The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-19

rebellion. This is the great unpar-
donable offence for which history
must condemn him, if you do not He
is a usurpera through whom an infinite
wrong has been done to his country
He is a usurper, who, from rising to
be a Moses, has become Pharaoh;
and, in the maintenance of his usur-
patton, has employed powers for re
moval from Office those who would not
become the partisans of his tyranny.
He has, according to his own language,
not kicked out the others who are
left. but have been silenced by his
measures, or the fate of their assoc
ciates. a 3a asaia 81 of
Sumner proceeded to argue that the
duty of the hour was to protect loyal
citizens against the President
Edmunds replied briefly to the re-
marks of Sumner as to the necessity
forthis amendment, arguing against it.
johnson regretted that Sumner, in
discussing this proposition, had seen
fit to allude to the President in terms
in which he was sure he would, upon
reflection, see reason to regret. He
(Sumner) had said almost in words
that the power of removal from office
ought to be taken from the President,
because he had proved himself an
enemy to his country; because he had
proved himself an usurper, In this
particular condition of affairs, I'M
known to the Senate.
Mr.. johnson thought it was not
proper for the Senator from Massa-
chusetts to express the opinions he
had lust expressed and INDUCED in
against the President Of the United
States. A resolution had been form
ally offered by the House of Repre-
sentatives looking to impeachment.
Should it be ordered by the House,
the Senate would be the judges
whether he was guilty or not as near
as that particular member is concern
ed. What sort of a trial would the
President have were he to be i'm
peached as an enemy to his country,
either of which in the contemplation
Of Congress is high crime of treason?
The trial of impeachment is that right
which common law secures to every
citizen where common law prevails, of
having a fair tribunal to decide upon
his case. The honorable member
from Massachusetts would be 9chal-
7lenged for the cause. and in what at
titude would that place him or others
of the United States who would fol-
low his example witho&t having
word in defense of the President,
and without remembering the past
condnct of that officer, considered I'M
til lately as most perfectly patriotic.
and showing aldevotion to his country
Of the most fervent- character.
3 The Senator from Massachusetts,
charges the President with being false
to his country and the Constitution
iof the United States, which says that
a charge of this description is to be,
passed upon by the Senate of the
United States; supposes that every in
dividual member of the Senate would
bring to consideration that question,
mind as white as paper upon which
nothing is written that can influence
his judgment; yet the Senator urged,
as / think, by what has occurred in,
the past, hurtful to himself, when he
was, as he thought, improperly treated
by this officer, has suffered his feelings
to lead him astray, and to pronounce
a sentiment in this Chamber, to-day,
which will render it improper for him
to sit as alluded to upon such a case
in which he regarded the tone Of the
Presidents speech of the I'D of Feb
ruary, and on his trip to the West
as beneath the dignity of his
office; but that did not
prove untrue to his country or
usurper. In concluding he said the
biographer of the President would
say no President ever labored more
zealously to cure the great wounds
which rebellion inflicted on the
country, or more fully endeavorcd to
place the country on footing in
which it would command the admira-
ton of the world, not only to work
out but reward. but for that greater
aim of securing to individual citizens
the rights which the Constitution had
conferred upon him. oH $50! 81.
Howe spoke briefly of johnson s
speech as committing him (Johnson)
as much in favor of the President in
case of a trial for impeachment as
Sumner had himself against him.
Lane protested againstall attempts
to abridge the fullest liberty of de-
bate in the Chamber. While it may
1 not be proper to speak discourteously
| of the heads of other branches of the
/ Government, he claimed the right to
/ criticise the actions of such officials
when measures were under considera-
ton regulating their powers He
then proceeded to consider the ne
cessity and propriety of the passage
i of the bill.
Sumner offered a modification OF
1 his amendment, making all appoint
ments, of salaries of $500 or up
wards, either by the President OF
heads of departments, with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate, and
L=-.-- j 4 j.