Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-03
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

OF the military forces was adopted Inc Sergeant
alarms was directed to arrest Edward T.
Dunbar, of New York, for contempt in refusing
to answer certain questions before the Retrench-
ment Committee.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
In the House the credentials of j. S. Cola
day, who was elected to succeed Judge Hise, Of
Kentucky, were referred to the Committee on
Credentials. The Standing Committees Of the
Fortieth Congress were announced by the
Speaker. Under the call of States bills to amend
the national currency act pledging the faith of
the country to pay the five twenties in coin, to
repeal the tax on cotton to fix the value of legal
tender notes, and in reference to the annexation
of Mexico, were all referred. Under the same
call Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, introduced
bill providing for the payment of portion OF
the national debt in lawful money ofthe United
States, which was also referred. Mr.. Robinson's
resolution tor the impeachment of Minister
Adams were referred to the Committee on For
eign Affairs. The reading Of the report on i'm
parchment was commenced, but on motion it
was dispensed with and only the conclusion of
it read. 1t declared Andrew johnson guilty of
high crimes and misdemeanors and submitted
resolution for his impeachment. Minority re-
ports were also submitted by the four dissenting
members Of the committee. The consideration
ofthe whole SUBJ ectwas postponed until Wednes-
day, December 4.
The Points an the Majority Report.
The majority Oft the Impeachment Committee,
in their report recommending impeachment lay
great stress upon the alleged usurpation by the
President of the pardoning and veto power
also the authority to make removals and APP
polntments; and particularly refer to what they
call the fragrant violation of the constitutional
powers by the Executive by organizing govern
ments in the southern States at the end Of the
tha od,1ioa Of
they assert, for personal purposes They refer
to the pardoning Of 1913 persons In West Vir
inia deserters from the army during the war,
which they state was in behalf of private and
interested parties, and in order that they might
vote in accordance with the President opinions;
the restoration to political rights causinga great
depletion of the treasury.
The tenor Of the Executives offence through
out the entire report consists In alleged usurpa
tons of the powers above mentioned. They
assert also that by various official and other
public declarations the President has sought to
obstruct the laws ofCongress for the pacifica
ton of the States, with particular reference to
constitutional reports approved by Congress-
The report IS very lengthy, and IS signed by
Messrs. Boutwell, Williams, Churchill, Thomas,
and Lawrence.
Report Of Messrs Nelson and Woodbridge.
The report of Messrs. Nelson and Woodbridge,
of the committee, asserts that there was no
evidence presented which demanded impeach-
ment, but they condemned the President S
political views and we're willing to censure
him.
The Minority Report.
The minority report Of Messrs. Marshall and
Eldridge strongly defends the President from
abuse by his political enemies, and asserts that
his only fault consists in not holding to the
political views of the party which elected him,
in subjugating the people Of the South The
report is extremely caustic, and abuses harshly
| some of the witnesses who testified before the
committee Detective Baker is accused of
perjury. They conclude thus:
''The President will be held in respect by his
countrymen when his calumniators are pilloried
in the undying scorn and Indignation OF the
American people.
| The points made In the summing up OF the
majority report against the President are not
borne out by the testimony.
| First. As to the President having usurped
the powers Of Congress in organizing govern
ments in the southern States. 1t will be found
| in General Grants testimony that the pro-
gramme that was followed out by Dir. johnson
| had been laid down by Mr. Lincoln. It also
appears by General Grants testimony that he
was present, by invitation, at the Cabinet coun-
ellis in which the reorganization Of the southern
States was considered, and that while he assent
| ed to the plan followed by the Administration,
| he did not offer any suggestion of his own, but
was silent listener. The only active part he
took was in restraining the Presidents order to
| have prominent rebels like Lee brought to con-
| dign punishment.
As to the pardon of prominent rebels, it ap-
pears that many of the most prominent were
pardoned on the recommendation Of Grant,
| Al h.
| ing of deserters from West Virginia regiment,
Which the report alleges was done in order that
| they might vote for Democratic member OF
| Congress, it appears from the evidence that
they were only technically deserters, that they
were not pardoned till some weeks after the
election, and that the President merely endorsed
the application in the usual FORM referring it to
the Secretary Of War, who himself granted
it.
The committee inquired into the possession
by the President Of certain Tennessee bonds In
the suppostion that his possession Of them
might have some connection with his release OF
| the property of southern railroad companies,
| but it appeared that Mr.. johnson had been
possessor of these bonds for the last twelve
years.
| In reference to the trial of Jefferson Davis,
Attorney General Speed and the counsel for the
Government shoulder all the responsibility of
not trying him, the avowed cause being that
Chief Justice Chase would not preside, and that
Attorney General Speed would not consent, I'M
der any circumstances, to have the trial con-
Quoted before Judge Underwood.
There was an attempt on the part OF Detective
Baker to get up story about an imaginary let
ter from Johnson as Military Governor of Ten
nessee to jeff Davis, offering to turn over the
State to him, but the committee could have had
no trouble in deciding what degree ofcredit was
to be given to it. The tale fell still-born.
There is no allegation against the President
| Of his having personally given grounds of Of
fence.
Ashley, of Ohio, who presented the article of
impeachment, acknowledges that he has pro-
duced to the committee all the valid evidence
in his possession.
A bill was introduced declaring the effect of
the impeachment of any civil officer of the gov
eminent. Under suspension Of the rules a
resolution forbiddng any further purchase of
| territory was adopted.
| SENATE Tuesday, 26M.-In the Senate a
memorial from the Union League Club protest
ing against the muster out of Sickles and
Howard was referred A bill providing that
the appointment of Assistant Attorney General
shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate
was referred A resolution was adopted calling
| for the Motley correspondence. A joint resolu-
ton to adjourn sine die at twelve o'clock on
Monday was adopted after some discussion, In
which Mr., Sumner expressed fear that the
President might ''have another chance" in the
interim before the assembling Of the second ses-
sion which takes place at the same time.
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