The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-06
IMMENSE REDUCTION
of Clothing.
M. GUTMAN q CO.'S.

The impeachment question was then,
at three o'clock, taken up, aud MT.
Boutwell, proceeded to discuss tour
clauses in the Constitution relating TO
the impeachment, declaring that they
were not intended merely to punish
criminals, but to remove from office
persons unfit for Office or trust, or per-
sons charged with any act stained with
Icriminality. The object of impeach-
ment, he said, is not to punish, but to
secure the country against the presence
of the offender in any place of trust or
power in the future. If the judgment
of the Senate were o punishment, then
the 9TH paragraph of Section 3, Article
l, of the Constitution, which provides
that the person convicted shall never
theless be liable and subject to indict-
ment, trial, judgment and punishment
according to law, would be wholly IN
consistent with the nature OF our lnsti-
buttons. The phrase of the Constitu-
ton has been drawn aside or rather
torn from its legitimate connections and
office for the purpose of furnishing
nroof of the doctrine that these acts
are indictable and those alone are I'M
peachable offences. The true and differ
emit meaning of the phrase is easily I'M
derstood, its office is to change the COM
mon law practice of England. BY that
law a person convicted by the House OF
Lords upon proceeding by impeach-
ment, could plead that conviction ana
sentence in case of an Indictment In
criminal court for some offence. The
speaker proceeded to compare very fully
a method of proceeding for impeach-
ment under our laws with those OF
Great Britain, claiming that under the
provisions of our Constitution are
offences impeachable which are not in
dictable; treason, he said, was
one of the impeachable offences
which is defined by the Con-
stitution, and Congress has no
power to enlarge the limit or in any
degree to qualify tie jurisdiction of the
Senate when sitting for the trial of the
President. While Congress does not
declare what constitutes high crimes
and misdemeanors, it limits the detni-
ton of the crime of treason to single
one of these forms it is impossible Tor
| Congress to make certain onenses
crimes and misdemeanOrs everywhere
in the United States the same at the
present moment. No law exists which
declares that it shall be high crime or
misdemeanor for the President to decline
to recognize Congress, and yet should
he decline to recognize its lawful and
constitutional existence and authority,
and thus virtually dissolve the govern
ment, would Congress be impotent
and unable to proceed by provlso OF
| impeachment to secure his removal from
offices. After further remarks Mr.. Bout
we'll said, | rest firmly IN the opinion
that the phrase of bribery aud other
crimes aud misdemeanCrs is used in the
Constitution in accordance with and
subject to the principle or rules of reason
which lies at the foundation Of the Eng
| lish Common law Of Crimes. This rule
is that no person can lawfully do an
act contrary to good morals. The
Speaker quoted largely from great
iurists, both English and American, as
to the laws bearing upon cases similar
! to the one under discussion, and
| the whole argument was to prove that
| the law sustained the position assumed
| by majority of the Committee, and
rendered their case u clear one.
Mr.. Boutwell, proceeded to consider
the facts in the case, Analysing the
charges against the President, his acts,
his Cabinet advisers, his speeches and
messages, his interference to prevent
the adoption of the Constitutional
amendment, his surrender of abandoned
lands, and bis removal of Stanton, Sher-
idan aud Sickles, and closed rs follows:
Believing Andrew Johnson is guilty
OF high crimes and misdemeanors, |
have assented to, and by direction of a
majority of the committee on Judiciary,
reported IA resolution for impeachment.
III contemplation of the law, and upon
the facts, believe him so guilty, and
therein ask n Judgment of the House
Mr.. Boutwell, yielded to the motion to
adjourn, with the understanding that
he should have the floor tomorrow
morning.
After reading the journal, the Speaker
presented q statement of the Secretary
of the Treasury, showing the amount Of
revenue received from distilled spirits
for each collective district. Adjourned.