Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-02-15
xxxIx:# CONGREss.
sECoSB SESSION. J
I n ssxArr. /

WASbiNVTON, reU H. ne OnNir prcsoue-t
ed the certificate of the Governor Of Ohio,
tho ratification Of the constitutions
al amendment by the Legislature Of OEio.--
Ordered laid on the table. tI-yLs- "A n Z |
Mr.. Wilson reported adversely on the bin |
10 allow members of Congress to serve as d.
rectcrs of the asylum for disabled volunteers
where they had been elected directors, be-
fore their election to Congress- Bill indeh-
nitely postponed.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolution instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee TO inquire into
the expediency of amending the Civil Rights
bill to extend its operations 90 that when
the residents IF any State, being citizens of
the United States, are debarred from any Of
the privileges of citizens of such States, then
all cases arising out of any oifense against
any such residents of the one part and any
citizen of such State not debarred from any
of the privileges thereof on the other part,
shall be heard and delivered by the courts Of
the State. Midsummer asked It's immediate
consideration. - i,,fs 4.ff sa'
Mr.. Salisbury objected, and the resolution
goes over. " 0i, g.ii, al +.' ..t. - ~
Mr.. Chandler moved the Senate take mp
the resolution offered by him on Saturday
last instructing the Judiciary COMMITTEES to
inquire whether A. johnson, Vice President
and acting President of the United States,
had any authority to appoint Provisional
Governors for the States recently in rebel
lion. H d, foq3 I'd
Mr. Chandler said: Think this resolution
very important at this time. II the Presi-
dent had no authority of law under the
Constitution 10 appoint provisional Govern
ors for the States lately in rebellion, then the
action as these Governors fail. There has
been no Governors established over these
States If the inception was itself illegal
Judiciary should make an early report upon
this subject. II is due to the President, and
to the country that these points should be
settled, and settled at an early day. am
not lawyer and am hardly competent to
decide for myself, still less for the Senate,
whether there was any such authority. We
know, Mr.. President, that when Andrew
johnson through the bullet Of ]. Wilkes
Booth, became President of the United States
the rebels laid down their arms, and all Of
these rebel States were held by military pow
ers, and under these military powers; and
Mr.. johnson had right to appoint Military
Governors, not only for every one Of the
States lately in rebellion, but for every city,
had he seen fit to do SO. The laws Of war
are as well understood as the Constitution
and laws of peace. They regulate and con-
troll all civilized nations. When President
Lincoln desired government in Tennessee,
he appointed A. johnson Brigadier General
in the army, and as Brigadier General in the
United States Army he appointed him Mill
tary Governor of Tennessee. This he had a
right to do as Commander-in-C Chief But,
Sir, il was another and different thing to ap.
point Provisional Governor. believe, Sir,
it is an Office unknown to the Constitution
and laws of our Government and an Office
which, in my judgment, he had no authority
to create. These Governors were not sent TO
the Senate for confirmation, nor would it
have made them any more Governors, If we
had confirmed them, because the Senate and
Andrew johnson together could not have
created an Office il there was no authority OF
law. Then it required the House of Repre-
sentatives and Senate, and Andrew johnson,
having first enacted a law creating an office
before an officer could have been appointed.
Under the laws of war; as have said, we
had right to hold these States by military
power and force. These laws Of war have
been changed from age to age. They ore
arbitrary. They are simply the will of the
conqueror. Under the laws Of war, in an.
Gent times, prisoners of war were remerse
lessly put to death. These laws, from age
to age, become modified but as late as July,
1866, the laws of war empowered the con.
queror to levy all expenses of war upon the
conquered. II Andrew johnson, in viola
ton of the laws of war, in violation of tn,
Constitution, and without authority, undel
the laws of war, assumed and exercised au
thority that did not belong to him, bu
which belonged to Congress, then dom
hesitate to say, and with deliberations, 70
this one act, and for it alone, Andrew John
son should be impeached. l. say it sir, a
one of his judges. say it understandin,
the force of what gay.
Mr.. Chandler continued. But there ar
other allegations made against Mr.. Johnson
1t is alleged, know not whether true O
false, that A. johnson delivered over proper
ty seized from the rebels--railroad rollinl
stock-thronghout the South, without tn
+ authority of the law, to rebel railroad agen
cies, and rolling stocks sent from the Nortl
to the South, to the value of many million
of dollars, without the authority of the Law
and in violation of the law, by the expires
order of A. johnson were sold on credit h
those rebel railroads. If this allegation b
true, say A. johnson should be impeachet
and remanded, 1t is alleged again, know
not whether true or false that A. johnson
without authority of law, and in violation
of law, ordered the collection of the direc
tax levied on these rebel States to be stop
ped, and il it be true, Andrew johnson
, obnulI ho Iol II r..
} alleged, know not whether true or false
that 4. johnson made appointments during
the recess of the Senate, by removing in
cumbents, and during the late long session
of Congress did not send names 10 the Sen
ate at all but on adjournment without con
sulting the Senate, and his oath Of office, h,
re-appointed these men, never having SEN
them to the Senate at all. If it be true A
Johnson should be impeached.
J Mr.. Chandler denied that the Presiden
J has any right to have plan after it had beer
J rejected by Congress. Let him obey thu
laws or disobey them at his peril. There i
dread, he said, that we, in executing ou
constitutional powers, will bring some dread
full calamity upon this nation. This nation
has come victorious ont of the most terribl,
rebellion the world ever seen. The remova
OF the man who has violated the Constitu
ton Of the United States would produc,
about the same amount of excitement in III,
country, that tho removal Of the "Cus ton
House officers in city would produce
And more, this people have declared, ant
that dercee has been registered on high
that this nation shall stand and no man, o.
set OF men, and no combination of men
whether headed by JEFF. Davis or Andrew