The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-06
Impeachment Of the President
report OF the judiciary Committee.

f6Cp0Ft 81 fHS ~ 4dtcdfD SoHtHftee'
The Committee on the Judiciary,
charged by the House with examina-
ton Of certain allegations OF hlgh
crimes and misdemeanors against the
President of the United States, submit
the following report:
On the 18th day OF January, 1867, the
House, on the motion OF Hon. James
NJ. Ashley, a representative from the
State of Ohio, adopted the following
preamble and resolutions, to Wit:
do impeaeh Andrew johnson, Vice
President and acting President OF the
United States, of high crimes and mis-
demeanors, &c.
Here follow the specifications and
resolutions adopted on tl'at OCCASION.
The duty imposed upon the commit
tee by this act en- of the House was OF
the highest and gravest character. No
committee during the entire history OF
the Government has ever been charged
with a more important trust. The re-
sponsibiity which it imposed was OF
oppressive weight, and of most unpleas-
ant nature. Gladly would the commit
tee have escaped from the arduous Ia
Dor imposed upon it by the resolution
Of the House ;buto once imposed, prompt,
deliberate, and faithful action, with Il
view to correct results, became its duty,
and to this end it has directed its efforts.
Soon after the adoption of the reoolu-
ton by the House, Hon. James M.
Ashley communicated to the committee
in support of his charges against the
President of the United States, such
facts as were III his possession, and the
investigation was proceeded with, and
has been continued almost without a
days Interruption. 4 large number of
witnesses has been examined, many
documents collected, and everything
done which could be done 10 reach IA
conclusion of the case. But the inVes-
tigation covers broad field, embraces
many II )vel, interesting, and import
ant questions, and involves multitude
OF facts, while most of the witnesses are
distant from the capital, owing to which
the committee, in view of the magni-
tude OF the interests involved in its ac-
ton, have not beeu able to conclude its
labors, and is not therefore prepared to
submit a definite and final report. If
the investigation had even approached
completeness, the committee would not
feel authorized to present the result to
the House at this late period Of the ses-
sion, unless the charges had been so en-
tirely negatived as to admit Of no dis
cussion, which, in the opinion Of the
committee, is not the case.
Certainly, no affirmative report could
be properly considered in the expiring
hours of this Congress.
The committee not having fully in
vestigated all the charges prepared
b<, Of i,l .,l
States, it is deemed ineXpedient to sub
ment that sufficient testimony has been
brought to its notice to justify and de-
mand further prosecution of the in
vestigation.
The testimony which the committee
has taen viii pass into the custody of
the Clerk of the House, and can go into
the hands Of such committee as may be
charged with the duty OF bringing this
investigation to q close, SO that the labor
expended upon it may not have been in
vain.
The committee regrets its inability
definitely to dispose OF the important
subject committed to its charge, and pre-
sents this report for its own Justification,
and for the additional purpose of mott
tying the succeeding Congress OF the in
completeness of its !abors, and that they
should be completed.
JAMES WILSON, Chairman.
FRANCIS THOMAS,
d. MORRIS,
F. f, WOODBRIDGE,
GEO. S. boutwell,,
THOs. WILLIAMS,
BURTON G. Cook.
VIM. LAWRENCE.
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