The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-23
Messrs. Wilson (Rep., Iowa) and Pruyn (Dem.,
n. W appealed to Mr. Stevens to allow each Of
them some time to address the House.

u.
| to MIR. Pruyn, who said: agree with the gentle.
man from Pennsylvania as to those first princi
pies which he at the foundation OF the national
law to which he has referred ard that the authors
he has named are authorities which cannot be dis
regarded here, but whose opinious and views are
conclusive on the question before the House. The
difficulty is in applying that law to the cise before
it. The gentleman from Pennsylvania in the Thir-
teenth Congress announced what I considered to
be- and what the country considered to be- astart-
ling proposition: that by reason of the proclama-
ton OF blockade, so-called, the war had become o
war between nations, and henceforth it was q
struggle between two great parties, and that the
conquering party had a right to do with the con-
the solemn proclamation Of both Houses of Con-
eress, passed unanimously after tho struggle had
reached it's height after the first battle Of Bull Rum
that it was not war between nations, but it was
war to enforce the provisions of the Constitution.
acknowledging all the rights of the States and de-
terminate how might these States were to be re-
stored to their relations to the Union. The facts
Of the case heretofore do not bear out the infer
ence which the gentleman from Pennsylvania en-
deayors to give, the very sound law to which he
has referred, but, on the contrary. places us in
position in which we have said to the world that
those principles Of law do not apply, and did not
apply, to the struggle in which the North was en-
gagged with the South AS to the gentlemen from
Massachusetts who first spoke (Mr. Boutwell), we
ali know that this subject OF Impeachment has be-
come so thoroughly imbedded in his mind that
on no occasion does he fail to present it to the
House. We are here called upon to discharge o
solemn duty under the Constitution, and de-
clare whether Notwithstanding the reasons
which the President has assigned against
the.passage of the bill, it shall become law In
stead of discussing that question, the gentleman
from Massachusetts has honored ns with the rea-
son why the President should bo impeached.
Some Of them, believe, he attempted to draw
Il nft ba D,,f bor
that message close? What does the President tell
you after he has declared that this act is an out
rage on the Constitution, and violation of the
great principles of English liberty2 What does he
yop3 Where does he appeal Az He he
Massachusetts afraid of that2 he well may be- as
it will soon tell story that will be utterly at yari
ance with the views he entertained. [Derisive
laughter on the Republican side of the House,
Part of the speech Of the gentleman would be very
well in political elecioneering room, and part Of
it would have been very well in the year of the
French revolution, but it does not fit the temper Of
our times. If there DO anything Of constitutional
liberty left, that gentleman occupying the posi-
ton he docs, and under such circumstances, pro-
mulgate and urge such views -
Tic fall OF tho Speakers hammer here indicated
the close OF the five minutes allowed to Mr..
Pruyn.
Mi. Wilson (of Ohio) said-I did not intend to
occupy one moment OF the time Of tho House on
this question, until it seemed to be rendered nee
essary by the irregular course which has been
pursued by two of my colleagues of the Judiciary
Committee (Butler and Williams), and some OF
the words which have fallen from the lips of tho
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Stevens). will
not pretend to be cognizant with all the laws and
all the history OF England and it may be that
do not understand the question as fully as my
learned colleague (Williams). He has asserted
that he knows 1t all, and when man knows that,
he knows all that he can know. He has given US
mis- opinion in this case, do not intend to enter
upon the discussion of the case at all. It is not
the proper time, nor can it be properly entered up
on until presented to the House in due FORM When
the House of Representatives charged the Judicn-
ry Committee with the investigation OF this case,
did not understand that majority Of the House
to act upon it wholly as partisans. I understood
that 80 Tar as it imposed an obligation upon me, it
was to fearlessly and faithfully investigate that
case, not as Republican, but as member of the
law committee Of the House Of Representatives
OF the United States; and, let me say, that have
here to-day that no amount Of political pressure
shall turn me aside from the conscientious dis
cuarge of my duty, as find the case controlled by
the laws and the facts. Applause on the DEM
ocratio side Of the House.l have no SYM
pathy with the course or political conduct Of
the President Of the United States; but, sir,
he is entitled to have the charges made against
him investigated according to law, and to
have the case returned to the House,
as tho facts and the Law will warrant, The gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania ttIr. Stevens) has said
there are secret infuencesGt work. It Is easy for
any man to cast suspicion upon all other men,
when it is necessary to carry by force Of party
ganization anything which he may desire to prove
successful. I do not know to what influences tho
gentleman refers, not only controlling, as he says,
the action of the members Of the House, which
will prevent articles or impeachment being pre-
sented to the Senate, but controlling also members
of tho Senate who are to sit as high court Of i'm
peachment, under the solemnity Of their oath.
Sir, is every man to be run down because he can
not look upon questions just as some other men
view them; is every man to be bounded down in
this country because he will not surrender the
right of private judgment. Have we come to
that2 b., y4-....
Hero the fall Of the Speakers hammer indi-
Gated the termination Of the genteman's five min
utss.' =
The House then proceeded 10 vote upon the pas
sage Of the bill by Yeas and Nays,
The vote resulted in-Yeas, 100 (; Nays, %; as
follows
NAYs-Adams, Archer, Barnes, Boyer, Brooks,
Eldridge, Gez, Glossbrenner, Haight, Holman,
Kerr, Marshall, Mungen, Nihlaok, Nicholson, NOEL,
Rrnyn, Robinson, Ross, Stone, Van Auken, Van
"a.
The Speaker announced that two-thirds having
voted in the affirmative the bill had again passed
the House, and, with the objections Of the Presi-
dent, would be transmitted to the Senate for its
ike confederation,