Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-03


gal constitutions for said States wholly made
quate 20 protect the loyal people thereof the
pie OF the United States against the payment OF
claims account of slaves emanclpated and OF
debts incurred by such States in aid of rebellion,
authority in the Aforesaid illegal aud uneOnsttu-
tIOnal governments thus set Up to tax and Oppress
the loyal people of such the benefit OF those
who have been aged in the attempt " overthrow
the government OF the United States.
In that lac has made official and other public de-
claratiOns and statements calculated and designed
to njure and impair the credit Ofths United States,
to encourage persons recently engaged in rebellion
organization of the rebel States, s0-calICd, pom
republican basis, and calculated and design
cd also to deprive the Congress of the United States
of the confidence of the pLOPle we'll in its patti
Otisn in lts constitutional right to exist, and to
ACT as the department of the government which un-
power; and all this with the intent of rendering
Congress incapable of resisting either HE said
measures necessary for the pacihCation and rcstO-
ration of the Union.
And that in all this he exercised the veto power
the power OF removal and appointment, the par
doning poser, and other constitutional powers of
his Office. for the purpose OF delaying, hindering,
Obstructing, and preventing the restoration of the
Union by constitutional means, and for the further
purpose of alternating from the government and
laws of the United States th0se persons who had
been engaged in the rebellion, and who, without
aid, comfort and encouragement thus by him given
TO them would have resumed in good faith their al
legiance to the constitution; aud all with the ex-
pectatiOn of cOncIliating them to himself per
ally, that he might thereby finally prevent the
~bS@- $50 -
Aud further, that the said Andrew Johnson, Pre-
sicnt of the United Statcs, transferred and
dered and authorized and directed the transfer and
surrender of railway property OF the value Of many
millions OF dollars to persons who had been engaged
in rebellion, to corporations owned wholly in
part by such persons, he well knowing that ia
instances the railways had been construc ted by the
Uniteo States, that in others such railways and
railway property had been captured from the enc
my in war, md afterwards repaired at great cost
by the United StatCsS such transfer and surrender
being made without authority OF law and in viola
tiOn OF law.
In that he directed and izcd the of large
quantities of railway rolling stock and other rail-
way property of the value of many millions OF dol
lars the property Of the United States by purchase
and construction, to corporations and parties then
known To him to be unable to pay their debts then
maturcd and due, and this without exacting from
said pOTatiOns and parties security whatever.
In that he directed and ordered subordinate off
GERS of the government to postpone and delay the
collection of moneys due and payable to the United
States on account of such sales, in apparent con-
tormity to an order previously made by him that
the interest upon certain bonds issued or guaran-
teed by the State fTeunessee in aid Of certain rail-
ways, then due and unpaid for a period OF four
years aud more, should be first paid out of the
ings of the roads in whose behalf said bonds were
SO issucd or guaranteed.
In that, in conformity to such order or direction
the United States was delay and postponed, and
the interest such bon, 8, of which he himself was
a large holder, was paid according to the terms of
his own order, thus cOrrUPtly uSing his office to
dfra"d and wrong the people OF the United States,
and for his own personal advantage.
In that he has not only restored to clama nts
thereof inrg" amounts OF cotton and other abandon
ed property that had been seized and taken by the
agents of the Treasury in conformity to law, but
h ts paid and directed the payment Of the actual
proceeds of sales made thereof aud this in violation
Of a law of the United States which orders and re-
quires the payment into the treasury Of the United
States of all moneys received from such safes, aud
remedy in the Court of CInims, and manifest vi
olation of the spirit and meaning of the COnstitu-
ton, wherein i! is declared that no money shaI be
drawn from the treasury tut in consequence off ap-
preparations made by law.
Aud further, in that the said Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, authorized the use
Of the army of the United States for tho dispersion
of peaceful and lawful assembly of citizers of
louisa ma and this by virtue of patch address.
ed to pcTsOn who was not officer of the army,
but who public and notorious traitor, and all
Nth the intent to deprive the loyal people of LOui
siana OF every opportunity to frame State gov
eTnment republican in form, and with the intent
further to continue in places of trust and cmou-
TO overthrow the government OF the United Statcs,
expecting thus to cOnciiiatc such Persons to him.
self and secure their aid in support OF his Aforesaid
unconstitutional designs.
All OF which omissions of duty, usurpatiOns of
power violations of HE oath of Office of the laws,
and Of the constitution Of the United States by the
said Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States have retarded the public prosperity lesser
ed the public revenues, disuTdcrcd the business and
finances of the country, encouraged insuborjina-
tiOn in the peOpleOi the States recently in rebellion
fostcred sentiments Of hostility between different
classes Of citizens revived kept alive the spirit
OF the rebellion, humiliatCd the nation, dishOnOTcd
republican institutions ObstruCted the restoration
of said States to the Union. and delayed and post
poncd the peaceful and fraternal reorganization Of
the government of the United States.
TIE committee therefore report the accompany.
ing resolution and recommend lis passage.
GEoRGE :. BOUTwELL,
FRANCIs THOMAs,
Thomas WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM LAWRENCE,
JoHS Z. CHURCHILL.
Resolution providing for TIE Impeachment of the
President of the United States:
ResolDcR, That Andrew johnson, President of the
United States, be imPcachcd of high crimes and
misdCmcauors.