Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Chair pre-
scented the certificate of the Governor of
Ohio, attesting the ratification of the con-
stitutional amendment by the Legislature
| of that State. Ordered laid on the table
Mr.. Wilson reported adversely on the
bill to allow members of Congress to serve
as directors Of the asylum for disabled sol
diers, where they had been elected directors
before their election to Congress. The bill
was indefinitely postponed
Midsummer offered a resolution, instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee to inquire
into the expediency Of amending the civil
| rights bill, and extending its operations so
that where residents of any State, being
citizens of the United States, are debarred
from any of the privileges of citizens of
such State, Their all cases arising out of
offense against such State by persons so
| debarred shall be heard before the courts Of
the United Statea, and not before the State
courts. r.....
| Mr.. Sumner asked for an immediate con-
I sideration.
Mr.. Salisbury objected, and the resolu-
lion goes over.
Mr. Chandler moved that the Senate take
mp the resolution offered by him Saturday
last, instructing the Judiciary Committee
to inquire whether Andrew johnson, Vice
President, and acting as President of the
| United States, had any authority to APP
point Provisional Governors for the States
| lately IN rebellion
Mr.. Chandler said: / think the resolu-
| ton very important at this time If the
Ih-oCfIov,t loA ,v,thors4,r &c 10,
! the constitution to appoint Provisional
| Governors for the States lately in rebellion,
| then the action of these Governors fail
There has been no Governors established
over these States if the inception itself was
illegal. Now, sir desire that the Ju-
dietary Committee should early report up
on this subject. 1t is due the President,
and TO the country, that these points shall
be settled, and settled at an early day am
not a lawyer, and am hardly competent to
declare for myself, still less for the Senate,
whether there was any such authority
We know, Mr.. President, that when
Audrey Johnson, through the bullet Of j.
WilksN Booth, become President Of the
United States, Rebels had laid down their
arms and all of these Rebel States were
held by military powers, and under these
| military powers Andrew johnson had
right to appoint military governors, not
only for every one of those States lately in
rebellion but for every city had he seen lit
so to do. The laws of war are as we'll I'M
derstood as the constitution and laws Of
peace, they regulate and control all
civilized nations. When President Lincoln
desired a. Governor in Tennessee, he APP
pointed Andrew johnson Brigadier Ger
eral in the army, and as BTigadier General
in the United States he appointed him
military Governor of Tennessee. This he
had right to do, as commander
in-Chief. But, sir, it was another and
| different thing to appoint provisional
| Governor. | believe, sir, it IS an office I'M
| known to the constitution and laws of cur
| government, an oficewhich in'my judgement
he had no authority to create. These Gov
| errors were hotsent to the Senate for confira
nation. Nor would it have given them any
/ more Governors if wehad confirmed them.
| Because the Senate and Andrew johnson
| together could not have created thepfice if
| there was no authority of law there. lt
originated in the House of Representative,
] and the Senate and Andrew johnson having
first enacted law creating an office before
an officer could have been appointed under
| the laws of war, az | have said, we had
! right to hold these States by military power
| and force. These laws of war have been
| changed from age TO age; they are arbitrary;
| they are simply the will of the conquerors
under the laws of war. In ancient times
| prisoners of war were remOselessly put to
| death. These laws from age to age have
become modified but as late as July 1866
| the laws of war empowered the conqueror
/ 10 levy all the expenses of war upon the
| conquered, and if Andrew johnson, in vio-
lation Of the laws of war in violation of
the constitution, and without authority
| under the laws of war, assumed and exer-
! cised authority that did not belong to him,
but which belonged to Congress, then /
don't hesitate TO say with deliberation, that
for this one act alone Andrew johnson
should be impeached. | say it, sir, as one
of his judges. l say it understanding the
force Of what / say.
Mr.. Chandler continued But there are
other allegations made against Andrew
johnson. 1t is alleged know not whether
true or false-that Mr.. johnson delivered
over property seized from Rebel railroads,
rolling stock throughout the South, with
ont authority of law, 10 Rebel railroad
sAbNAANANo3 1hA AbAAAAlb aANCh oGnl lEbtu llt
North, worth many millions of dollars.
without authority and in violation of law,
by express order of Mr.. johnson, were sold
on credit to these Rebel roads. If this al
legation be true, l say Andrew johnson
should be impeached and removed. 1t is
alleged again, l know not whether true or
false, that Andrew johnson, without au-
thorIty and in violation ef law, ordered the
collection of the direct tax levied on these
Rebel States to be stopped and if it be true
Andrew johnson should be impeachei and
removed.
It is alleged, know not whether truly
or falsely, that Andrew johnson made APP
poiutments during the recess of the Senate,
by removing incumbents and during the
late long session Of Congress, did not send
names 10 the Senate at all, but on the ads
iournment, without consulting the Senate,
and in direct violation of the constitution
and his oath of Office, he reappointed these
men, never having sent their names to the
Senate at all. If this is true of johnson,
he should be removed.
Mr. Chandler denied that tho President
has right to have any action after reiec-
ton by Congress. Let him obey the laws,
or disobey them at his peril There is a
dread, he said, that We, in executing our
constitutional prerogatiyes will bring some
dreadful calamity on the nation. This ma
ton has come out victorious from the most
terrible rebellion the world has ever seen.
The removal Of the man who has violsted
the constitution OF the United States would
produce about the same amount of excite
ment in the country that the removal of
customhouse officer Ia a city would, and no
more. Thispeople have declared, and their |
decree has been registered on high, that |