Year: 1868

The Patchwork or Impeachment.


By putting bits and scraps together, like a
piece of patchwork, Congress has gotten up
bill of impeachment against the President. At
first one bit was put in and then another, then
a bit was taken out and another inserted,
until finally the beautiful whole was 80
weak and fiimsy a fabric that the
strong men of Congress-the hard-handed
aud hard-headed men Of Athens-would
not have it at any price. Thad Stevens
declared that the concern would not hold
water unless his patch was added. Ben Butler
said that it was good for nothing if they did
not put in patch Of his selection while
Bingham, of Ohio, who would be nothing but
chief manager, edged in his little patch almost
at the last moment.


AS the original articles Of impeachment
stood the leading spirits Of the movement
were emphatic in their opinion that the Presi-
dent could not bs convicted upon them. Old
Thad Stevens said that unless bantling Of
his own was introduced into the bill, in the
shape Of twelfth article, "cavilling judges
and shrewd lawyers" would acquit Mr.. John
son in fact, if they were not more green than
leeks they must acquit him. But his bantling
was not accepted. Butler and Bingham were
equally resolu.e in their opinion that no con-
viction could be obtained upon the original
indictment, and they succeeded in getting two
additional articles adopted at a late hour on
Tuesday. But what do they amount to? They
fall back upon the old issues which the House
had already refused to embody in the indict-
ment. and they are now hauled up again, with
view to strengthen the case, after the man.
agers-Thad, Ben and Bingham-have already
declared that the President csnnot be convicted
upon the charges Of ordering the removal of
Stanton and appointing Thomas in his place,
or of conspiring" with General Emory to
use force In carrying out the order.


With what consistency or show Of common
sense, then, are the abandoned charges re-
sumedf If there was no prospect Of conviction
upon them before, how much greater are the
chances now! 1t is the first time that
the speeches Of Q President were con-
verted into overt acts constituting high
crimes punishable with heavy penalties. If





really is, after all, the sum total Of the allega-
tions and evidence-that he did order the re-
moval of an obnoxious official and appoint
another in his place, greatly to the mortidca-
tion of cabal in Congress-how little wisdom
would there be in removing him from his posi-
ton and forever prohibiting him from holding
any Office because Of some foolish harangues
delivered here and there throughout the coun-
try! And this is the substance of Ben Buffers
tenth article and it contains the spirit, also, Of
Bingham's addendum to the Indictment. That
Mr.. Johnson may be declared guilty by the
4" high court" of the Senate, sitting in q semi
circle around Chief Justice Chase in the Senate
chamber, and the prosecutors from the House
occupying the floor, is not improbable but the
result will not relieve the Fortieth Congress
from the imputation of excessive folly, weak
ness, blind malice and o reckless disregard for
the interests of the country. Whatever be-
comes OF Andrew johnson, the radical ma
jority in Congress will have to carry these
stigmata with them to their political graves,
which are already being prepared for them.