The national Republican., 1867-07-20

ence In relation to the execution Of Msximiliar
and the capture Of Santa Anna had been trans
mitted to the Senate.
Also, q communication transmitting a copy Of
treaty with the Emperor Of Russia In relation
to the purchase Of Russian America.
Also, a communication transmitting the name,
Of States that had ratified the constitutional
amendment, together with the times Of such rat.
hcation.
Also, communication from the President In
relation to the convention with yenezuels.
Also, q Communication transmitting the oorre
spondenoe between the Department Of State and
Lewis d. Campbell Minister to Mexico, and ae'
companying papers.
Also, report Of the Attorney General transmit
ting list Of persons pardoned by the President
the list being supplementary to that furnished In
All Of the above were referred 10 the spprO.
pirate committees.
Tho Speaker then laid before tho House the
message Of the President, returning with his OBJ.
jections the reconstruction bill.
| The message was road by Mr.. Mcpherson, the
Clerk, and occupied thirty minutes in the
reading.
After the message had been read,
| Mr.. Stevens, ofPa., said he supposed the House
might proceed at once to vote upon the question
before IT, He did not suppose there wa. any dis.
position to discuss 1t, as the subject had been
fully discussed already. A few minutes might
be very properly spent In discussion II there was
any disposition to discuss the question, and u not
he would call the previous question, and alter.
wards the House could adjourn andN give the Ju.
dietary oOmIitte. an opportunity to work an. .
gently In order that the preparation might be
made for the proforring Of tho articles Of i'm.
| parchment.
Mr.. Boutwell,, Of Mass, said tho message was
| so extraordinary in Its tone that he was unwill.
| ing that 1t should go to the country unless 1t
was accompanied with the impression that Il
| had made upon at least one mind In tho House
Of Representatives 1t convinced him that there
| was no relief for the country from the oppres-
| sion under which II was suffering, except In the
| assertion by the House Of Representatives Of tho
great power which resides In Its members, and
for the failure to assert which, the people would
hold any Representative responsible. II we fail
to exercise that great prerogatve, We will be re-
creant to the interests OF the people, and the fu-
ture well-being Of our posterity. There should
be no hesitation In arraiguing and trying this
man who occupies the executive office for crimes
already and evory day committed. Lot the coun.
try know whether that provision Of the Consti-
| tuition which gives to the House Of Representa-.
tives the power Of impeachment is dead or
whether II exists. This President Of the United
States says, whilst hold tho chief executive
authority Of the United States, while the obiga-
tion rests upon me to sec that all the laws are
faithfully executed, can never willingly turen.
der that trust or the power given for its execu.
tionin and In that sentence he proclsims his in.
tended disobedience to the law he now vetoes,
| as we'll as to laws that have preceded It. lie de-
clares substantially that he will not surrender
bis authority, holding that his version Of the
Constitution Is the supreme law Of the land; and
proclaiming that he will set at defiance q law
with regard to which he has no right to inquire
The Constitution has made 1t his duty to sec that
the laws arc conformed to and obeyed and what
NA. T. l. l. - 4
to the humblest citizen In the Republic, and It 10
his duty to obey it without making any inquiry
upon the subject. He has taken a solemn oath
to execute the laws, but in this message he inti-
mates that he will not execute the laws.
He was not authorised to speak for any MON.
Der Of the House or for any member of the Judi.
ciary Committee, but be would say for himself
that a man, has by the exercise Of an uncon.
stitutional authority has almost inaugursted q
war; who publicly and notriously set at defiance
your law, and appointed men to office who could
not take the required oath when your laws said
the oath must be taken, and who thus induced
rebels to add perjury to their other crimes; such
man should be punished In the manner defined
by the Constitution OF the country and without
delay. Shall this House stand idly by aud see
the principles Of liberty daily sssailed? Tho
President continues to make appeals to the peo.
pie. These appeals have boon made ere now
and they have been met by the people in proper
response In which they endorsed the true author.
ity Of the Government. They gave Congress
an endorsement In full view of previous legisla-
tion, and for themselves and their children they
declared for the true principles of liberty, and
yet here wo see violator Of tho law occupying
high and exalted position, and We seem to be
afraid to apply to him the legal penalty. It Is
our duty to investigate the charges that have
been so frequently made against the Chief Magis-
trate Of the nation. Lot him be arraigned and
triad and III Nv hut dav -
term Of office Is shortened, liberty will be preser
we'd for by allowing him to remain in his present
course bad precedent Is being set for future
rulers, and by his removal posterity will bless q
people and a Congress who demanded justice and
truth and thus preserved popular rights for all
ages,
Mr.. Randall. Of Pennsylyapia, rose In his scat,
apparently very angry and much agitated, and
said II he had the power he would like to drive
that Massachusetts impsacher to his home. He
would not dare to meet him Mr.. RandalD face
to face and express these sentiments. They did
not moan to impcach the President, for they
did not daro to do it, That was the word, they
dent done1 He has exercised a constitutional
right to veto q bill which does not meet his ap-
probation, and which he believes to be uuoon.
stitutional Tho Republicans seem to find fault
with this, but with nil their assertions and nulli-
hoation Of the President they have not found
tostlmuuy 70 NaTrhnt tnetn In presenting
articles Of impeachment, or to file the bills Of in,
dictment which in debate they are continually
bringing against him.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, said he would
not trouble the House II the President had
not wilfully, as 1t appeared to him, mis-
represented questions Of fact. He protested |
against the Executive slandering the Con.
gress Of the United States by asserting in a |
formal message that this body had put a despot. |
ism over twelve millions Of people The asser. |
tion was either true or II was false. II It was |
true then the Representatives and Senators were |
unworthy of their seats, and should be displaced; |
u 1t was false, then tho high officer making the
charge should besubjecte to the proper penalty.
He agreed In ono particular with Mr. Randall |
in that 1t sometimes appeared to him as though |
the House did not dare to prefer articles of i'm.
Psaohment How longi would this House close |
its eyes TO the fact that energetic measures were
demanded2 But he wanted principally to
notice some OF the points made by the President |
in his message, He desired, as was stated by |
the President, that Congress recognized the |
Southern States by submitting the Constitu. |
tional amendment to them. The Constitutional |
amendment was to be submitted to States In the |
Union, and Mr.. Johnson's Secretary of State |
availed himself Of the opportunity to send 1t to
States out OF Union as well as those in He |
(Mr. Butler) deniAd that there was any recogni. |
ton BY the confirmation Of judges, &c. for tho /
southern States, The officers confirmed were
United States officers and not State officers, and
hal hal