The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-02-20
THE QUESTION OF IMPACHMENT.
Speeches in the United States Senate.

Mr. Chandler (tep. Mlch.) moved tnaC the
Senate take up the resolution offered by him
on Saturday last, instructing the Judiciary
Committee to inquire whether Andrew john
son, Vlce-President and Acting President of
the United States, had any authority to ap-
point Provisional Governors for the States
lately in rebellion. Ia4.f H.,
Mr.. Chandler-I think that the resolution
is very important at this time. If the Presi-
dent had no authority of law under the Con-
stitution to appoint Provisional Governors
for the States lately in rebellion, then the ac-
ton of those Governors falls. There had
been no Governors established over those
States if the inception itself was Illegal
Now, sir, desire that the Committee on the
Judiciary should make an early report upon
the subject. 1t is due to the President and
it is due to the country that these points
shall be settled at an early day. l am not a
lawyer and am hardly competent to decide
for myself, still less for the Senate, whether
there was any such authority. We know,
Mr. President, that when Andrew johnson,
through the bullet of J. Wilkes Booth, be-
came President of the United States, the Re-
bells had laid down their arms and that all
nf these Rebel States were held by military
powers and under these military powers An
drew johnson had a right to appoint militia
ry Governors, not only for every one of the
States lately in rebellion, but for every city,
had he seen fit to do so. The laws of war
are as we'll understood as the written Con-
stitution or laws of peace. They regulate,
govern and control all civilized nations.-.
When Mr.. Lincoln desired to create Gov
ernment in Tennessee, he appointed Andrew
johnson Brigadier-General III the army of
the United States Army and henheappointed
him Military Governor of Tennessee. This he
had a right to do as Commander-in-Chi of
tie army, but, sir, it is another and very
different thing to appoint a Provisional Gov
ernor. I believe, sir, that it is an Office un-
known to the Constitution and laws of our
Government, and an office which, in my
judgement, he had no authority to create
These Governors were not sent to the Senate
for confirmation, nor would it have made
them any more Governors if we had confirmed
them. because the Senate and Andrew john
son together could not have created that Of
flee. If there was no authority of law, then,
sir, it required the House of Representatives,
and the Senate, and Andrew johnson united,
having first enacted law creating an office
before an officer could be thus appointed
Now, Mr. President, under the laws of war,
as have said, he had a right to hold these
States by military power and forces. These
laws of war have been changed from age
to age They are arbitrary; they are simply
the will of the conqueror. Under thelaw of
war in ancient times, prisoners were remorse-
lessly put to death. The laws from age to
age became modified but as late as the year
1866, as late as the month of July, 1866, the
laws of war empowered the conquerer to le-
Wy all the expenses of the war upon the con-
quered. When Prussia conquered Austria,
she not only took from Austria what pro-
yinces she desired to take, but she actually
compelled Austria to pay 30,000,000 of florins
for the expenses of the war When Prussia
annexed Frankfort -on-the- Main, she made
Frankfort pay for the expense of conquering
her. Under the laws of war, the conquered
must submit to the will of the conqueror, and
the United States had a perfect right under
the laws of war to make these Rebels pay
the whole expense incurred by this Govern
ment in putting down the Rebellion Mr..
President, if Andrew johnson, in violation
of the law, in violation of the Constitution,
and without authority under the laws of war,
has assumed and exercised power that did
not belong, to him but which belonged 10
Congress, then l do not hesitate to say, and
say it with deliberation, that for this one
act, and this alone, Andrew johnson should
be impeached. say it, sir, as one of his
judges | say it understanding the force of
what say, that if he is guilty of this one
act of usurpation, if this one act was with
out authority of law, or of the Constitution,
or of the laws of war, then, sir he should be
impeached.
The Judge on the bench has right to say
that if the man before him was guilty of
murder, then he ought to be hanged; if he
was guilty of horse stealing, then he should
he sent to the States Prison. The Judge
has right to say this ; and have right to
say that if Andrew johnson is guilty of this
usurpation with which he is charged, then lie
ought to be impeached for that act, and that
alone. But, MIR. President, there are other
allegations made against Mr.. johnson. act
ing President of the United States. 1t is al
legged, MIR. President know not whether
it be true or false. but it is alleged-that An
drew johnson delivered over the property
seized from Rebels, in railroad rolling stock
throughout the South-that he delivered
over this property, without authority of law,
to the Rebel Railroad Agencies. And it is
alleged, again, that the rolling stock sent
| from the North to the South, amounting to
many millions of dollars in value, was, with.
out authority of law and in violation of law,
by the express orders of Andrew johnson,
sold on credit to those Rebel Railroad or
| ganizations. If this allegation be true, then
l say that Andrew johnson had as much
right to put his hand into the Treasury OF
the United States and take out so many mil
lions of dollars as he had to sell that stock
to the Southern Railroads on credit; and for
that act, if he be guilty, say he should be
impeached and removed. Sir, this is gov
ernment of law, and the President is a mere
Executive to carry out the law. He is sworn
to obey and to execute the law. If he fails
IN that duty he is amenable to the law the
same as any other individual in the United
States. 1t is alleged again, Mr.. President
and know not whether the allegation be
true or false, but it is alleged that Andrew
johnson, without authority of law, and in
violation OF law, ordered the collection ofthe
district tax levied upon these Rebel States
to be stopped. know not whether this be
true or false. The allegation is made: and
if it be true, if in violation of law, and
against the law, he ordered this thing to be
| done, then for that act Andrew johnson
should be impeached and removed. 1t is
likewise alleged, Mr. President, that Andrew
johnson has, in direct violation of the Con.
stitution, which says he shall have power. by
and with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds Of
the Senate concur, and that he shall nomi.
nate, and by and with the advice and con
sent of the Senate, shall appoint embassa
/, dOrs and other public ministers and consuls.