The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-26
| in alleged usurpatiou of the powers above men,

| in alleged usurpatiou Of the powers above men
tioned.
\ They assert also that, by various official anu
other public declarations, the President has sought
to obstruct the laws of Congress for pacificatlon
| OF the Southern States, with particular reference
| - the Constitutional Amendments approved by
| Congress.
The report is signed by Boutwell,, Williams
Churchill, Thomas and Lawrence.
The minority report of Wilson and Woodbridge
simply condemns the political views OF the Pres'-
dent, viii I'll they were willing to censure.
The minority report of Eldridge and Marshall
strongly defends the President against the abuse
of his political enemies, and asserts that his only
fault consists in not holding to the political views
Of party which elected him, i'll subjugating the
South. The report is caustic, and abuses harsniy
some of the witnesses who testified before the
Committee. Baker is accused of perjury, ana
they conclude thus:
The President will be held in repect by his coun-
trymen when his calumniators arc pilowed IN the
uudying scorn and indignation OF the American
people. The points made out in the summing up
of the majority report against the. president are
not borne out by the testimony: 1st, AS 10 the
Presidents having usurped the powers OF Con-
rress in organizing Governments in the Southern
States 1t will be found in General Grants testi-
mony that the programme which was followed out
by Mr. johnson had been laid down by Mr. Lin
! coin. II also appears i'll General Grants testlmo-
ny that he present by invitation at the CaDl-
net Council in which the restoration OF the South
ern States was considered, and that while he as
scented to the plan followed by the Administration,
he did not offer any suggestion OF his own, Dut
was 4 silent listener. The only active part ne
took WIS in restraining the Presidents ardor to have
prominent rebels like Lee brought to condlgn
punishme IT. AS to the pardon OF prominent
rebels, it appears that many of the most proml-
nent of them were pardoned on the recommenca-
ton of Grant, Speed, Stanton, etc.
AS to the pardoning of some hundred others
from Western Virginia regiment, which the re-
port alleges was done in order that they might
vote for Democratic member OF Congress- IL
appears from the evidence that they were only
technically deserters. that they were not pardoned
until 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 on the suppositfon that his pos
session of them might have some connection with
the release the property of Southern Railroad
| Companies, but it appears that Mr.. Johnson had
been possessor of these bonds for the last twelve
years
In reference to the trial Of Jefferson Davis, At
torney-Genera Speed, in the counsel for the Gov
ernment, shoulders all responsibility OF not trying
him. The avowed cause being that Chief Justice
Chase would not preside, and that Attorney-Gene-
raj Speed would not consent, under any circum-
stances, TO have the trial conducted before Judge
Underwood.
There was an attempt On the part Of Lafayette
C. Baker to get up story about an imaginary let
ter from Johnson as Military Governor of Tennes-
see, to Jefferson Davis, Offering to turn over the
State to him. but the Committee could have had
no trouble in deciding what degree of credit was
to be given to it. The tale fell still born. There
is no allegation against the President of his hav-
ing personally given grounds OF offence.
Ashby, of Ohio, who presented the articles OF i'm
parchment, acknowledged that ne has produced to
the Committee all the valid evidence in his posses
| sion.
GENERAL GRANTS EVIDENCE BEFORE THE JUDICIARY
| ,,,~=-s.S, -,oScDiUer Io-E'e.-.us' s'sr1'
| Grants testimony covers several columns, but the
following tells his story:
By Mr. Woodbridge Question. 1 understand
vour position to be this: 'That you did not assume
to originate or inaugurate any policy but tha'
when any question came up, and your oplulon waf
asked as to what the President was going to DO
or had done, you gave an opinion ?"
Ansrer Ju Grant. THAT is it exactly, and
nresnmed that the whole Committee so uocer
stood me. / have always been attentive 10 IN.
own duties, and tried not to interfere with othe
neople's. was always ready to originate matter
pertaining to the army, but never was willing
ORIGINATE matters pertaining to the Civil Govern
: ment of the United States. When was asked m
oniniop as to what had been done, Twas willin
, TO give it. 1 originated no plan, and suggeste
no plan, for Civil Government. simply express
5 ed an anxiety that something should be doae
o,ve some SOFT of control down there. The1e "er
: no Governments there when the war was over' an
7 wanted to see some government established an
wanted to see it done quickly, and did not pr
tend to say hcw it should be done, or In wn'
: FORM"