Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-01-17
Impeachment.


Impeachment.
On the celebrated sth of January,
while the Democracy throughout the
Union were celebrating Gen. Jackson's
victory at New Orleans, the Disunion
Bumpers Mt Washington were con-
cocting scheme by which they design
destroying "the best Government the
world ever saw" There, in the room
where tho American Congress form
erly assembled, sat cabal of
political jayhawkcrs, perfccting a
plot of impeachment; a mean wheip
rising in his seat, charges the Chief
Magistrate with high crimes, because
he administers the Government ac-
cording to the Constitution and the
precedents of the Fathers of the Re
public. Hear the canting hypocrite: I:
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio, rising and speaking with
some deliberation, said;
Mr.. Speaker rise to question Of privilege.
rise to perform n painful duty, but one which,
nevertheless, feel to be imperative, duty which
think cannot be postponed, and cannot without
great criminality on part be longer neglected.
had hoped that that duty would have deyolvcd
on an older and more experienced member Of the
House than myself Prior to the holiday recess
asked number Of gentlemen TO introduce the
resolution which tried to introduce and on which
the House refused to suspend the rules to enable
me to do so. Conscious that the loyal people Of
the country demand at our hands the proposition
which am about to submit, am determined that
no effort on my part shall be wanting.
Mr.. Finck, (Dcm.,) of Ohio, interrupted, and
asked the Speaker what was the question before
the House.
Mr.. Ashley, Of 0hio-I was going on to state Il.
The Speakcr-If tho gentlemen Mr.. Finekl in
sisis upon it, the Chair will rule that the gentle
man Mr. Ashley must state what his question Of
privilege is.
Mr.. Fnck-I do insist on IL.
Mr.. Ashley, Of 0hio--0n my responsibility as
Representative in this House, in il presence, and
before the American people, | charge Andrew
johnson, Nice-Presidont and acting President Of
the United States, with the commission Of high
crimes and misdcmeanors, and propose a rcsolu-
tion.
Mr.. Finck-I rise to another question Of order
Is that question Of priyilegel
The speaker-Thc Chair rules that It is a qucs-
ton Of privilege. In the Twenty seventh Congress
It was decided by the then Speaker CMr. Horace
Everett, of Vermont that a resolution Of impcach-
ment was question Of privilege.
Mr.. Eldridgc, Dem, us there not special
order before the liouse'
The Speakcr-There is not.
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio-I send to the Clerks desk
charges and specifications which ask to be read
The Clerk read as fellows
do impeach Andrew johnson, Vice President
and acting President Of the United States Of high
crimes and misdomcanors. | charge him with
usurpation Of power and violation Of law In that
he has corruptly used the appointing power; in
that he has corruptly used the parloning power
In that he has corruptly used the veto power; in
that he has corrupty disposed Of the public prop
erty Of the United States; in that he has corruptly
intcrfered In elections, and conspircd with othrs
to commit acts which, in the contemplation of tho
Constitution, arc high crimes and misdemcanors I;
therefore, be II
Resolred, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be and they are hereby authorized TO inquire into
the official conduct of Andrew johnson, Vice
President, dscharging the powers and duties of
the Office Of President Of the United States and 10
report TO this House whcthor in their opinion the
said Andrew Johnson while in said Office, has been
guilty Of acts which were designed or calculated to
overthrow, subvert or corrupt the Government Of
the United States, or any department or officer
AhFiN'Af lut ralu aAnNfNM johnson
has been guilty Of any act or has conspircd with
others to do acts which, In contemplation Of the
Constitution, are high crimes and misdemcanors,
requiring the interpostion Of the constitutional
power Of this House, and that said committee have
power to send for persons and papers, and to ad-
minister the customary oaths to witnesses.
Mr. Ashley, Of Ohio, moved the previous ques-
ti0n on the resolution.
Which was adopted, by lO7 yeas to 30 nays.
The President is, therefore, in the
hands of this committee-the grand
jury-and if they find a true BILL il
will be the duty of the Senate to pros
ecute the case. We predict here, that
Andrew Johnson will never be i'm.
peached, because his accuser and his
accomplices are guilty of the very
crimes they charge against the Presi.
dent, and they are only making this
bold and desperate flank movement to
draw public attention from themselves
Mean and desperate as were the mcr
who took the woman before Christ to
be stoned to death, their crimes were
infantile when compared with the
heihous ofIenses of these modern &C
cusers 1t is very evident that Thad
Stevens will not throw the first stone
The man Ashley, who has thu
attempted to initiate Edmund Burke
by introducing the impeachment res
olutions, is fith-ratc lawyer iron
Toledo, Ohio, and the Rump repre-
sentative from the Tenth district Q
that State. We can imagine hin
rising in his seat, crocodile tears abou
the size of a mimic rolling down hi
cheeks, snufiiing and blubbering owe
his solemn (') duty towards ga FIRE
people" We presume he meant tn
darkcy; because there arc no frc
white people any more. IN the II