that
csion OF each OF the Senators before the IL tried
Is an act Of injustice towards large proportion OF
them. Certain OF the democratic Senators nav be
safely counted as sure TO vote against convic-
ton, and large number OF the radical Senators
may be as safely included among those who will
vote for it; but the greater number Of the members
are far too deeply impressed with the sclemnity OF
the trial they are engaged in ana its vast
Importance In shaping the destiny Of our
country to act lightly In any matter connected
with IL, or to permit their judgment to be biased by
party considerations. These men will certainly en-
deavor to sif truth from error, will Judge OF Andrew
Johnson's acts charged in the articles OF mpeach-
ment In spirit OF fairness TO discover whether they
were committed from firm conviction on his part
that he was but dscharging the duties imposed pon
him by the constitution, or whether they were the
efforts OF an ambitious demagogue to thwart the
intentions Of Congress In order to further his own
views and the interests OF an opposite party.


The reported views OF chief Justice Chase on the
impeachment trial are forming very interesting
topic here ut this present time. The radicals believe
they have seen enough IN his conduct since
the time his communication on the character
of High Court Of impeachment was read In
the Senate to convince them that he IL In
direct opposition to them; although none but
extreme radicals have this clearness OF vision
DtheIa regard The acts tf the Chie just as oAiY