Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-28

before us presented by the testimony and
measured BY the law, does not disclose such
high misdemeanors within the meaning of
the constitution as require the Interpolation
of the constitutional power of this House.
and recommend the adoption of the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on the
judiciary be discharged from the further
consideration Of the proposed impeachment
OF the President of the United States, and
that the subject be laid upon the table.
(Signed) JAS. F. WILSON,
FRED'K E. WOODBRIDGE.
REPORT OF MI ssRs. MARSHALL AND FL
BRIDGE.
Messrs. Marshall and Eldridge. in their
report, say of the President His great
est offense, we apprehend, will be found to
be that he has not been able to follow those
who elected him to his Office in their mad
assaults upon, and departure from, the con,
stitutional government of the fathers of the
republic, and that, standing where most of
his party professed to stand when they ell,
evated him TO his present elevated posi-
ton, he has dared to differ with the major
ity of Congress upon great and vital ques-
tions. He has believed in the continuing
and binding obligations of the constitution;
that the suppression of the rebellion
against the Uuion was the preservation of
the Union and the States comprising it, and
that when the rebellion was put down the
States were all and equally entitled to re-
presentation in the Congress of the United
States. Planting himself firmly and inn
moVably upon this position, he has in
Cured the fierce and malignant oppositiono of
all those who claim by virtue of the al
legged conquest Of the territory, and the
subjugation of the people of the lately re-
bellious States, the power and right to die
tate to them the constitution and laws they
shall live under, and the liberties they
shall be permitted to enjoy. In this diff
ference between Congress and the Presi-
dent, and the desire of each for the adop-
ton, by the country, of their respective
views, is, we suspect, to be found not only
the cause for the movement to impeach the
President, but out of it has grown the en-
FILTERED feelings and yiruIent hatred of the
President by his former friends. The ma
iority of Congress, and of the committee,
have entertained and been prepared to de-
clare at all times, in Congress and out of
it, even more strongly than is expressed in
their report, this same censure and con-
demnation. This opinion was not formed
upon testimony taken before the committee,
or upon any facts elected by its inyestiga-
ton. 1t was a political opinion grow
ing out of a difference of views upon
political questions. 1t was the opinion
with which the majority of the COM
mittee entered upon the investigation.
1t was that which inspired and stimulated
all its inquiries and examinations; but
notwithstanding these preceding opinions
and prejudices, the minority of the COM
mittee have been compelled to find, after
the fullest consideration and great pro-
tracted deliberation, that the President had
committed no ohense for which, under our
laws, he can or ought to be impeached, and
hence none, as we insist, subjecting him
to the official jurisdiction of committee
of the House. The censure and condem-
nation of the President by the majority or
minority is without our jurisdiction, not
| justified by the facts, unbecoming one de-
partment of the government toward the
other, and calculated to bring reproach
upon the committee, the House and nation.
With all due respect to the majority of
| the committee We cannot regard the
charges made against the President as
serious attempt to procure his inpeach-
! ment, without dwelling upon their failure
| to point to the commission of single act
that is recognized by the laws of our
country as a high crime or misdemeanor.
The President had the sanction of his
Cabinet for every act on which he has been
arraigned; yet they are recognized as
especial favorites of the party of impeach-
ment. Mr.. Stanton gave his emphatic APP
| prevail to the acts for which the President
is arraigned, and yet the ex-Secretary is
favorite and popular martyr, and the
whole country is veIed with clamors for
his restoration to power and place.
The President has used every means
| within his power to bring Jefferson Davis
to 8 speedy trial, and yet he has been
denounced throughout the land for procras-
tination and preventing the trial, while the
Judges and prosecuting officers having the
entire control of the matter, have been
deemed worthy of the most honored
plaudits. Were ever inconsistencies more
glaring and inexplicable than these, and
can we possibly be mistaken when we assert
that however honest may be the majority
of the committee the verdict of the coun-
try, and of posterity will be that the crime
of the President consists not in violations
but refusals to violate the law; in being
unable to keep peace with the party of pro-
gress in their rapidly advancing move
ments, or to stop outside and above the
constitution in the administration of the
government; in preferring the constitution
of his country to the dictation of an unscru-
Ii - p 10 a.
meet the maledictions of those who have
aimed at the accomplishment of a most
wicked and dangerous revolution, rather
than to encounter the reproach Of his own
conscience, and the curses Of posterity
through all time.
SAMUEL s. MARSHALL,