Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-26
THE IMPEACHMENT REPORTS.

THE IMPEACHMENT REPORrs.
Below we give abstracts OF the three differ
ent reports OF the Judiciary Conmistee Of the
House of Representatives, on the inpeaeh.
ment of the President OF the United States:
The majority report, in favor Of impeach-
ment, is signed by Messrs- Boutwell,, Thomas.
Williams, Lawrence, and Churchill, and states
the leading facts which they suppose the IN.
euiry to have developed beyond dispute,
along with their con ciu sions therefrom. They
cay:
'In accordance with the testimony herewith
submitted, and the view OF the few herein
represented, the committee are OF opinion tha,
Andrew johnson, Presiden, OF the United
States, is guilty OF high crimes and nisde.
meanors requiring the interposition Of the
constitutional powers OF this House.. a. .-l
In that, upon the Anal surrender of the rebel
armies, and the overthrow Of the rebel govern
the United States, neglected to coavince the
Congress OF the Unite d States that by his aid
aad authority, legal or ~ measures
might have been adopted for the organixasion
Of 10Y al and Constitutional Governmen Z in the
States then recently in rebellion. In that. in
his proclamation to the people of North Caro-.
lima OF the 2sth day Of May, 1865, he assumed
that he had authority to decide whether the
Government OF North Carolina, and whether
any other government that might be eet mp
therein, was republican In form: and q. IN
within his power to guarantee to said people
republican form Of government. contrary TO
the Constitution winch provides. that the
United States shan guarantee to every Safe
In this Union a republica form OF goyern-
ment, and contrary also to a deliberate opin-
ion OF the Supreme Court which declared
that Congress is vested exclusively with
the power to decide whether the govern.
ment OF State is republican or
n OF. In that, he did thereafter recoxnize and
treat plan OF government set mp in NJ orth
W ltV,ar a -
advice and direction As repabiicaa in form.
and entirely restored to it's func tons as SStHte
Notwithstanding Congress 10 the branch Of the
government in which by the Consultation such
power is exclusively vested; and notwith.
standing Congress did refuse to recognize such
government as Legitimate government, or as
government republican In form. In that, by
public proclamation and otherwise, be did In
the year ls65 invite, solicit, and convene in
certain other states, then recently in rebellion,
conventions OF persons, Many or whom were
known traitors who had been organized in an
attempt to overthrow the Government of the
United States. and urged and directed such
conventions 10 frame constitutions for such
States. In that, he ihereupon assumed TO &C.
cepf, rafify. and confirm certain so called con.
stitutions framed BY such illegal and treason
able assemblies OF persons, which cons tituttons
were never submitted % the people OF the re-
spective States nor ratified and confirmed by
the United States thus usurping and exercis-
ing powers vested by the Constitution in the
Congress Of the United States exclusively In
that, he pardoned large numbers OF public
and notorious traitors, with the design of re-.
ceivfDg their aid in such conventions calle
BY his advice and direction. for the purpose of
organizing ana setting up such illegal govern
mens In the States then recently in rebellion
prior to the annual meeting OF Congress: with
the intent thus to coRstrain Congress 10 acce pt
Tatify. and confirm such illegal ana uncon
stitutienal proceedings.
In that ne did within and for the States re.
Gently In rebellion create and establish as a
civil ofiicer the office OF PROVISIONAL governor,
SO called; an offiee unk:lown to the Constitu-
ton or laws OF the lane. In that he appointed
10 such ONCE, so create9 In said States respec-
lively, men who were public and notorious
traitors, he well kno wing that they had been
engaged In open. persistent, and formidable
Efforts for the overthrow CT the Government OF
the United States; and well Knowing Also, IN At
men could not enter upon the d uties OF said Of
nee without committing the crime OF perjury
or IN manifest violation Of the laws OF the
In that lie deliberately dispensed with and
suspended the operation OF q provision OF q
lnW Insv oi ens onned states passed on the I'd OF
oath OF office, and for other purposes ;, In
mat ne appointed to offices created by laws OF
known to him, had been epgaged iu rebeliisn.
who guilty of The crime OF treason, aud whs
could not. without committing the crime of
perjury, or otherwise violating criminally the
thereof.
In thar, without authority OF law and con-
trary TO law, be used and applied the property
takeA from the enemy in time OF war for the
pay ment OF the expenses and the support of
the said illegal and unconstitutional govern.
ments, SO set up in the said States recently in
fe0eiiion ,s and Tor Ike purpose, and In lola.
uon OF the Constituuon and Of his oath of Of
nee, ne authorized and permitted levy OF
taxes upon the people Of said States, thus
nsurping and exercising power which by the
gress ofthe United States
All Of which acts was a usurpaton OF DOW
er contrary TO the laws and Constitution OF the
United States, and in violation OF his O attn as
President Of the United States
Clauses follow in reference 10 the "a blic de .
MAI by the President in his MESA ge to Con.
gress OF their r'aht 70 provide for the govern
reconstruction BILL his exercise of the
power Of removals from and appoint
ment 70 once Tor the purpose of maintaining
enectuaily his nsurpaton; and his order for
the restoration Of one hundred and ninety.
three men belonging TO West Virginia who
upon the records OF the War Department were
marked as desertsrs from the army in time Of
to the House OF Representatives. on the 2ad dsy
OF Iune, ls66, and by other public and priyate
means, ne has attempted to prevent the ratif1 !.
eation OF an amendment to the Constitution
oi tne Cnlteo states, proposed to the several
States by the two Houses Of Congress, agree
ably to the Constitution OF the United States,
although such proposed amendment divided,
among other things, for the vaiidity OF the
public debt of the United States, and rendered
; The payment Of any claim for slaves emanci
pated, or OF any debt incurred in aid OF ineur- :
reefon Of rebellion against the United States
Impossible, either by the Government of the
United States or by any OF the States recently
in rebellion. = a. 'F7-sT : -
''And that In ali this ne has exercised the
VETO power, the power Of removal and an
pointmenf, the pardoning power. and other
constitutional powers Of his ofioe for the pur
pose OF delaying. hfnderine, obsrruct,ne. and
preventing the restoration OF the Union by
constitutional means, and for the IN rther pur
pose OF alternating from the Government and
OF the United States those persons who
2 had peen engaged in the rebellion, aud VINO
without AID and comfort and encouraRement
thus given by him % them, would have re-
sumed IN goodfaitn their allegiance TO the
Consultation; and oil with the expectation OF
copciliafiug tkem to himself persouaIiy' mai
he might thereby finally prevent tue restora
tion Of the Union upon the basis of the Ia ws
passed BY Con gress" z-:te.r : - - : =
The transfer ana surrender OF rai,road pro.
perfy IN the South OF the value OF MANY mil.
lions OF dollar to persons who had hesn en-
gaGed in the rebellion, or 10 corpora al ous oned
wholly or in part by such persons Is NEXT no.
ticed; also the restoration % shs ciaiman q Is of
large snounts OF cotton and otAer aba udoned
property that had been seiaed acc q ken bv n
aeenfs OF the Treasury, IN conformity to iaw
The report concludes as followc :, l9 ~ -
"Ana further, In mat the said Andrew John
sons Prest0ent Of the United Ststee. auShor5 zed
the use Of the army OF the Upited States for the
dispersion OF peaceful and lawful asssmblv '
Of citizens OF Louisians, and this BY yirtue OF
diepatch addressed TO q person who was moi
an ofYicer OF the army, but Who ,1as nohaic