The Portland daily press., 1867-11-27

PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, November 81, 1857.
#f.f
Impeachment.

4
Unexpectedly to many the majority report
OF the Judiciary Committee, submitted to
the. House on Monday, was in favor of i'm
peachment. Mr.. Churchill of New York,
| who had previously acted with Mr. Wilson
and Mr.. Woodbridge, and the Democrats
Marshall and Eldridge, joined Messrs. Bout
well, Williams, Lawrence and Thomas in de-
claring that "m accordance with the test
mony Herewith submitted, and the views of
the law presented, the Committee is of the
opinion that Andrew johnson, President of
the United States, is guilty of high crimes
and misdemeanors, requiring the interposi-
ton OF the Constitutional powers of the
House" What changed Mr.. Churchill's
views on this very important question is Lot
certainly known, but 1t is not supposed to be
| anything in the Testimony elected since the
adjournment Of the thirty ninth Congress.
Ihe strong point OF the impeachers, and the
one which no doubt had its weight with Mr..
Churchill, is the manner, in, which Andrew
johnson has set the Constitution and laws
at defiance In spresuming to reconstruct the
Southern States in opposition to the will of
the only body that had legitimate authority
In the premises. Judge Lawrence of Ohio,
who has given particular attention to the
subject of impeachment, dwells with special
emphasis upon the gross usurpation of the
President in appointing provisional govern
ors for the Rebel States in 1855, without SUBJ
mittirg their names to the Senate for con
firmation, fixing their salaries, authorizing
the formation by conventions, elected by such
voters as he designated, of such constitutions
as be prescribed, and in all respects arro-
eating to himself the functions OF the ma
tisnal legislature. This was what is known
as my policy" Its effect was to distran-
chise every negro, and place ballot in the
hands OF every Rebel who was willing TO
commit perjury by taking the amnesty oath.
Its iliegality had no precedent in the pro-
ceedings of President Lincoln ! in his
dealings with Louisiana Or Arkansas.
Lincolns reconstruction policy was ever
held subject to the revision of Congress.
His appointees were military officers, who
had no need to be confirmed by the Senate.
What he did about reconstruction as in
| fAASetoA4>S u tAAC WdA-AudhuiS pOWtT veSleu IN
him, and was one of the agencies employed
for the suppression of the rebellion. 1t is not
denied that President johnson might have
had full indemnity for all these acts. had he
remained true to the professions with which
they were, initiated. Before the old spirit of
slaveholding alderman gained the ascenden-
cy over the statesman and patriot, johnson
had always declared that his policy was an
experiment, that Lis arrangements were strict
ly provisional, and that it rested with Con
gress either to endorse and perfect his plans
OF to ignore them altogether. But on the
22d OF June, 1866, having mean while passed
through the 22d of February paroxysm, he
made the astounding announcement that all
the Rebel States, with the exception Of Tex
as, had been restored to all their functions as
States in accordance with organic law. 7 I'D
~ This is the original and vital matter in Mr.
Johnson's offending. in the estimation OF the
advocates of Impeachment. Everything e.se
has been secondary and collateral The sur-
render OF property to Rebels, the general am
nesty, the prostitution OF the power of ap-
pointmenti to the advancement Of personal
ends, the removal Of Stanton, Sheridan n and
Siekies, the assumption Of the power to de-
clare peace, are all matters growing out
oi OF rnr5 THIS. Psis.urJ urse's nom Tue pain OF
~ il,eai a. nc 3 5aoh Z8w awo sld GI
The report of the Committee will no doubt
give rise to renewed llamentation ON the part
of the alarmists. They will not even wait to
see whether the House will adopt the views
of the Committee or not. There is certainly
no just ground for alarm in view of the stage
at which the impeachment movement has
now arrived. Hitherto large majority of
the members OF the House are known to have
been opposed to the measure The report of
the Judiciary Committee will doubtless influ-
ence several additional members to Join the
Party of Action" but it is quite improbable
that the number will even then be large
enough to carry Mr.. Johnson's case to the
Senate. Congress is in no rash or impatient
mood at this time, and we may have fuller as
suranee than ever before that whatever is
Cone will be, in the opinion of the members
at least, for the safety and glory Of the Repub-a
lie. ~ '''.'h-- ~ !.