The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-10


ry commanders what to do. Neither
had the conquered people any right TO
appeal to the courts to test the 'consu-
tutionality' of the law. The constitu-
tion had nothing to do with them, nor
they with IL. They were outside the
pale of the constitution. The Presi-
dent had no right TO interfere in the ex-
ecution of the law by the military COM
manders. The Attorney General had
no right 10 give any opinion about
what Congress had done or was doing.
Congress had not asked him for any
opinion. - .r .
THE UNAUTHORIZED INTERFERENCE OF
MR.. sTANBERY.
"Everything was going on very well
until this trick of obtaining an opinion
from disputaiious lawyer threw the
country again into disorder. L look
upon his action in the matter as wholly
impertinent, unauthorized and inoffi-
cial, being "a continuation OF the usur-
patton ofthe President when he under
took to build up States out of the con-
quered territory of the so-called Con-
federacy before Congress had taken ac-
tion thereon. .uaa
WHAT THAD STEVENS WOULD DO IN con-
GREss THIS EXTRA SESSION.
"If / had my way in Congress, con-
tinued Mr.. Stevens, 81 would declare
every act that had been done by the
President or his Cabinet, or his legal
adviser, since the adjournment OF Con
gress, in reference TO the question of
reconstruction, "A nullity, and an imper-
tinent and Unauthorized Interference
with and encroachment upon the pow
ers and duties of Congress; and would
forbid any person-military command
er or other-to obey any orders or in
stf uctions that might issue from the
President. Iwould go further and pass
a separate enactment, in which would
distinctly enumerate who should be
registered and who should be disfran-
chised in the conquered territory. That
would serve to protect the military
officers who are intrusted with the duty
of carrying out the instructions OF Con-
gress, and leave no doubt as to the
meaning OF the law.
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.
"That might answer well enough for
the present extra session, providing the
country is willing to go on for some
little time longer with man at the
head OF the government, intrusted with
the execution of the laws, who, as soon
as Congress has passed acts and brought
the conquered territory into subiection
to the Union, uses all the means in his
| power to defeat the well known and
acknowledged object and intention of
! the laws, and to nullify all that the
legislative arm of the government has
done. If the country wants such Il man
at its head (Which say candidly do
not, although have spoken but little
about impeachment,) then, j repeat, the
action have stated might suffice just
at the present time. But ii the people
agree with me in the desire to put
man in the Executive position who will
faithfully see the laws of the United
States executed. at all times and under
all circumstances, and who Will not
/ seek to usurp the powers and obstruct
l - % no TnnUTaag
I then we should at once impeach and
remove Andrew Johnson" a,.-
THE GROUNDS OF IMPEACHMENT.
Your correspondent here asked Mr..
| Stevens ii the report OF the Judiciary
Committee, If il should be adverse TO
impeachment, would not interfere with
this movement. ..
"Not at all, sir, twas the reply of Old
Thad; Congress has the best and the
broadest grounds for the impeachment
/ of Andrew johnson, in his unlawful
usurpatlon of the Government of the
conquered territory and his attempts to
raise up States therein. without the
| authority or action OF Congress. In
| this the President was as rank a usur-
per as was Caesar or Cromwell. The
action of the Judiciary Committee has
been simply fussy, unnecessary and
absurd. There was no occasion To take
any testimony on the subject OF i'm
parchment. The documents and the
facts were evidence enough. They
should not have called witness, but
have reported that Congress has quite
sufficient ground for the Impeachment,
Ii they desired to take that political
step, in the encroachments and usnrpa-
tions of the President, which were a
matter, not of oral testimony, but OF Of
fetal record"
THE IMPEACHMENT To BE PROPOSED AS
ADUTY.
Question by your Correspondent
| Shall you propose an impeachment of
the President at this coming extra ses-
sion?
Mr.. Steyens-I shall propose an i'm
peachment as matter of duty and
conscience. If 1 can find n majority in
Congress who will sustain II, i shall
vote an impeachment of Andrew John
son and his trial just as soon as the
court can be organized, In order to put
out of the way al once high official
who, through his position, is obstruct-
ing the work of Congress, defying the
laws of the United States and destroy
ing the country.
OLD THAD ON "NILD CoNFIsCATIoN.'
Question-Do you still adhere to the
policy of contiscation.
MR. SrEyENs-I look on the leading
rebels of the South as great criminals.
who have not yet expiated their crimes.
They have entaiIed upon the loyal peo-
pie, by their voluntary and wicked
acts, much suffering and sorrow-the
loss OF millions of treasure and hum
dreds of thousands oflives. they have
done this in the very worst cause that
| could be conceived-in an attempt to
| break up a noble, beneficent and free
government. They have waged upon
| us "A dagrantly unjust war They de-
serve to have imposed upon them the
heaviest penalties of war, now that
| they are conquered. But as they are
\ our countrymen, / would be merciful
| TO them would not take their lives,
and 1 would not beggar and oppress
them. But, If / had my way, would
at the very least Impose upon the rich
men of the ex-rebel terFitDry-those
who have come out OF their wicked
struggle with large wealth-a mild con-
fiscatiou, sufficient TO repay the loyal
men of the South all they have lost by
| confiscation at the hands Of the rebels,
and Northern men all the damages they
have suffered by rebel raids and inVa-
sious. There are thirty or forty thou
sand rich rebels in the conquered terri
tory whose wealth would suffice 10 pay
these claims, and yet not leave them
begpars. These classes OF sufferers
by the war have no other means or hope
OF obtaining repayment for their losses,
and it is but just that they should be
repaid. EaF
MoDRRN PHILOSOPHERS AND PHILAH-
TaRoPIsrs-oREEbRY AND GERRIT
SMITH.
1Indeed, it would be thought that no
Just man could object to this policy or
hesitate in carrying it out. These loyal
citizens have suffered severe loss ana
I huUUnFf1 hV