Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-07-18
THE IlIPEA CHNENT QUES-
TTON IN CONGRESS-

TION IN CONGRESS-.
A special dispatch to the Chicago Tri-
bune, under date of Washington, July lC
says:
The Impeachment question, or rather
the doings of the Impeachment Committee
got into the House this afternoon and
came near making a row. The Chairman.
Mr. Wilson, III obedience to instructions
by his associates, rose to q question of
privilege, and said he was directed to state
that the committee had not yet concluded
their Investigations, and were not ready to
report in full at the present session, but
would do so at any time sfter the middle
OF October. Governor Boutwell, followed
with a resolution proposing an adjourn
Inent from - day to the 10th of October
In the course of few remarks, he said the
impeachment question had reached such a
stage that ii must soon be brought before
the House for decision, and he earnestly
desired that Congress might meet at the
time he had named, and take up the mat
ter and get it disposed of before the time
for the beginning of the regular December
session. He wanted definite adjourn
ment. and would not agree to such condi-
tiOnal adjournment AS was made in April
last, because he believed it unconstitution-
al
| Mr. Spalding doubted if a majority of
the House would agree to come back in
October to consider impeachment, and
said he would, if it were allowable, move
to table Mr. Boutwell, S resolution.
Slr. Pike was opposed to a conditional
adjournment, and did not believe it best to
come here again in October and wanted
definite adjournment to the second Mon
day in November.
Mr.. Stevens was opposed 10 an October
session unle9s the impeachment report was
made now and sent to the printer, so that
il might be in the hands of every member
when the question comes up for discussion.
Mr.. Boutwell, said the debate in the
House would probably occupy several
weeks and he deeply felt the Importance
of coming here rs early as the middle of
October and thought the Senate ought to
consent 10 do so.
Mr.. Stevens reported that they would
not adjourn TO that date unless the report
and evidence wero now submitted. lie
thought the committee had made a grave
mistake in the manner of their investiga-
ton. They had been taking evidence for
six months, when the reasons for the Pres
ident's impeachment were patent to every
body. He would, at the proper time, sub
NIT resolution directing the report to be
made next week
y sort OF triangular and sharp toned dis
cuslon then sprang up between Messrs.
Williams, Wilson and Woodbridge, the |
two gentlemen first named chiefly partici-
pating, during which it became plainly ey-
ident that ther. is good deal OF bitter |
feeling between the Impeachment and anti
impeachment Republican member. of the |
committee. Ii appears from what was
said in this swift debate Of fifteen or TWEEN |
ty minutes that the anti-impeachers did |
not get back here on the 26th of June. the |
day 10 which the committee In May ad- !
jOurned: tlat the impeachment members |
were here, and at once began taking furth- |
er evidence; that witnesses have been be- |
fore the committee about every day since |
the session began for examination bv the :
Democrats or impeachment Republicans; |
that Messrs. Wilson and Woodbridge have |
rather ignored the committee meetings for
the last week; that several witnesses have !
been called for examinations that several
who have appeared once are TO he exam
ined again; that considerable amount of
information expected from the departments
has not yet been furnished; that the three
Republicans who opposed impeachment
have not yet begun their report, though the
Chairman has partially put his views into
writing; that some OF the evidence being
still in the notes of the reporter, is not ac-
cessible; that the four impeachment MEM
bers can have their report ready in two or
three days.
Mr.. Williams alleged that the evidence
now taking is merely cumulative; that he
and the other three members who favor
impeachment are ready to report at once; |
that in their view the evidence in each of
the points examined by the committee is |
sufficient 30 sustain impeachment, and that
it is not the fault of the minority if the re-
port is not made at the present time.
Mr.. Wilson retorted that it was under
stood in May that no more evidence would
be taken: that the report could not be
properly made up till each member had a
copy of the testimony. and that the three
who opposed impeachment certainly were
not responsible for calling more witnesses
He protested against making more evil !
dence public before the investigation is
concluded and in advance OF the report,
and said if the House ordered this to he
done. he would of course obey, though he
could do nothing more now than submit
the heads and the leading points of his re-
port.
Mr.. Williams claimed that the records Of
the COMMITTEES would show that he person.
ally was not to blame for delay, and Mr..
Wilson replied that he was willing to let
the records prove who had done most to
prOtract the inquiry.
The acrimonious discussion was here
brought to close by the arrival Of the
time previously set for announcing the
death of Mr.. Denison, Of Pennsylvania,
and Mr.. Boutwells resolution went over
until tomorrow. The questions thus
brought before the House are the general
theme of conversation this evening. The
impeachers and anti-impcachers are ear
nestly canvassing the situation, and both
sides are confident of success tomorrow.