Year: 1868

oil congress-


From the London Times, March 1871


An Impeachment of the first magistrate of great
nation must always be looked upon with curiosity, II
not with interest, by the world. The most famous


odern trials of the chiefs of States have owed their
origin the conflict Of political principles rather than
to the delinquencies OF the individual. The offending
magistrate be he king OF England or Of France, or
plain republican President, is the representative OF
q political or social faith Of which he or his
advisers are the obstinate adherents, and he is
Dverthrown by movement which he looks upon as
lawIess and almost impious, but which time proves
10 be the real current OF national feeling The long
struggle between Mr.. Johnson and the American
Congress may In future times be q favorite sub
ject OF the historical essayist for amid the vulgar
disputes and recriminations Of party politics we
ioSa @ Change T The % Character Of Mr. .'S Johnson IS
not to he mistaken. Its basis Is an invincible
and superadded to this Is narrow legal view OF the
national constitution and his own duties-a view
which neither the course Of events nor the advice Of
swerve from or enlarge Mr. Disrael Is said to have
called Charles the holocaust Of direct taxation"
mas from first to last taken one view OF
towards the SOUTH and every act OF his conduct may
be traced to 1t. Whatever sentiments the fercest
respect TO him he reciprocates them fully They cam
not detest his actions more than he detests their
HE other as usurpation. aWiil you suffer one man
70 set himself above the law and the Legisa-
turew ask the republicans" one moreover,
who was never directly elected to the high
est 0fce In the state, and who is In fact only Vice
President, acting as President In consequence OF
Congress considers itself the only true representative
of the national will which at present exists and II
has by long series OF enactments, shaped out new
policy and almost new constitution.
stranger might think that if the country has been
able TO bear with Andrew Johnson for three years
IL might leave him the few months which still
remain to him OF Office and influence. But the
republicans In spite Of their superiority In the
country, seem to expect sharp contest in the au
tumn and 1t IL necessary to furnish the political
arsenal as largely as possible. A republican iocunn
% Ro aot for far ths the deaV in the mpepeSment
would have deprived II OF most OF its importance.
70 depose Mr.. Johnson is not really necessary TO
show that the republicans have had the better in the
long struggle Con has been able to impose its
policy on him. to disregard the threats OF an
Senate and Representatives believe that they are
supported by the great body OF the people. 1t may
he permanently altered and Congress approach m
sensibly to the character OF completely sovereign
legislature ike the British Parliament. The Inn.
on the country, and the necessity OF holding
the South by a strong central power, may
tend to maintain this new character OF Congress-
and, II so, the struggle with the President only
represents the birth Of a new order OF republican
government. Or 1t may be that more popular
President win regain Official independence, and
that sooner or later, the State spirit will revive
and resist the encroachments OF Congress- In the
latter case the hgh-handed policy OF the republicans
will be remembered as an episode In American
sconstitutionalism-as series Of acts, necessary
drawn into precedent. Whatever be the result
however, we may expect that year hence there viii
tbe p esident and Congress OF mind. II Mr..
johnson be deposed he win only have yielded his
place q few months before his term: and, when
call to mind the grand and terrible notions associ-
ated in Europe with the word impeachment, 1t Is an
Agreeable contrast to consider that even Mr. John
sons condemnation VIII only send him back TO pri
lvate life whence he may one day again emerge to
least local employment and celebrity.


Legislation for Irelnnd-A Subject for the


New Parliament.


From the London Times, March 1871


There IL but one question now before the
House OF Commons, and that is whether the consid
Grafton OF the condition OF Ireland can be post
poned TO a new Parliament We have already
adduced reasons which appear to make a REFER
ence OF the question to reformed Legislature
Commons Is called upon 10 decide whether 1t
will sanction the postponement., The government
no M To e cSsa as 70 land
and reaction as TO education. The last branch OF
their programme is alreaoy practically disposed Of
aud nothing remains but inactivity. Is this endur-
ableS The answer must depend on the question,
what alternative existsf The front bench OF
fair deduction IL that they are as distracted as the
Ministry. II they had any scheme OF action ready
IT would have been made public before I'M ths,
aud though IL is at all times possible 10 submit
plausible resolution, the House Of Commons cannot
afford TO make ireland the sport OF party devices.



aside as task beyond the energies OF the moribund
Parliament and the sooner this truth is recognized
the sooner the appropriate laborof the existing LeRs-
1ature is undertaken and discharged the IL IL
RENTED 10 Its rest, the better Will Il be- both for
Great Britain and for Ireland.


Stutne to Oliver Cromwell.


In the House OF Commons ON the 18th o. March,
Mr. CAsDLisH asked the First Commissioner Of Works
IL there would be any objection the part OF the
government to place statue Of Oliver Cromwell In
Westminster Hail. between the statues Of Charles the
First and Charles the Secoud.


Lord ]. MANNERS said that In the year 1863 the
final report OF the Fine Arts Commission was pre-
scented TO Parliament That report recommended
that series OF British soveregns-the royal
houses OF Stuart and Brunswick-should be exc
cuted- laughter)--or rather that the statues OF
them should be executed and placed In the Roya
Gallery. The government Of the day made proposal
70 that erect TO Parliament and Parliament assented
10 IT, Since then eight he Thought, Of those statues
had been either completed or were now In progress
aud as they were completed they were placed In the
Royal Gallery. Two years ago II was suggested by
the architect az the palace that the experiment should