Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
Position of the Hon. Frederick f.
Woodbridge.

The position of our Representative In
Congress upon the question of Impeach-
ment, has been misrepresented by the
press, and misunderstood by some OF his
constituents. Those who have had occa-
sion to know, personally, his views from
time 10 time, have fully understood that
In his Judgment the evidence, so far as
it had been produced before the judiciary
committee, was insufficient to substan-
tiate charges of impeachment but when
reliable testimony was presented, suffi-
Gent to maintain an action, he was
as ready as any of his colleagues on the
committee to present articles of impeach-
ment upon which the President should be
tried by the tribunal to which such ques-
tions are assigned. On Saturday last Mr..
Woodbridge made personal explanation
In the House of his views, which was lis
tened to with marked attention. His
words are so plain and direct that they
cannot be misunderstood, and 1t Is with
pleasure we present below his frank and
manly utterances upon this subject
Mr.. SPEAKER: never rose to vindi-
cate myself, and would not do so now If
/ did not believe that my private repu-
tation was involved. At the close of the
last session of Congress the Judiciary
Committee, which was charged with in
vestigation as to the impeachment of the
President, deemed 1t as dutA to hold an
adjourned session. 1t held such session
and devoted itself laboriously to the ex-
animation of the question before 1t for a
period of four or five weeks. About the
conclusion of that session resolution
was brought before the committee that,
on the testimony then before 1t, there
was no evidence to justify the interven-
tion of the impeaching power against
the President. | voted for that resolu-
ton, and it went forth under the orders
of the committee to the public, in order
that the public mind might be satisfied
80 far as the committee was concerned
Subsequently at the desire of members
ofthe committee, all of whom, have no
doubt, acted with integrity, additional
subpenas were issued for other wit.
nesses to appear and give their testimony
At that time, very unlike my friend from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Williams), had moi
determined what my ultimate vote
would be on this great question. had
not determined, as he had, when we ad
iourned in June, that / wanted no more
eyidence-that had made up my mine
"a sentiment which shocked me al
coming from so able and so honorable s
man as the gentleman from Pennsyl
vania, sentiment moro worthy Nero
or Jeffreys than the honorable gentle
man from Pennsylvania. When this
great question was charged on me as s
member OF the Law Committee of thu
House, received it not as partisan.
was responsible only to the Constitution
to my oath and to God. did not ash
myself what my party demanded, o.
what public opinion would justify.
received this question In judicial capa
city. 1t is known that | was opposed tt
the general policy and to many acts o
the President, but when the question
was committed to me / was determined
that / would give him those privilege
which the law of the land guaranteed tt
him would not allow myself to be tn
member of any party, of any organiza
ton, but only to be Representative 0
this great nation, charged under my oatl
to do my duty. Since the assembling o
Congress at this session the public jour
mails of the country have stated that
was vacillating and doubling as to tn
course l would ultimately pursue.
say here that up to that time, and now
from the testimony which has been ad
duced before the committee, and undo
the law as understand it, there ha
been no matter to justify the impeach
meHt of the President. l know thi
country can endure the impeachment @
the President. / know thata peopl
which has carried its flag in triumph
through the bloodiest aud most expen
sive war which the world has ever seer
"a people which, when the Presiden
was murdered in q theatre, still carrie,
on the wheels of the Government with
out any creaking, and without any fal
in the public securities-could enGur
the Impeachment of the President of th
United States. But when the tim
comes, If it does come, when in m
judgment, under the law and th
testimony, Andrew Johnson shoult
be impeached, will be the first man il