The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-13
The Impcnchmcnt.

The impeachment.
The following Washington despatch
IS to the New York Times, of Friday:
In accordance with the determina-
ton in caucus last night, the i'm
peachment question was revived in
the House to-day by Mr.. Ashley, who
presented his old resolutions and
charges, and asked their reference to
the Judiciary Committee. Having
taken the lead, and volunteered to do
the dirty work for the extremists of
the Union party, he could not be
prevented from making speech on
the occasion, and he occupied the
hour allotted to him, under the rules,
to his own satisfaction, while his sup
porters hung their heads in shame at
his unmeaning generalities, and the
Democrats were over rjoyed at the
prospect of again having an oppor-
tunlty to force the Union party into
false positions on the irresponsible
statements and weak points offered
by him. AS usual, he grew bold,
and defantly threatened the exter-
mination of everybody who did not
coincide with him, and was so violent
n his expressions that the Speaker
peremptorily called him to order
twice during his last quarter of an
hour. Messrs. Eldridge, Holman
and Nib1ack, from the Democratic
side OF the House, poked saucy ques-
lions at him, and the latter attempt
ed to send to the Clerks desk, to be
read, a newspaper account of the
territorial brokerage business
with which he has been charged, but
ne declined to yield the floor for that
purpose, and refused to allow Mr..
Niblacll to continue his impel sinence.
The Speakers gavel came down
sharp as the word ''impertinence"
fell from his lips, and he immediately
adopted suggestion made by the
Chair to amend his remarks, by say
ing that the matter offered vas not
pertinent. Mr.. Niblack had signif-
cantly remarked that he never paid
attention to personalities on the floor
Of the House, but pursued Ashley
still further, and compelled him to
his seat. Mr.. Spalding addressed
the House in pointed five minutes
speech, denouncing the whole move
ment as piece Of consummate folly.
There was dramatic effect in the
speech, as it was made from the
exact spot where, two months ago,
Ashley presented the original charges,
and it was uttered by man whose
record for honesty, independence
and fealty to Republican principles
is cnequaled Gen. Butler had five
minutes, during which he attempted
to construe the report of the Judi
ciary Committee of the thirty ninth
Congress as an endorsement of the
success Of the charges, but did not
offer any argument in favor of the
movement, other ithan q flat-footed
declaration that the interests of the
radical policy demand the removal of
the President, as he is in the way of
its success. Messrs. Brooks, Pruyn
and Wood followed with arguments
against the movement. Mr.. Wood
was particularly pointed in threat
that when the report of the Judi
ciary Committee is offered, he will
not only startle the House, but the
country, with an exposition of Ash
!ey's motives in offering the resolu-
tons. They were finally referred to
the Committee, in accordance with
the caucus agreement, and it has
power to sit during the recess. The
whole debate, including Ashley
characteristic display of Bombastes
Furioso weakness, has had an infu-
ence against the success Of the pro-
position, and not few members of
the House have since expressed them
selves as opposed to further investi-
cation. The Judiciary Committee
will at once recommence the exami
nation OF witnesses summoned to ap-
pear before them to give testimony
on the impeachment investigation.
Several witnesses who did not arrive
antil too late for examination during
The thirty y-ninth Congress, will proba.
bly, be sworn on Saturday. The
Committee, as it is now organized,
gives the Democrats one more vote
in its deliberations. Judge Church