The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-12-13
Defeat OF Impeachment.

The impeachment question mas been
disposed OF 10y the House much sooner
than was expected Mr.. Boutwell,
opened the debate on Thursday and
concluded his speech on the following
day. The speaker said that it was his
b belief that the President could not be
Suspended during trial. Tie admitted
that there had not boon found any
grave offence that would fully warrant
impeachment, still be had misused and
abused his powers to such an cStont
that impeachment was really n matter
Of noces 'ity for the good of the nation.
We quote: The ccuntry and very like
~ ills House, participated in the dis
appointment that there was no grave,
specific, enormous offense charged and
proved upon the President Of the
United States in the committees re-
port 1t is in the very nature OF the
case. There could not be any such
specific and heinous offense which
could be proved, and which lie could
he charged with, because il he under
stood the teachings of the successive
acts which are developed in this vol
luminous report of the majority; and as
! understand the facts which are hore
developed, they all point to one con
clusion, and that is that the oifenses
with which the President is charged,
and of which | believe by history he
will ultimately be convicted, are Of
having used as he had the opportuni-
ty, and OF having misused, rs neccssi-
ty and circumstances compelled him to
misuse, the great powers of the Gov
eminent with which he was entrusted
for the purpose of reconstructing this
Government, in the interest of the re-
bellion; so that henceforth this Union,
in its legitimate connection, in its re-
lations, in its powers, in its despotical
acts, should be really the continuation
Of the Government which was organ
lied at Montgomery and transferred
to Richmond"
Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, opposed the
Impeachment Resolution. He said he
had not sufficient boldness, even if he
had the inclination to defend the Pres
ident. But he was not prepared to
say that q committee, SO able and so
pertinacious as the Committee on Re-
construction, was wrong when it de-
clared that the President had been
nctuated by no improper motives in
the very acts for which the House was
now asked to impeach him. Referring
to the intimation of Mr. Boutwell, that
the soldiers would be used to prevent
the blacks from voting in the South.
MIR. Wilson remarked that the House
was asked to impeach the President Of
high crimesand misdemeanors because
it was feared lie might do something
wrong. He thought, however, that the
House would determine whether the
President had already committed higl
crimes and misdemeanors, not wheth
or he might possibly do SO at som,
time in the future. The case should
be tried on the record, and on that b.
was willing to take a vote OF til
House.
AT the conclusion OF his speech, MI
Wilson moved that the subject be lai
on the table. The impeachers {
course objected to this, and commend
cd "fillibustering." After an hou
spent in this way, the House adjourn
ed by vote OF eighty yeas and seven
ty-seven nays.
On Saturday, the question agai
came up. After while Mr.. Wilso
Withdrew his motion to lay the ques
tion on the table, and direct yot
was ordered on the majority resolutio
OF impeachment. The result Of vot
was 10S nays against 81 yeas-a yer
decided majority against impeocl
ment. Among those who voted fo
impeachment, Lynch of Maine, Stever
and Ella OF New Hampshire, and Bou
well and Butler Of Massachusetts,. A
the other Republicans from New Enl
land voted against impeachment c,
cept Twichell of Massachusetts an
Jenckes of Rhode Island, who wei
absent Now that the impeachmei
question is ont Of the way, we hor
Congress will grapple with the 9th,
important questions before them.
-------.
DEarH OF VIcroR WRIanr. Wet,
Wright. Esq, of Weybridge, we
known citizen Of Addison Co, viii
riding down Ellsworth Hill" abo,
four miles from Middlebury, on Fl
day afternoon, Dec. G, in compar