The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-12-11
MINORITY REPORT
~ the Judieiay Committee on ImpeacA'


Representatives James +. Wilson and
Frederick +. Woodbridge handed IN re.
port, dissenting from the conclusions ar
rived at ny maturity Of the committee.
They say On The sd,iay Of June. 1867.
il was declared, by solemn vote IN the
committee. that, from the testimony then
before them. Il did NOT appear that the PresI
dent of the United States was guilty VI
such high crimes aud nlsdeneanors a. cal
led for an exercise ol the impeachns power
ef this House. The vote siood--ysas i've.
says iour. On the 2ist instant III, action
81 the COMMITTEE was reversed, aud a vote
.l hye Z" ioor declared 10 favor oi recon
aarndrg 10 the House ar lmprachnent o.
she pres,,ieat. forty-eisht hours have not
vet elapsed since We were informed ID the
~hssncier oi the report which represents
Sais changed attitude Of the committee.
The rrccutHess at thls event cumpeIs
general treatment Of ssme feature. oi thr
case ss u 10 presented Dy tBe majority.
Which otherwise would have been treated of
more 10 drtsi.
the report oi the m4jurity resolves all
pfssumpi,ons against the President, close,
the door against all doubts. aiiitms Iacts a.
nstiblisird " the trslim nv. III support oi
which there ~ no, particle oi r,idenee
beivre - shl,h would be received by any
court ~ The iand. We dissent f-um al ol
this. aud irom tie temper aud SPIRIT Of the
rrpoL Tue c"oi aud unbis,ed judgment oi
the tuture, wnrn the excitements IN the
midst ol whicn se live shall have passed
away. siIl mt lall 10 discover that the poll
teal bitterness "i Tie present times has. in
no ineons'dsfsblr degree. gwen tone 10 the
document which we decline 10 sppro,e.
Disvntng, ~ We do from ,hc report ol
the commillce, D0ih as TO the law 1T the
case snd the conclusions drawn from the
iscs Developed BY the testimony. 4 lur re-
gsni iar the body Shich imposed % Us thr
hIgh aud trsnseendauti, linpurtanl duts 10.
waved ~ an ipscstlgation 81 the Oh arsrs
preferred against the Presldent lmpri, u,
t5prcsent at length our views 81 tie subject
wnich has bern committed 10 v, bv mo.t
sVlemn soie ol the House 81 Represents
i'scs. liz approaching thIs iutv ~ lee
tiat the sp,rIl Of thr parllsan should be
laid aside. aud that The interests oi the Re
public, a. they are measured by iis Con.tI-
tuition and laws. slone should suldr Us. and
we mo.l deepiy regret that in this regard,
~ cannot approve the report o. our col
league, who constitute q majority of the
~o,nmllter. Mule We would not charge
ihem with drsgn 10 act he par, Of par
tissu. 10 this grave proceeding. We never
theirs, lerl pa,aed b, the tom, temper. and
.pirit Of their report. But regrets will uot
sssser the demands &C the present grave
and comm nding occasion. and we therefore
yespcnd 10 them By prescnting 20 the I "use
she results Of a careful. deliberate. and, A.
~e hope, a conscientious investigation sI
1ae case before u.
Messrs. Wilsen ard Woo,brdge then
proceed 10 discuss the constitutional qucs-
lion With regard 10 impeachment. &c.,
showing, bs references 10 legal authorities
THAT az lrnpe achinent cannot be supported
b, sny act which falls short Of an indicia
ble crime or misdsmeanor. English pre-
cedenis are referred TO AZ length. and CO
piou, extracts are made q ON testimony o
The romn,ittce, in order 20 refute the rea
,oulue and conclusion Of the majority
The, conclude - fUlloss =:
A great deal uf the matter contained y
ths seiune of testimony reported TO tn
House is Ut no value whatever. Much .
jt 10 mere hsar,sy. opinioas of witnesses
end no little amooni of II utterly irrelesan
=" the Gaze. Comparatively small amour
al il could be used .os trial OF this c"s
before the senate. All oi the lestImnn.
,ela,inv to the failure 10 try, and admission
IL bail oi, jefferson Dsvisi the assasslaa
,ian ~ Presldent Lincoln (; the diary oi
Wilkes vec'. 8 place Of burial th
prsciiee OF pardon brokerage, the sllege'
.pondence Of the President with W
ter.on Davis. may be interesting to areade'