Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-05

stored, by virtue Of such restoration
would be entitled TO large sum of
money from the Treasury OF the United
States. In that, by his message to the
House OF Representatives on the 22d of
June, 1866, and other public aud private
means, he has attempted to prevent the
ratification Of an amendment TO the
constitution OF the United States nro-
posed 20 the several States by the Houses
of Congress, agreeable To the constitu.
tion OF the United States, although such
proposed amendment provided, among
other things, for the validity of the pub
lie debt OF the United States, rendered
the payment OF any claim for slaves
emancipated or of any debt incurred In
aid OF instruction or rebellion against
the United States impossible, either by
the government of the United States or
by any Of the States recently in rebel
ion, he we'll knoS wing that the proyis.
ons inserted under and by his dictaton
the said illegal constitutions for said
States were wholly inadequate TO pro.
.ect the loyal people of the United States
against the payment OF claims on ac-
count Of debts incurred by such States
n aid OF rebellion, thus rendering it
practicable and easy for those in author
ty in the aforesaid illegal and uncon-
stitutional governments they set up to
AK and Cypress the loyal people OF such
States for the benefit OF those who have
been engaged in the attempt to overthrow
the government OF the United States.
In that he has made official and other
public declarations and statements caicu-
lated and designd to injure and impair
The credit of the United States to
encourage person recently engaged in
rebellion against it's authorities to OBJ.
ltruCt and resist the reorganization of
he rebel States so called upon 8 Repub-
lean basis, and calculated and designed
!lso to deprive the Congress OF the United
States of the confidence Of the people as
we'll in its patronsm as In its Constitu-
ional right to exist and to act Us the
department of the government, which,
under the constitution, possesses exciu-
sive legislative powers, and all this with
the intent of rendering Congress incap,
able Of resisting either his said usurpa-
tons OF power or Of providing and
enforcing measures necessary for the
pacifcation and restoration of the Union;
and that in all this he has exercised the
veto power, the power of removal aud
appointment, the pardontng power and
other constitutional powers OF his office,
for the purpose of delaying, hindering,
obstructing and preventing the restora-
tion of the Union by constitutional
means; and for the further purpose of
alternating from the governmentand laws
Of the States those persons who had been
engaged in the rebellion, and who, with
out aid, comfort and encouragemeut-
thus by him given Osthem-would have
resumed in good faith their allegiance to
! the constitution, and all with the expect
alton Of concliating them to himself
personally, that he might thereby finally
prevent the restoration of the Union
upon the basis of the laws passed by
Congress. And further, that the said
Andrew Johnson, President OF the United
States, transferred and surrendered, and
authorized and directed the transfer and
surrender, OF railway property TO the
value of many millions of dollars to per-
sons who had been engaged in the re.
bellion, or to corporations owned wholly
or in part by such persons, he well know
Ing that in some instances the railways
had been constructed by the United
States; that in others, such railway
and railway property had been captured
from the enemy in war, and Afterwards
repaired st great cost by the United
States, such transfer and surrenders
being made without authority OF law
and in violation of law. In that he
directed and authorized the sale of large
quantities of railway rolling stock and
other railway property, of the value OF
many millions Of dollars, the property
of the United States by purchase and
construction, to corporations and parties
than known to him to be unable TO pay
their debts then matured and due, and
this without exacting from said cOrpor.
ations and parties any securities what
ever. In that he directed and ordered
subordinate officers of the government
to postpone and delay the collection OF
moneys due and payable to the United
States on account of such sales, in appar.
ent conformity to an order previously
made by him that the interest upon Ger.
tain bonds issued or guaranteed by the
State Of Tennessee 10 aid of certain rail.
ways then due and unpaid for a period
of four Years and more, should be first
paid ont Of the earnings Of the roads III
whose behalf said bonds were so issued
or guaranteed in that in conformity to
such order and direction the collection
of moneys payable aud then due to the
United States was delayed and post
poped, and the interest on such bonds
OF which he himself was large holder
was paid according to the terms of his
own order, thus corruptly using his
| Office to defraud and wrong the people
| of the United States, and for his OWE
| personal advantage; in that be has no,
| only restored to claimants thereof large
amounts Of cotton and other abandoned
property that had been seized and taker
| by the agents OF the Treasury, in con
formity 20 law, but has paid and directed
the payment of the actual proceeds O
sales made thereof, and this in violation
of a law Of the United States which
orders and requires the payment into the
! Treasury Of the Upited States OF al
moneys received rom such sales, anC
provides for loyal claimants sufficient