Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-17
Inlpeachmenf.

i impeachment.
Although both Houses of Congress substan
tally voted at the commencement of the scs
sion that they would not entertain any
business but that connected with recOnstruc
ton, the House, at least, has paid little at
tcntiOn to this rule, and there has beer
considerable debate respecting the irnpeach-
Inent business, as well as other matters be-
sides reconstruction Last Wednesday. while
discussing a motion offered by Mr.. Boutwell,
to adjourn until the 10th of October. i'm
parchment was quite freely debated. During
. the debate the action of the Judiciary com
mittee was partially disclosed, and Mr.
Wilson, chairman of the committee, said ii
was not true as has been stated that the com
mittce hadsagreed to report in favor Of cen
surfing the President The committee had
not vet determined what their report would
recommend, and were not prepared to report
at this session The necessity Of meeting
as carly as October was urged by Mr.. Bout
well and those favoring impeachment, in
order to give time before the regular meet
ing in December, to consider and act upon
the report of the committee on the subject OF
impeachment. Mr.. Pike of Maine asked
permission Of Mr. Boutwell, to offer an amend
ment TO adjourn to the second Monday in
November, but Mr.. Boutwell, did not con
sent Mr.. Stevens of Pennsylvania argued
that the committee ought to report now, and
said
If understood the chairman of that com
mittec there is nothing now before them
which will Justify an impeachment, and that
they have been six months attempting TO find
ground for an impeachment. Then, sir, the
whole question of Impeachment lies in a nut
she'll. If nothing can be found which suffi-
GENTLY duplicates him to put him on his trial
to this House and to the country that that
committee should be discharged, and this
matter should be abandoned. | do not quite
agree, sir, that there is no sympathy with
the action Of the committee. | think the
country almost unanimously believes that
there ought To be articles of impeachment
reported and acted on, and the only condition
on which | shall agree to vote for an ad-
ournment to the time mentioned by the gen
tleman from Massachusetts, is that this com
mittee shall report now, and that that re-
port shall be printed and ready for our action
when we do meet | am not satisfied. and |
do not believe the country is satisfied with
the course taken in regard to impeachment.
do not mean thereby to censure or blame
anybody, but it seems to me there is an error
of judgment as to what is required by the law
to found an impeachment upon. | think
that ought to be submitted to the tribunal Of
this House, as the tribunal which is 10 try it.
Mr.. Williams-AIr. Speaker, as a member
Of the judiciary committee, | feel constrained
to say a word. | have not agreed to the de
cision enunciated by the chairman. do
not agree that there is any reason why that
committee should not have been prepared u
make its report at this session. | am pre-
pared here to say want 40 more witnesses ,
- bring me no more reports.
Mr. Stevens-As | know how easy it * t.
procrastinate by calling witnesses, / would
like to know whether they have finished
taking the testimony Of my friend, Horace
Greeley. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Williams-The relations of my col
league with that distinguished individual
are, perhaps, more confidential than my own
(Laughter.) [ cannot answer the question
Mr.. Greeley was not called at my instance.
But | viii proceed to add that 50 far the
minority of the committee are involved (and
| think | may speak for them) they viii cor
testimony when is before them. They think
there are abundant reasons for the impeach-
mcnt Of the President of the United States
for high crimes and misdemeanors before the
highest tribunal Of the nation. They want
no more. They are ready to report now and
make the issue before this House and the
country. to ask Of this House whether they
are right or wrong, and think it viii be
found that the differences between the seven
-, -,
House are not quite so material as may have
been generally supposed, but are merely sec
tional, resting upon grounds upon which this
House
Mr.. Wilson-Mr. Speaker, this is Il very
singular performance on the part Of the gen
tIeinan from Pennsylvania, it seems to me.
Mr. Wiliams-It has been brought about
by singular performance.
Mr. Wilson-IIe has informed this House
that there is no necessity tor the taking OF
any testimony since the adjournment in
June.
Mr.. Williams-I am speaking of the mi
nOrity.
Mr. Wilson-The minority, certainly be-
cause the gentleman is from the minority
and has been making this disclosure to the
House. Now. sir. if that be true. it is Il
most remarkable state of affairs that gentle
men, having made up their judgment in
June, and declaring now that they have
wanted no further testimony whatever, have
called, with very few exceptions, for all OF
the testimony that has been taken since that
time. | will not at this time say
anything in regard to my own views or the
views of those who concur with me on the
committee in regard to this question. shall
express my opinion and the opinion of those
who concur with me at some future time
but do not believe that upon the present
uncompleted testimony, with calls for infor-
nation vet unanswered, that it is neither
proper or Just that the House should take the
responsibility of requiring report to be
made upon this question now.
After further debate the motion Of Mr.
Boutwell, was rejected, and Mr.. Pixies motion
to fix a session in November was agreed to
This is looked upon evidence that the
House will not disagree with the committee
if the committee should, as it undoubtedly
viii, report against impeachment.
MIR. Sumner on the Duty of Congress
We stated last week that Mr. Sumner
earnestly protested, in his place in the Sen
ate, against the effort TO confine the business