The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-29
Tho ImpeRchment Failure-The GHigh
Grimes and Misd sm eAnOrs" of And rew
Johnson. - -. :

The Innpeachment FaiIure-The "High
Crimes and Misd sm eanors" OF And rev
johnson. ~ ~ ~ go 80.
From The NJ r. Herald. 1a r7t n .ll cf
1t is claimed in behalf of the party of i'm
peachment that they hold majority of the
House, that the resolution for the indictment
of Andrew Johnson before the Senate will pass,
and that accordingly that body, as court,
Chief Justice Chase presiding, will have to
bring the accused to trial. Meantime, as
the subject is postponed to Wednesday next,
and as the regular December session begins on
Monday next, the House, with the resumption
of these judiciary reports, will, perhaps, have
some additional light thrown upon the ques-
tion from the Presidents annual message,
Mr.. Boutwell, and the majority of the COM
mittee rest their resolution of impeachment
upon Mr.. Johnson's ''usurpation of power"
fthis great salient point of accusation standing
out in the foreground, and challenging the
attention Of the country" The charges rest
ing upon this ''great central idea" involve the
following-That President Johnson, on the
collapse Of the Rebellion, neglected to con-
vene the two Houses of Congress- step
essential to legal and constitutional measures
of reconstruction; that he usurped the exclu-
sive authority of Congress in undertaking
himself the establishment of new local gov
ernments for the Rebel States; that in the
creation and maintenance of these unlawful
governments he seized and appropriated GER
tain moneys and property of the United States
and raised taxes unlawfully; that he has, Sin
messages to Congress and otherwise, publicly
denied, substantially, the right of Congress
to provide for the pacifcation,
government, and restoration of the
Rebel States to the Union, and has
asserted his exclusive rights to do these things;
hat In ha nh aA no aoia
lation OF Congress, insisting that by his un-
lawful acts the Rebel States were duly re-
stored; that in the same way and for the same
ends he has unlawfully used his power in re-
movals, appointments, and pardons; that he
has eorruptly used his Office to defraud and
wrong the people of the United States in the
transfer and surrender of railway property OF
the value of many millions Of dollars to per-
sons who had been engaged in the Rebellion,
or to corporations owned wholly or in part by
such persons, including some roads con-
structed by the United States and others cap
tured from the enemy and repaired at great
cost; that he returned to Rebel claimants cap
tured cotton and abandoned property, and the
| proceeds of the lawful sales of such property;
that he authorized the use of the army of the
| United States for the dispersion Of a lawful
and peaceful assemblage of citizens of Louis
| lana (the New Orleans massaore), and this by
| virtue Of despatch addressed to traitor.
So, in view of all these omissions OF duty,
usurpations OF power, and violations of his
/ oath, the majority Of the committee propose
| the impeachment OF Andrew Johnson.
Now, that Mr.. johnson, in many Of these
things alleged against him, transcended his
| authority under the Constitution, is clear but
| the circumstances under which these acts were
\ performed have to great extent been reoog-
| nized as justification by Congress itself. For
| instance, in the very law establishing these
military commanders over the Rebel States the
local civil governments and officers set up by
Mr.. Johnson were retained. Mr.. Wilson, the
Republican chairman OF this Judiciary Com
mittee. saws that the majority report ahrms
facts. as established upon evidence (which
would not be received by any court in the
land" that II you settle down upon the rea
| evidence and the law, the case in many
respects Is dwarfed into political con
test; that II Mr.. Johnson has bseI
guilty Of many wrongs, he must be acquitted
ofimpeaohable crimes; that an impeachmen
cannot be supported upon any aOt which fall
short OF an indictable crime or nisdemeanor
Moreover, for the very acts of usurpation Il
the matter of Southern reconstruction fo
which Mr.. johnson Is arraigned as the tw'
Democrats Of the COMMITTEES declare, Mr.. Lin
coin was applauded and Mr.. Johnson had tn
support OF his Cabinet, including Secretary
! | Z.