Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-12-06
METHODIST cHURcu.
impeachment.


The me9ri,y report of the Judiciary Com
mittcc Is sigucd by Mes.rs Boutwell, Of
Mass, Thomls Of Iowa, Williams o. Penn.
Lawrence Of Ohio, aud Churchill Of New
York. Il recommends the impeachment Of
Mr. johnson, for d" usurpati1n Of power. -
The charges resting on this '' central idea,
are That President J5husln, On the col
lapse Of the rebellion, neglected to convene
the two Houses Of C0ngress-a step essential
TO legal and constitutional measures ol rc-
construction; that be usurped the exclusive
authority Of Congress in undertaking himself
the establishment f new lceal governments
for the rebel States that in tie creation and
maintenance Of these unlawful governments,
he .c'zed and appropriat d certain moneys
and property Of the United States, and raised
taxes unlawlully; that he has, in messages
to Congress and otherwise. publicly denied.
substantially, the right Of Congress TO pro-
vide for the pacifeation. government, and
restoration Of the rebel States 60 the Union,
and has asserted bis exclusive right to do
these things that in his yeIoes be has OBJ
structed the legislation Of Congress, insisting
that by his unlawful acts the rebel States
were duly restored that in the same way,
and for the same ends. he has unlawfully
used bis power in removals, appointments.
and pardons that he has c0rruptly used
his Office to defraud and wrong the people Of
the United States in the transfer and sur
render Of railway property, Of the value Of
many millions Of dollars, t. persons who had
been engaged in the rebellion, or to corpora
tions owned wholly or in part by such per-
sons, including some roads constructed by
the United States and others, captured from
the enemy, and repaired at great cost that
be has returned to rebel claimants cap
turcd cotton ard abandoned property, and
the proceeds Of the lawful sales of suchprop-
ery and that he authorized the use Of the
army Of ihe United States for the dispers on
Of a lawful and peaceful assemblage Of eiti-
zeDs Of Louisiana (the New-Orleans massa-
Grey, and shis by virtue Of despatch ad-
dressed to a traitor
There are two minority reports one
signed by Messrs Wilson Of Iowa and Wood
bridge of Vermont, which pronounces the
President " guilty Of many wrongs, but
not Of improbable crimes and the other,
signed by two democrats On the Committee,
Marshall Of III. and Eidridge Of Wis, which
declares that 80 the crime Of the President
consists, not in violations. but in relusal= to
violate the laws
The question Of impeachment is thus be-
fore the House, and will, Of course, have fuil
discussion. 1t is, perhaps, as well that it
should be settled now as any time. 1t will
be folly for the House to impcaeh the Presi-
dent unless the evidence is such as will con-
Wet him upon trial, and Justify his sentence,
not only to the republican party, tu, to the
country and to the world. Ii crimes Justly
impeachable can he proved against the Prcsi-
dent, why should not the ease % to trial g.,
and justice be done But If, as affirmed by
Ml-srs. Wilson and Woodbridge, the majJI-
ity report Is based upon statements in sup
port Of which there is not particle Of oyi-
dence whieh would be received by any Court
in the land, it will so appear, doubtless, in
the coming debates, and the project OF in
parchment will end where it has begun. IN
less revived by fresh misdeeds on the rsrt Of
Mr.. johnson.