The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-12-19
IMPEACHMENT.
Specifications of the Majority
Report,

10CpOEto
The conclusion of the Majority Re
port, containing the specifications on
which the resolution of impeachment
f is based, is as follows:
II In accordance with the testimony
herewith submitted and the views of
the law herein presented, the commit
tee are Of opinion that Andrew John
son, President of the United States, is
guilty of high crimes and misdemean-
.Ors requiring the interpOsitiOn Of the
constitutional powers Of this House
In that upon the final surrender of the
rebel armies and the overthrow of the
rebel Government, the said Andrew
johnson, President of the United
States, neglected to convene the Con-
gress of the United States; that by its
aid and authority, legal and constitu-
tiOnal meastres might have been
adopted for the organization Of loyal
and constitutional Governments in
the States then recently in rebellion.
In that in his proclamation to thepeO-
pie Of North Carolina, of the 29thday
Of May, 1865, he assumed that he had
AUTHORITY to decide whether the Gov
ernment of North Carolina, and wheth-
er any other Government that might
be set up therein, was Republican in
form and that in his office of Presi-
d mt, it was his duty and within his
power, to guarantee to said people a
Republican form of Government, con
trary to the Constitution, which pro-
vides that the United States shall
guarantee to every State of this Union
Republican form of Government :;
contrary, also, to a deliberate opinion
Of tine Supreme Court, which declared
that Congress is vested exclusively
with the power to decide whether the
Government of a State is Republican
or not.
In that he did therefore recognize
and treat a plan of government set up
in North Carolina, under and in con-
fOrmity to his own advice and direc-
ton, as Republican in form, and en-
tirely restored to its functions as a
State, Notwithstanding Congress is the
branch of Government, in which, by
the Constitution, such power is eX-I
clusively vested, and Notwithstanding
Congress did refuse to recognize such
Government as a legitimate Govern
mant, or as a Government r publican
in form.
In that by a public proclamation,
and otherwise, he did, in the year
1863, invite, solicit and convene in
.ertain other States, then recently in
rebellion conventions of persons,
many of whom were known traitors,
who had been organized in an attempt
to overthrow the Government of the
United States, and urged and directed
such conventions to frame constitutions /
for themselves.
In that he thereupOp assumed to ac- |
.ept, ratify and confirm certain so
ralled constitutions framed by such |
Illegal and reasonable assGmblages of |
persons, which constitutions were new |
er submitted to the people of the re-
5pective States, nor ratified and con-
hrmed by the United States, thus
usurping and exercising powers vested
by the Constitution, in the Congress Of
the United States exclusively.
In that he pardoned large numbers
of public and notorious traitors, with |
the design of receiving from them aid
in such conventions called by his ad-
vice and direction, for the purpose of
organizing and setting up such il
legal Governments in the States then
recently in rebellion, prior to the
annual meeting of Congress, with the
intent thus to cOnstrain Congress to
acrept, ratify and confirm such illegal
and unconstitutiOnal proceedings.
In that he did, within and for the
States recently in'rebelliOn, create and
establish as civil officer the office of
Provisional Governor, sO-called, an
office unknown to the Constitution or
laws of the land.
In that he appointed to such office,
50 created in said States, respectively,
men who were public and notorious
traitors, he we'll knowing that they
had been engaged in open, persistent
and formidable efforts for the over
throw of the Government Of the
United States, and well knowing, also,
that these men could not enter upon
the duties Of said Office without com
hitting the crime of perjury, or in
manifest violation of the laws Of the
country.
In that he directed the Secretary of
State to promise payment of mon
~ to said persons so illegally appoint :
ed, as salary, or compensation for ser {
vices to b9 performed in said office so
illegally created, contrary to the pro- 5
visions of a law of the United States, {
approved February 18th, 1865, entitled ;
IN act making appropriations for the
support of the army for tine year end \
ng the Both day of June, 1864, and s
'or deficiency for the Signal Service :
for the year ending June 30, 1868.
In that he directed the Secretary Of
War to pay moneys to said persons !
or services performed in said offices 50 /
illegally created, which moneys were 5
30 Ddlu ullItI HIS ultCCllOlls NlLIOul
of law, contrary to law, and
n violation to the Constitution Of the ]
United States. {
In that he deliberately dispensed f
With and suspended the operation of d i
provision Of Il law of the United 7
States, passed on the I'd of July, 1862,
entitled "an act to prescribe an oath Of T
,ffice and for further purposes" e
In that he appointed to offices ere I
ted by the laws Of the United States, +
persons who, as was well known to f
lin, had been engaged in the rebel 2
ion, who were guilty Of the crime Of g
and who could rot, without s
ommitting the crime Of perjury, or Il
therwfse violating criminally the p
aid act of July Z, 1862, enter upon the Il
uties thereof. [
In that without authority of law, et
nd contrary to law, he used and ap-
lied property taken from the enemy d
4 time of war, for the payment of the S.
Expense and support of the said illegal Al
I -Ls4,,+S,.,,I 70 =