Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-05
The Impeachment Reports.
THE MAJORITY REPORT OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE,


COMMITTEE.
On Wednesday, Nov. 25 the Commit.
tee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives, presented three Reports
on the impeachment of the President.
The msjority report was presented by
Hon. George S. Boutwell,, the second
member OF the committee, as the chair
man. Mr.. Wilson dissented from the
conclusions arrived at by the majority
OF the committee. The msjority report
is signed Messrs Geo S. Boutwell,, Fran
els Thomas, Thomas Williams, william
Lawrence aud John C. Churchill. Messrs.
James F,Wilson and Frederick E. Wood.
bridge, the Republican minority OF the
committee, present another report, Civ
ing their views and recommending that
the subject Of impeachment be laid upon
the table, Messrs. Charles A. Eldridge
and Samuel G. Marshall, the Democratic
members Of the committee, while agree
ing In their views OF the law and the
evidence, present still smother report dis.
senting from the expressions OF censure
coutained in the report OF Messrs. Wilson
and Woodbridge. As these several Re-
ports are among the most important
documents thst have been presented TO
our national Congress since the orgaui-
Z4tlOn Of the government, We shall pre-
s-ut them entire, as our readers are uu.
undoubtedly DESTROYS to peruse them.
From the crowded state OF our columns,
to- lay, We are compelled to divide the
m. jority report. The balance will be
puolshed in Saturdays daily, and will
appear entire in the weekly.
The Committee on the Judiciary OF
the House OF Representatives, to whom
was referred the resolution OF the 9TH OF
March last. authorizing them to inquire
into the official conduct OF Andrew John
son, Vice President Of the United States,
discharging the present duties OF the
office OF President of the United States,
and to report to this House whether in
their opinion the said Andrew johnson.
while in said once, has been guilty OF
acts which were designed or calculated
t. overthrow or corrupt the government
OF the United States, or any department
or officer thereof, and whether the said
Andrew Johnson has been guilty OF any
act, or has conspired with others to do
acts which In the contemplation Of the
constitution are. high crimes and misde.
meanors, requiring the interposition OF
the constitutional power OF this House
respectfully report
That In the performances OF the i'm.
portsnt task assigned to them, they have
spared no pains to make their investiga-
ton as complete as possible, not only by
the exploration OF the public ordinances,
but in following every Indication that
seemed to promise any additional light
upon the great subject OF inquiry
and they submit herewith the result OF
that portion OF their labors in the volu-
minous exhibit that accompanies this
report. In order however, to direct the
attention OF the House to such portions
OF the somewhat Heterogeneous mass OF
testimony which they have been CON-
PEELED to present without the order or
arrangement that might have facilitated
the examination, as are regarded by
them AS most material to the issue. They
will now proceed to state as briefly rs
possible the leading facts which they
suppose the inquiry has developed be-
yond dispute, along with their own con-
illusions therefrom, aud the reasons by
which they have been Influenced in
reaching them. In so doing they must
be allowed the indulgence which COM
prehensive scrutiny, running over two
years administration of the affairs of
great government, through an unexam-
pied crisis OF the State, and involving
the high matters that can engage the at
tention of 8 free people would serve to
necessitate and must at all courts excuse.
The charges made, and to which the in
vestigation of the Committee have been
especially directed, are usurpation OF
power and violation OF law in the cor.
J rupt abuse of appointing, pardoning and
veto powers; in the corrupt interfe-
renee in elections and generally in the
commission of acts amounting to high
| crimes and misdemeanors under the
constitution; and upon this recital it
was charged with the most general duty
! of inquiring into the official conduct Of
the President Of the United States, and
| of reporting whether he had been
guilty OF any acts which were designed