The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-09
,ru>TE on IMPEACHMENT.
ASHLEY FRIGHTENED.

y, the House, tu iNuISudN, hitGf T..
ashley had gone on for some time in a
Useless TRADE against the President and
,Lc southern people, he spoke Of the Pre-
,;Sopt as the moral incubus which has
hIo,ted our history with its foulest blot, and
shau ne removed. In the name of LOYALTY
BETRAYED. of law violated, Of the Constitu-
,;op irampled upon, the nation demands
The ;mpeachment and removal of Andrew
Johnson.
The SPEAKER here interrupted Mr..
ashley, and said that while he knew there
ra> license of debate on q resolution in
.cgard TO impeachment, he thought the
Gentleman from Ohio was proceeding be-
yond that limit.
Mr.. RANDALL Democrat inquired
whether there was an insane asylum near
lerc.
Mr.. CHANLER Democrat suggested
fist there was one over the river. Laugh.
tel
Mt. BOYER expressed the hope that
". ASHLEY would be allowed TO 60 on
without interruption, because he was do
liz the President service, and they APP
ulCiItcd his efforts very much.
Mr.. ASHLLY said that nc was glad that
tie gentlemen so regarded il, and pro-
ccCded TO commence his remarks again
Wen, Mr.. President
Mr.. EIDRIDGE again called him TO or
dcramid much laughter, when the Speaker
minated to lnm lac must address the
Chair.
Mr.. GARFIELD suggested that perhaps
Tie mistake was prophetic.
NJ. ELDRlDGE said he thought the
gentleman from Ohio had President on the
l.ain.
Mr.. ASHLEY continued: 1t is well
kauwu that the civil rights bill has not
o'yuot been enforced, but that the vast
n i;ayy power at the disposal of the Pre-
st.ut has been used, not TO protect loyal
men. but has been used either by his indif-
ference or with his guilty knowledge to
crush the loyal men OF the South.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE remarked that he un-
dc-N0od Mr.. ASHLEY 10 cenSure the Presi-
den, because certain parties had not been
brought TO trial, and he now desired to ask
him he blamed the President because
Jefferson Davis had not been tried upon
the Indictment found against him
Mr.. ASHLEY said in reply: / am I'M
able 10 answer the gentleman's question,
bu, ! haow that in military departments
where the President has command of the
army, and where Inc does interfere, he has
used the military power to crush the loyal
men, instead of sustaining them.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE asked Mr.. ASHLEY to
favor the House with one single instance
where the President had neglected his duty
IN regard to the trial of any person.
Mr.. ASHLEY replied. Yes, sir, in New
orleans and in Memphis, in every city in
he South where there are no civil govern
tents, and where, by his repeated acts, he
as recognized the supremacy Of the rebel
over.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE inquired of Mr.. ASHLEY
whether the President of the United States
could institute courts there and try parties
cLargcd with crime.
Mr.. ASHLEY, without answering the
.lc>tion directly, said: | may refer the
geutlcmau to the case of Watson OF Vir-
.lna, and TO other cases which it is not ne
yy,,ary for me to particularize. | say
thai, in view Of all the facts which we have
jrtorc Us, if this investigation be not pur-
sued, and if this man be not put upon his
trial and impcached, the provision of the
Constitution providing for the impeach-
mcnt Of the President is valueleSS TO the
nation. If this man is not impeached, il
be is not tried and depoSed from the high
place which he has diSgraced, no man who
succeeds him need ever fear trial and con-
yiction, no matter what may be his crimes.
/ hope this Congress will not be deferred
from doing its duty but that it will do its
whole duty in the matter, and proceed to
he investigation. And | am convinced
that il pursued with the energy which at
tends ordinary criminal cases, the trial
and conviction and impeachment Of the
President are as inevitable as death.
Mr.. SPALDING (RadicaD said Mr..
Speaker, l do not boast of possessing any
extraordinary degree of courage, either
moral or physical; but | thank my Crea-
Tor that he has so constituted me that
eau rise on the floor of this House yet and
declare my convictions, although they diff
fer with the majority Of the party with
which act. Sir, | differ toto COLO with
colleague Mr.. Ashley, and | stand here
in this very place from which, more than
two months ago, the Executive Of this ma
ton was charged with high crimes and mis-
deneauorS, TO denounce the whole scheme
as one Of consummate folly.
! trust we have not yet arrived at the
same state of feeling as that which existed
during the revolution of Oliver Cromwell,
or that which lived in the days of Robe
spjcTe and Marat in France, when those
who one day advocated the most extreme
measures were the next day brought TO the
ScaliDld because they were not far enough
IN the advance. Is that to be our position
in This country! Sir, l have voted Tor
every radical measure OF reconstruction
proposed in this House, and yet we have
not adopted radical measures enough to
.o.t the purposes Of some gentlemen around
ne. They row cry for the head of the
Executive. I" They want more blood"
suggested Mr.. WoOD, in his seat.l For
what good purpose! Is it to make way
FOX some other man, or set Of men! lsthiS
whole nation to be cOnyulsei, is our public
credit 10 be triAed with, are our stocks to
be brought down to thirty, twenty, or ten
per cent. simply TO crafty this anxiety to
remove the executive head of the nation 7
Sir, | canno. go for that proposition.
Mr.. NIBLACK rose to ask Mr.. ASHLEY
whether the newspaper charges that he
Mr.. ASHLEY had been guilty of official
bribery and corruption were true?
Mr.. ASHLEY. do not yield the floor
to have the gentleman come here with any
such impcrtinence.
Mr.. NIBLACK remarked that he had
no personal matter to settle with Mr.. ASH
LILY here. lie always settled his personal
matters outside Of this House.
Mr.. ASHLEY said l want to say to the
gentleman from Indiana that | should per-
Aaps not have used the words did. !
meant 10 say that his suggestion was not
pertacnt to the question before the House.