New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-26
IMPEACHMENT.

PORTS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25-The following is the
report Of the majority Of the Judiciary Committee OH
Impeachment presented in the House of Representatives
to-day by Mr. Boutwell, Of Massachusetts, second member
Of the Committee, the Chairman, Mr. Wilson OF Iowa.
dissenting:
The Committee on the Judiciary. to whom was
referred the resolution Of the 9TH OF March last,
authorizing them 10 inquire into the oclaI eohuuc u
Andrew Johnson Vice President OF the United States
aschargng the present duties oil the once oI Iresl
aeot NJ the limited States and 10 report to this House
whether in their opinion, the said Andrew Johnson,
while I'm said office has been guilty Of acts which
designed or calculated TO overthrow or corrupt the GOV
eminent OF United States any department or officer
thereof whether the said Andrew johnson has been
y OF any act or has cOnspred with others TO do acts
which in the contemplation OF the Constitution are high
crimes and msdemeanOrs requiring the inerpositiOn OF
the Constitutional power Of this House, respectfully
port that in the performance Of the important task
assigned to them, they have spared no pains TO
make their investigation complete as posi-
BILE not only by the exploration of the public
archives but IN following every indication that seemed
70 promise any additional light upon the great subject Of
inquiry and they submit herewith the result of that por-
ton of their abOrs the yOlumluOus exhibit that accom-
NAMES this report In order however to direct the at
tention OF the House to such portions of the somewhat
misconceptions mass Of testimony which they have been
eompcled 10 present without the order arrangement
that might facilitated the examination as are re-
garded by them most material to the issue, they will
now proceed briefly possible, the leading
facts which they suppose TIE inquiry has developed be-
yOnd dispute along with their conclusions there
from and the reasons 10y which they have been infu &c
reaching them. In doing they must be allowed the
indulgence which a-eOmprehensive scrutiny running
over two years administration of the affairs
Of great Government through an unexampled crisis
Of the State, and including the very high matters
that can engage the attention OF a free people
would necesstate and must at all Courts excuse
The charges made and to which the investigation OF the
Committee been especially directed are usurpaOn
OF and violation OF aW;n the corrupt abuse OF
appointing pardonng. aud veto powers; in the corrupt
Interference IN electles ana geheIy IN the commission
Of acts amounting TO high crimes and mistemean0r I'M
der the Constitutions and upon TINS recital 1t was CHARGED
Nth te nus t Ij,t ~ me Ilifed t and of re-
porting whether he had been guilty Of any acts which
sor,nt the CGveunnent of the United states or which
IN contemplation Of the Constitution would constitute
the Constitutional power of the House" II viii be
served the great salient point of accusation standing
out in the foreground, and challenging the attention OF
wolves OF course, a violation Of law; ard here 1t
may be remarked that perhaps every great abuse every
fragrant departure from the welseled principles OF inc
Government wbichhas been thought home TO its present
Administration whether dlSco,SIlns ltsI III socl in
high powers conferred by the Constitution the Presi
dent or revealing itself more manifeSty III the systematic
nttept 10 seize upon sovereignty and dispaage and
supercede great council 10 Which that sovereignty
purpose Of recOustructing the shattered govern |
ments Of the Rebel states in accordance with |
carried them into the Rebellion, and In such way as to
deprive the people Of the loyal states OF an chances OF
indemnity for the past and security for the future by
bTjnSnn mem hack 10 their hearhs unrepentant and
their hands yet red with the blood Of our people into
condition where they could once more emDarrass ana
defy-if not absolutely rue-the Government which they
had vainly endeayOred TO destroy IL is around this
point and auxiliary TO that great central idea that all
the special acts Of INSTRUMENTATION we have |
witnessed will be found to gravitate and re-
yolve, and II IS 70 ths point therefore, as
the great master key which unocks and nterpTes an OF
then, that the attention Of the House viii first ne d.
rected II IS fact u history that the OBSTINATE ana pro
tracted struggle between the Executive ana tgslve
departments arising out OF The claim OF more IMAM key
power on the hand and strongly mainta1ned by
the operators Of tie first rights OF sovereignty lodged
with It by the people on the other winch mas eohyued
ie that has no example here, and none in England |
since the era Of the Stuarts began Win the advent
ghened him To his place while II smote the heart
Of the nation with grief and horror was tle last expiring
armed effort OF the insurTectOn. The capital OF the Rebel
Government had falen It's chiefs were iugtyes; us
hag was in the dust the sute Of arms mad closed the
that had been gathered for the overthrow OF TINS
fassed hinder the conGuerng hand OF the Republic The
extraordinary mission OF the Executive WAS fulfilled
although the COmmanderinChiet he might possibly
treat with begerents in the cessation OF the war IN
the overthrow OF the Rebellion and the unconditional
render OF the armies had determined that power TO
hold the conquered territory WITHIN our mlltaIy grasp
until the sovereign power OF the hatlOh Teshg III the
Representatives the same power which had grit the
sword upon the thigh OF the Executive ana placed Ine
resources Of the country m men ana money az mi
in relation TO the Rebels IL had conquered, was
all that remained for him to do But inc outes oI lne
almost continental dimensions, desoated by war put
stall swarming with millions OF people was al our leei
awaitiT the which IL had deserved The local
governments swept away as they ha9 Deen III INC M
Of the President himself, by the whrlwlnd OF tne hePei
lion ruin; while communities were IN anarchy,
The courts Outlaw the social tic dissolved system O
pretended laws existing IN deadly eonlct MIN t f
of the cOnqneror people subdued but suneh anu Iul
Of hate, and hostile TO the power thal hau oNeI
thrown them; loyal element asking lOr
new aud anomalous relation without parallel IN history!
about which wisest OF statesmen might wei hesitate
had ruptared The original ties and placed its
objects in the condition OF pubic SS n9nies, a
large army to be dsbanded, and such indulgence eA
tended such punishment lnnlcted auu such secuilcs
demanded for the future as inc 81 pf
fice might require. Never, III the history ol tn VI any
other State, have questions more numerous ana VITAL
or involving the exercise higher governmental powers
presented themselves for the consideration oil people
crisis OF State The duties and responsibilities OF the
men who formed and organized the Union OF these Ses
and OF those who assembled here in 1861 TO consult upon
and provide the for suppressing this great ne
belion, nothing IN the comparison ana %
certainly no higher sagacy and no broader wisdom tah
Tie task Of bringing back the dismelnDered states'
aud refusing those farming S1 FST this great
work supreme Executive OF the nauOi, et ~
though lie had been endowed by nature with t1e
very highest EOf organizing faculties was oDEiouay
untitled by the very nature OF his office II Mr. l1nco
had survived IL is not be doubted from MS haDltal
deerence 10 the public WILL that although citizen OF
loyal state, and enjoying the pnPnc e ~ to he G
duty TO the representatives OF the people toay
down his sword IN their presence ana 10 refer 10 lhe
eDiishtened and patriotic judgment 10 decide
what was TO be with the territories and people tat
bv arms The bloody hand of treason unfortunately
hurried him away in the very hour Oh INC naro d ri
made this duty an imperative one WIN III .ni ~;
how powerfully re-. v vde1rived t6e nation of its
arusfed head but cast tine rens OF government upon
oosscr THE new President was himself In the doubt
lcate nositjon of citizen OF one of the revolt
TO- states which were TO be summoned for judgment be-
fore inc par h OF should sympathEe with the comuni
ties from which he had mainly differed only on pIuen
tia reasons or other words 70 tho wisdom OF the
revolt at that particular jnncture of affairs III Othef ar