The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-01-19
Impeachment of the President.


For some six weeks or two months
past we have been of the opinion that
Congress would impeach the President
On the Tth instant, Mr.. Ash!sy, of Ohio,
obtained leave, as a question of privilege,
to have read by the Clerk the following +:
81 do hereby impeaeh Andrew johnson, vice
President and acting President of the United States
for high crimes and misdemeanors. / charge him
with unsurpation Of power and violation Of law in
that he has eorruptly abused the appointing power;
IN that he has cOrruptly disposed Of the ppblie
property of the United Statesi in that he has cor
Tuptly interfered in elections, and committed aets'
and c~0nspired with others, which in the eontempla-
ton Of the Constitution, are high crimes and
misdemeanors. Therefore be it resolved that the
m on Judiciary be and ara hereby author
lied 10 INQUIRE into the oakeial conduct Of Andrew
johnson, discharging the powers and duties a.
President Of the United States, and report TO this
House whether, in their opinion, said Andrew
johnson, while in said office, has been guilty of
acts corrupting the Government Of the United
States, or any department or officer thereof; or
whether said Andrew johnson has been guilty %
any act, or c~Onspired with others to do acts which
in the contemplation of the Constitution, arc high
crimes, requiring the interposiiion Of the Constitu-
tional powers Of this House. and that said COM
mittee have power to send for persons and pa
vs. anu q 4G@ALA1AN - 1@@@NH
Spsulding, of Ohio, moved 60 lay the resolution
on the table, n~egatived by a vote Of SO ayes 10 log
noes. The resolution was adopted"
The vote to lay the resolution on the
table shows that the House has both the
viii and the power to impeach the Prcsi-
dent. What the Senate will do remains
to be seen. Whatever may be the final
issue of the movement for impeachment,
it has certainly reached ats first stage
The Radicals who voted to lay Ashley's
resolution on the table, were Davis, of
West Virginia, Dodge and Hubbell, Of
Ohio, Raymond. of New York, Spalding,
of Ohio, and Whaley, of West Virginia.
There. were no speeches. and but a feel lie
and Intellectual opposition skirmish
which showed the weakness of the minor.
ity.
It seems that all the leading paper:
have expressed themselves relative to thi:
attempt at impeachment; and the most
hopeful sign is the fact that they aIlseem
to array themselves against it. The Trib.
une says that nothing can be gained by it
no matter how much johnson deserves
impeachment. The Herald says that the
President has been guilty OF nothing
more than his partizan predecessors, from
Jackson down. The Times says the
charges are nothing more than those re
peatedly made on the floor of the House
and believes that the Senate will throE
them out. The Express says it is dis
graceful to the organization of the House
that the subject of impeachment goes be
fore a committee Of nine members, In
which the President has but one friend
and he not an actual member. The eighi
remaining members will leave the case t.
Ashley in in its preparation. Boutwell,
will do the work of ~impeechiDg in tn
committee. Our only hope pow is in to-
Senate, which may respect the laws ant
the facts. In the meantime the Presiden
bears himself with adignity and patienct
which ought to command the respect o
the country.