Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-20

Because he created the Office OF provis-
ionsal governor. al a civil office, which is
unknown to the Constitution, and appoint.
cd 20 sueh once In the rebel States no.
torious traitors, well knowing them to be
such. and that they could not enter upon
the duties Of the Office without the crime
Of perjury. -
Because be deliberately tfsmpled under
his feet law of Congress enacted in 1862
prescribing an oath of Office, and which
law he VAS ssoth 10 execute, ADD appoint
ed to Offices, under the laws of the United
States, ssen who were we'll known to him
as traitors vbe could not take the oath
req aifed. IN fNtl
Because he refused to execute the con-
fiscaiion laws, and the laws against trea.
son, and by the most monstrous abuse Of
the pardoning power in innumerable 10.
Stances has made himself the powerful ally
aud best friend Of the conquered traitors
Of the South whose unmatched crimes
have thus utterly defiej even The ordinary
administration Of criminal justice. f'efa
Because the power Of impeachment, as
defined in the Constitution, clearly com
prehshds political offenses, like those Of
which the President has been proved
guilty in the case recently before the
House, and would otherwise be an empty
and unmeaDng mockery. leaving Con-
cress wholly powerless to protect the ma
tion against the most wanton acts of Exc
cutiye NAL administration and lawless-
ness. - ia-t ~ AN
And because, finally. in the language of
the majority Of the Judiciary Committee,
he has RETARDED the public prosperity,
lessened the public revenues, disordered
The business and finances OF the country
encouraged 'insubordination in the people
Of the States recently in rebellion, foster
ed sentiments of hostility between different
classes of citizens, revived and kept alive
the spirit of the rebellion, humiliafed the
nation, dshonored republican institutions,
obstructed the restoration of said States to
the Union, and delayed and postponed the
peaceful aud fratefnal Reorganization OF
the Government of the United States''
Sir, these arc some Of the reasons which
com PEELED six Of the Indiana delegation
10 vote "solidly in tho affirmative We
had no occasion 10 carry our researches
into the future in order to find jus'ifca.
ton for our votes And | desire 10 say,
sir, as emphatically as | eau, that nnder
our view Of the evidence and the law
there was but one alternative left as.
We could not allow our sense Of duty un.
der the oath we have taken to be swsyed
by any calculations as TO the effect OF i'm
peachment upon the finances ofrhe country
or upon our own party relations, or upon
the success Of the Republican party next
year. Neither could We pause 10 consider
whether the impeachment would be sus.
tanned in the Senate, or whether IL would
provoke the President to renewed acts Of
violence and render him more devil-bent
than before. We had nothing whatever
10 do with considerations Of this character.
Sir, impeachment is not policy. bat n
solemn duty under the Constitution, which
expressly provides for its performances
The New York Tribune itself says that
Impeachment Is the constitutional safe
guard between the people and u Dictator
ship TO regard the Presidency as an in
tact, independent Office, responsible only
to the moral influence called the people.
and 10 political mob called "a convention
is to spake our ruler as absolute as the
emperor OF China
Sir, not TO impeach in case fairly requir.
ing it. is itself an act volutiopary and
rebellious' in its character SO the indians
delegation believed. and so they acted un-
der their sworn duty OF fidelity 10 the
Constitution Of the United States. And
having SO believed and acted, they have no
apologies to make, no mans pardon to
beg, and no iayers to ask In any quarter.
Ia common with the ffty-sesen members
who voted 10 she Affirmative, and the one
hundred and eight who voted In the mega
tive, We shall be judged by the people
None of us can escape history" aud for
one am perfectly willing TO accept its
fnal verdict ! only beg leave TO say, 10
conclusion, that il the leading newspapers
OF the country had allowed the people TO
see the report in full Of the majority Of the
Judiciary COMMITTEE. the correspondent
Of the Tribune would probably have felt
less inclined TO volunteer an apology for
the Indiana delegation, which is as dis.
honorable to himsslf Us to them.