Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-06

republican In form.
In that by a public proclamation and
OTHERWISE he did, IN the year 1866, invite,
solicit and convene in certain other States
then recently IN rebellion conventions OF
persons, many of whom were known trai.
tors, who had been organized in an attempt
to overthrow the government of the Uni.
ted States, and urged and directed such
conventions to frame constitutions for such
States.
In that he thereupon assumed to accept,
ratlty and confirm certain so-called constj
tutlons framed by such illegal and reason
able assemblies of persons, which consti-
tutions were never submitted to the people
Of the respective States, nor ratified and
confirmed by the United States, thus usrrp.
Ing and exercising powers vested by the
constitution IL the Congress of the United
States exclusively; in that he pardoned
large numbers of public and notorious trail
tors, with the design of receiving their aid
IN such conventions called by his advice
and direction for the purpose of organizing
and setting up such illegal governments in
the States then recently i'll rebellion, prior
to the annual meeting of Congress, with
the intent thus to constrain Congress to ac-
cept, ratlfy and confirm such illegal and
unconstitutional proceedings.
In that he did within and for the States
recently IN rebellion create and establish as
a civil Office the Office OF provisional COVER
nor, so-called, an office unknown to the
constitution Or laws of the land. In that
he appointed to such Office so created in
said States, respectively, men who were
public and notorious traitors, he we'll know
ing that they had been engaged in open,
persistent and formidable efforts for the
overthrow of the government of the Uni
ted States, and we'll knowing also, that
these mon could not enter upon the duties
of said Office without committing the crime
OF perjury, or IN manifest violation of the
laws of the country.
In that he directed the Secretary of State
to promise payment of money to said per-
sons SO illegally appointed, as salary or
compensation for services to be performed
in said Office SO illegally created contrary
to the provisions of the law of the United
States, approved February 8, 1863, enti-
tied % An act making appropriations for
the support of the army for the year end
ing the twentieth day of June, 1864, and
for deficiency for the signal service for
the year ending June 80, 1861
In that he directed the Secretary of War
to pay moneys to said persons for services
performed in said Office SO illegally crea-
ted, which moneys were so paid under his
direction, without authority of law, contra
ry to law, and in violation of the constitu-
tion Of the United States.
In that he deliberately dispensed with
and suspended the operation Of a prOvi-
sion of law of the United States, passed
on the I'd of July, 1862, entitled "An act
| to prescribe an oath of office, and for other
purposes.
In that he appointed to offices created by
the laws of the United States, persons who,
as was we'll known to him, had been en-
gagged in the rebellion, who were guilty of
the crime Of treason, and who could not,
without committing the crime of perjury,
or otherwise violating, criminally, the said
act of July I'd, 1862, enter upon the duties
thereof
In that without authority of law, and
contrary to law, he used and applied prop
erty taken from the enemy in time Of war
for the payment of the expenses and the
support of the said illegal and unconstitu-
tional governments SO set up in the said
States recently in rebellion. and for a like
purpose, and in violation of the constitu
ton and Of his oath of Office, he authorized
and permitted a levy of taxes upon the peo-
pie OF said States, thus usurping and exer
vested exclusively in the Congress of the
United States, all of which acts were usur-
ration of power contrary to the laws and
constitution of the United States, and in
violation of his oath Of Office as President
of the United States.
In that the said Andrew johnson, Presi-
dent Of the United States, has, in messages
to Congress and otherwise, publicly denied
substantially the right of Congress to pro-
vide for the paciication, government and
restoration of said States to the Union !;
aud in like manner he has asserted his ex-
elusive right to provide governments there
for, and to accept and proclaim the resto-
ration of said States to the Union, all of
which is in derogation of the rightful an
thority of Congress- and calculated to sub
vert the government of the United States.
In that, in accordance with said declAra-
tion he has vetoed various bills passed by
Congress for the pacitication and govern
ment of the States recently i'll rebellion and
their speedy restoration to the Union, and
upon the ground and for the reason that
the said States had been restored to their
places in the Union by his aforesaid illegal
and unconstitutional proceedings, thuseoIn-
terpOsing aud using d constitutional power
of the office he held as To pre7ent the res
toration Of the Union upon constitutional
basis.
In that he has exercised the power of re-
moval from and appointment TO office for
the purpose of maintaining efectually his
aforesaid usurpation, and for the purpose
of securing the recognition by Congress Of
the State governments SO illegally and IN
constitutionally set up in the States recently
in rebellion, such removals and appoint
ments having been attended and followed
with great injury to the public service,
and with enormous losses to the public
revenue.
In that in the exercise Of the pardOnlDg
power he issued an order for the restora
ton of one hundred and ninety-threc men
belonging to West Virginia, who upon the
record OF the War Department, were marked
as deserters from the army Ill time of war,
and this upon the representations of private
and interested persons, and without prevl-
Gus investigation by any officer of the War
Department., and for the sole purpose OF
enabling persons to vote in all election then
pending in said State, and with the eXpec-
tation that they SO vote as to support him
in his aforesaid unconstitutional proceed
ings, he then we'll knowing that the men so
restored, and by virtue of such restoration,
would be entitled to large sum of money
from the treasury of the United States.
Tn that by his message to the House OF