Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-12-05
Inlpeachnscuf.

Inlpeachmeu
The following is the concluding portion
of the majority report on Impeachment
presented in the House of Representative
on the 25th ultimo, by Mr.. Boutwell,, o
Massachusetts,, second member of the com
mittee-thc chairman, Mr.. Wilson, orIowa
dissenting:
In accordance with the testimony here
with submitted, and the view of the law
herein presented, The committee are O
opinion that Andrew johnson, President
ofihc United States, is guilty of high crime:
and miSdemeanors, requiring the in;eposi
ton of the constitutional powers of thi.
House. In that, upon the final surrender
of the rebel armies and the overthrow oi
the rebel government. the said Andrew
johnson, President of the United States
neglected to convene the Congress Of the
United States that by its aid and authori
ty, legal and constitutional measures might
have been adopted for the organization o
loyal and constitutional measures in the
States then recently in rebellion. In that
in his proclamation to the people of North
Carolina of the 29th dav of Nav. 1865. he
assumed he had authority to decide wheth
er the Government of North Carolina, and
whether any other government that might
| be set up therein. wes republican in form
and thai III his Office of President IT was
his duty and within his power to guarantee
to said people 4 republican form of govern
ment, contrary TO the Constitution, which
provides that the United States shall guar
antce 10 every State in this Union re-
also. to adeliberate opinion of the Supreme
| Court. which declared that Congress is
vested exclusively vested with the power
to decide whether the government OF a State
is republican or not. In that he did there
after rec ~gnize and treat plan of govern
ment set up in North Carolina, under and
in conformity TO his own advice and direc-
ton, as republican in folm and entirely re-
stored to its functions as a State, notwith-
standing Congress is the branch of govern
ment in which, by the Constitution, such
power is exclusively vested, and notwith-
standing Congress did refuse to recognize
such government as u legitimate govern
mcut, or rs "a government republican in
form; in that by public proclamation and
otherwise he did, in the year 1863, invite
solicit, and convene in certain other States
then recently in rebellion conventions OF
persons, many of whom were known trai-
tors. who had been organized in an attempt
to overthrow the government of the Cniled
States, and urged and directed such con
ventions to frame constitutions for them
selves.
In that. lie thereupOn assumed TO accept
ratify, and confirm certain so-callcd cou-
s.itutions, framed by such illegal and trea-
sonable assemblages of persons. which con
stiiutions were never submitted 10 the peo-
( pie of the respective Statesmen ratified and
confirmed 10y the United States; thus usurp-
ing and exercising powers vested by the
cons;ution in the Congress OF the United
States exclusively.
In that, he pardoned large numbers oi
public and notorious traitors with the de
sign of receiving from them aid in such
conventions, called by his advice and di-
rection, for the purpose of organizing and
setting up such illegal governments in the
States then recently in rebellion prior to the
annual meeting of Congress, with the intent
thus to constrain Congress to accept, ratl
fy, and confirm such illegal and unconsti
tutional proceedings.
In that, he did, within and for the State:
recently in rebellion, create and establish
Governor, so-called. an Office unknown tC
the constitution or laws of the land.
In that he appointed to such Office Sc
created in said States respectively men whC
were public and notorious traitors, lie wei
knowing that they had been engaged il
open, persistent. and formidable efforts fQI
the overthrow of the Government of tht
United States, and wcll-knowing that thes,
I nn1l1 M nf N
said Office without committing the crime O
perjury. or in manifest violation Of the law:
of the country.
In that he directed The Secretary of State
to promise payment of money TO said per
sons so illegally appointed, as salary OF
compensation for services 10 be performed
in said office so illegally created, contrary
to the provisions of the law of the United
States, approved February (, 1868, entitled
- an act making appropriations for the sup
port of the Army, for the year ending tho
30th day of June, 1864, and for deficiency
for the signal service for the year ending
June 80, 1863
In that he directed the Secretary of Wal
to pay moneys to said persons for service
; performed in said office so illegally created
which moneys were so paid under his Ill
w.
to law, and in violation of the Constitution
of the United States.
In that he deliberately dispensed viii
and suspended the operation of a provision
of law of the United States passed on the
I'd Of July, 1862, entitled san acl to pre-
scribe an oath of Office, and for other pur
poses"
In that he appointedto offices. orcased by
hn 1a ~ctl, Il
as was well-known to him, had been en-
gagged in the rebellion, who were guilty O
the crime of treason, and who could not
without committing the crime of perjury
or otherwise violating criminally the saiG
tact OF July 2, 1862, enter upon the dutie:
thereof.
In that without authority of law, and
contrary to law, he used and applied prop
erty taken from the enemy in time of war
for the payment OF the expense and the
support ofthe said illegal and unconstitu
tional governments, so set Up in the said
States recently in rebellion, and for like
purpose, and In violation Of the consiiu-
ton, and of his oath of Office, he author
lied and permitted levy of taxes upon the
people of said States. thus usurping and
exercising a power which, by the constitu-
"on, 20 .eoe@" S~Ni"e''e'y AZ tne Nohsfess
of the United States.
All of which ac.s were usurpation oi
power, contrary to the laws and constitu-
tion Of the United States, and In viols,ion
of his oath of Office as President of the
United States.
In fact, the said Andrew johnson, Pres
ident of the United States, has in messages
to Congress, and otherwise, publicly denied
substantially the right of Congress to pro-
vide for the pacifcation, government and
restoration OF said States to the Union, and
in like manner he has asserted bis exclu-
sive right to provide governments therefor,
and 10 accept and proclairn the restoration