Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-01-11
dEAoHmENT OF THE PRESIDENT

the House of Representatives, on Mon.
d last, Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, rising and |
skiing with solemn deliberation, said
4. Speaker rise to question of privi-
!, rise to perform painful duty, but
(Which, nevertheless, feel to be impera-
u la duty which think cannot be post
nd, and cannot without great criminality
oir part be longer neglected. | had hoped
tlthat duty would have deyolved on an
d and more experienced member of the
he than myself Prior to the holiday |
res asked number of gentlemen to in
thee the resolution which tried, and on |
Yh the House refused to suspend the rules |
TABLE me TO do 80. Conscious that the |
u people of the country demand at our
Ids the proposition which l am about to |
spit, am determined that no effort on |
part shall be wanting.
i. Finck, of Ohio interrupted, and ask
ehe Speaker what was the question before
tIIouse.
b Ashley, of ohio-I was going on to
81 it.
he Speaker-If the gentleman (Mr.
Hk) insists upon il, the Chair will rule
1.-THE gentleman (Mr. Ashley must state
vt his question OF privilege is.
r.. Finck-I do insist on it,
y. Ashley, of Ohio-0n my responsibility
d Representative in this House, in its pres
@ and before the American people,
Gge Andrew johnson, Vice President and
ng President of the United States with
tcommission OF high crimes and INSIDE
lnor, and propose resolution.
FIR. Finck-I rise to another question of
Ter. Is that question of privilege?
The Speaker-The Chair rules that it is a
stion OF privilege. In the Twenty seven
Congress il was decided by the then
baker tMr Horace Everett, Of Vermont)
| u q resolution of impeachment was a
sstion of privilege.
1r Eldridge-Is there not special order
ore the House?
The Speaker--There is not.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio-I send to the clerks
* charges and specifications which ask
be read.
The Clerk read as follows:
u do impeach Andrew johnson, Vice Pres
9nt, and acting President of the United
Rtes, of high crimes and misdemeanors.
harge him with usurpation of power and
blation of the law: In that he has cor
ptly abused the appointing power; in that
has corruptly used the pardoning power;
that he has corruptly used the veto power;
I that he has corruptly disposed of the
bile property of the United States; in that
has corruptly interfered in elections, and
mmitted acts, and conspired with others to
mmt acts, which, in the contemplation of
} Constitution, are high crimes and mis-
meanors;
Therefore be it resolved, That the Com
ttee on Judiciary be and they are hereby
lhorized to inquire into the official conduct
Andrew johnson, Vice President dis
nrging the powers and duties of the office
President of the United States, and to re-
int to this House whether in their opinion
6 said Andrew Johnson, while in said
ice, has been guilty of acts which were
signed or calculated to overthrow, subvert
corrupt the government of the United
ates or any department or officer thereof;
I'D whether the SAID Andrew johnson has
en- guilty Of any act, or has conspired with
hers to do acts which, in contemplation oil
lie Constitution, are high crimes and mis-.
bmeanOrs, requiring the interposition of the
institutional power OF this House; and thai
aid committee have power to send for per
IONS and papers, and to administer the Gus
-Omary oaths TO witnesses.
Mr. Ashley, of Ohio, moved the previous
question on the resolution.
Mr.. Spalding moved to lay the resolution
on the table.
The motion was negatived-yeas 80, nay
1906.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, demanded teller
on seconding the previous question, statinl
that If it was not seconded it would be il
order to move to refer the resolution.
The tellers were ordered and reported
yeas 49, nays 46--Mr. Bingham exerting hi
influence among the Republican members
vote in the negative.
So the previous question was seconded an
the main question was ordered, which wa
on agreeing TO the resolution.
MIR. IIubbell, of Ohio, asked the Speake
whether it was in order now to move til
reference of the resolution to the Judiciar
Committee ?
The Speaker replied it was not, the mai
question having been ordered
Mr.. Huhbell, of OHIO, moved to reconsidt
the vote by which the main question was o
dered He desired to notify the House TIL
if the vote were reconsidered he would mol
to refer the resolution TO the Judiciary Con
mittee.
MIR Ashley, of Ohio, objected to debate
Mr.. Wentworth, of Illinois, made sim
lar objection, stating that if any debate we
allowed, he wished TO make o speech himsel
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, moved
lay Mr.. Hubbeil's motion to reconsider
the table.
Mr. Bingham inquired whether, if Il
House reconsidered the vote ordering Il
main question, and refused to second Il
previous question, the resolution would n
-, then he open to amendment and debate.
The Speaker sud it would be.
Mr.. Bingham want that understood.
d The vote was taken, and was announc
as yeas 80, nays As. So the motion to
consider was laid on the table.
4 GThe fact that this was exactly a two.thir
4 vote attracted some comment among me
i hers priyately.]
=, The nays, however, only foot up AZ.
Y The question then required on the ado
ton of the resolution. The vote was tax
\ by yeas and nays, and resulted yeas Il
nays 80. There was no manifestation of q
kind on the announcement of the result.