Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-01-11

Caucus Of Radical Rcpresentatiycs-Th
Question OF the Impeachment Ofthe Pres
ident Discussed.
WASHINGTON, January 5.-The Rcpubli-
can members of the House of Representatives
held caucus at the Capitol tonight. About
sixty Representatives were present.
Mr.. Spalding, Of Ohio, offered resolution
that no measure, looking towards the i'm
parchment Of the President of the United
States, should be presented in the House,
unless previously agreed on by a caucus.
This was amended by providing that be-
fore any final action by the caucus the sub
icct should be referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, moved an amend
ment that no articles of impeachment should
be preferred without being first considered
by caucus. This was adopted.
Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania moved that
the whole subject be laid on the table. The
question was determined in the negative by
a vote Of nearly two to one.
The original resolution, as amended, was
agreed to by large majority.
There was much incidental debate between
Stevens, Bingham and others on the legal
questions involved, namely. whether an Inn
parchment could be partly tried by the Sen
ate Of the 18th Congress; also, whether the
House of Representatives of the Both Con
Congress could prefer articles ofinpeachment
to be tried by the Senate oft 40th Congress
OF whether. should articles of impeachment
be now preferred and not concluded at the
expiration Of the present Congress, they would
have to be renewed in the 40th Congress.
Mr. Stevens took the ground that the Sen
ate did not expire with the Congress on the
4th of March next, it being perpetual body.
Mr.. Bingham replied. arguing that, as
one-third of the present Senators would go
out on the 18th of March, the President could
not afterwards continue 10 be tried by SEN
ate composed Of third new members on
articles partially tried by the preceding Sen
ate.
The debate between these gentlemen was
extremely spirited, Bingham speaking in his
usual impulsive style, and Stevens exhibiting
the same earnestness They became personal
in their remarks The caucus, however,
was in the main harmonious There APP
peared to be general disposition to vote for
any inquiry into the matter Of Impending
the President. A large number were of the
opinion that he ought to be impeached.
Mr.. Bingham made the the point that ar
ticles of impeachment for the reasons he had
previously stated should not 6e preferred du-
ring the present Congress for want of time,
and reminded the gentlemen that the trial of
Warren Hastings lasted seven years. Ai2e
The caucus, after about two hours session
adjourned.
A Severe Shot Aimed at Thad. Stevens.
Mr.. Eldridge yesterday directed q severe
blow at Mr. Stevens, from which he cannot
easily recover. Read Mr.. Eldridge's reso-
luton
Resolyed, That the following resolution,
introduced into the House of Representatives
December 4, 1862, by Hon. Thaddcus Ste
yens, expressed the conviction and sense of
this House. to wit: Resolred, Thatif any
person in the employment Of the United
States. in either the legislative orjthe excu-
tive branch, should propose to make peace,
or should accept or advise the acceptance of
any such proposition, or any other basis than
the integrity and entire unity Of the United
States and their Territories as they existed
at the time Of the rebellion, he will be guilty
of high crime and that House bill 543 is
clearly in violation of the spirit of said reso-
luton, and that the same does in fact assert,
OF at least admit, that secessionists and reb-
els were successful in the dividing of the
Union, and destroyed certain States of the
United States, as such in the Union. degra-
ding them into Territories and that the
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, in and by the in
PRODUCTION and advocacy of said bill, has
manifested mind and heart disloyal to the
Constitution and the Union of the States as
they existed at the time Of the rebellion and
is guilty of the crime specified in said reso-
luton, and therefore deserves the reproba.
ton of this House.
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio, objected to the in
PRODUCTION of the resolution.
Mr. Eldridge said he did not desire to
press it, as the gentleman named in the res
oution was not then IN his seat Laugh.
ter. 1t was laid over National Republi-
can. 18th.
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