The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-10
Letter from iIie NaiioAsi GapiiaI.
Correspondence Of the Press
w sIINfsrnN d C. Ian 1867
THE IMPEACHlIENT QUESTION

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Z, 1867.
THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION
The House took to-day one of the most i'm
portant steps which the last six years has seen,
fun though they have been with momentuoLs
events. 1t had been understood that an at
tempt would be made at the call OF the States,
by Mr.. Ashley OF Ohio to introduce his resolu-
ton for investigation into Johnson's official |
conduct. This is preparatory to the presenta-
ton of articles of Impeachment. The depa'e
between Stevens and Spaulding on SATURDAY
was but the preliminary skirmishing III 'has
direction. The caucus on the sano evening
was called by those opposed to impeachment.
The principal of these We're bingham and
Spaulding of Ohio; Kasson OF Iowa, Wash
burn of III, and perhaps about twenty others
Most of them are not directly opposed to il
even; they are in doubt as to time and policy.
The caucus voted down Spauldings resolution
not to order an investigation until after such
question had first been agreed to in caucus
The amendment of Mr.. Ashley passed That
provided that no articles of impeachment were
to be presented until after submission TO and
Adoption by a caucus. A very spirited discus
sion occurred between Messrs Stevens and
Bingham upon the right of the Senate to try
after the introductien of new members, conse-
quent upon the assembling of the 10th Con-
gress. Bingham took strict construction
ground as is usual with him. Mr.. Stevens ar
gued that the Senate being permanent was al
ways competent for trial. The sense of the eau
Gus was very evidently in favor OF an inyesti-
CATION at least, while a majority would have
voted to order the Impeachment could the
question have thus been presented.
This morning the ball opened when Missouri
was called Fighting radical Ben Loan offered
an elaborate resolution setting forth the neces-
sity of doing certain things, such at the reor-.
ganization of the Southern States, Sc, and d.
recting as part of the means necessary to its
accomplishment, an investigation by the Judi
ciary Committee into the Presidents conduct
The reading OF this caused futter. From all
parts of the hall men arose, shouting "AIr.
Speaker" and furiously gesticulating. The
very air of the hall seemed to CULVER with the
excitement OF the members Gen. Loan how
ever held on the even tenor of his way, moving
down the aisle to the front, throwing aside the
suggestions made to him by anxious friends,
while the sharp voice of Colfax cut distinctly
through the din Of appealing voices. AT last
some democrat raised the point of order that
the resolution contained matter which under
the rules should go to the Reconstruction Com
mittee. The Speaker sustained it and away
went Loans stem strike" to the tomb of the
Capulets." But the N1issourians were not beat
They had bushwhacked before and understood
the game Col Kelso, one of the quietest but
ablest men of the delegation, rose Immediately
and offered the same resolution, eliminated
however of the particular clause on which the
ruling was made before. The chair decided it
to be new motion. After considerable fill
clustering it finally went over under the rules,
the morning hour having expired, to next
Monday. Several side votes showed however
that it would have been adopted had a vote
been reached. 't. n- - y 3t+se'
This was not the end Ashley Immediately
rose to a question of privilege, which was on
his right to offer resolutions preparatory to i'm
parchment. The Speaker decided it to be a
privileged question. Then the Clerk read Mr..
Ashley's preamble and resolution. The first
in formal language presented series of direct
charges such as corrupt use of the pardon
ing and appointing power, a direct conspiracy
{ to subvert the government, and usurpation Of
the legislative functions. The motion instruct
ed the Committee on Judiciary to investigate
into these matters with view to the prepare
! ton of Articles of impeachment This Gre
ated futter. Every Democrat was his
feet, as were several of the soldier conserva-
tiyes. Some of our New England friends were
evidently alarmed about their stocks Dem
ming, Jenckes, Baldwin and others didn't like
d it. Spaulding was very irate. Bingham would
have been glad to postpone Ashley demanded
the previous question which was sustained. A
motion to reconsider was made by Hubbard Of
Ohio, but was on division lost by a vote OF
IS to Al or g. After little skirmishing, such
as laying on the table, &er the vote was
brought directly ON reference. That was car
ried by vote of JOG to 36-seUenty majority.
The committee to which Mr.. Ashley's resO-
luton was referred, is the best Tor the purpose
in the House. Its chairman, Judge Wilson Of
Iowa is one Of the ablest of the many able men
in this body. He will be remembered as the
author Of the test oath measure. This Icom-
mittee had charge of the investigation into the
Assassination Conspiracy, through which we
without doubt owe the arrest OF Surratt. Gov.
IL George n. Boutwell, has national reputation.
both as a jurist and financier. By many men
he is esteemed the ablest man in the House.
Francis Thomas of Maryland, brings high Gull
ture, a life experience, a brave spirit and an
earnest raGicalism to the work. OF the ca
pacity of Thomas Williams of Pennsylvan ia,
no doubt can be had. L. e. Woodbridge, Of
Vermont, is an able man, as also Daniel Nor
ris, New York, William Lawrence, Ohio, and
Burton c. Cook of illinois. Andrew J. Roger
is the Democratic member. He is an unscru-
pulous demagogue and trickster. T. J,
I'M. e ..A4a,n
L have never witnessed greater excitement,
though many more demonstrating scenes.
Mems faces during the votes paled as have
81 seen them do in battle when ordered into dan
gerous places. 1t was not q sickly pallor, but
an intense, overmastering earnestness which
made them feel the imminent importance Of
the vote. Of enc thing L am certain; there
will be no recession from this vote. On the
contrary, it will be found that as the endorse
ment of the people comes, they will be braced
to greater endeavor. The longer members stay
here the more firmly fixed is the conviction
that with Andrew johnson in the executive
chair, the nation is in deadly peril, and all
their labors are likely to be overthrown.
The feeling Of the Southern loyaists, many
of the most prominent Of whom were on the
II
Governor Hamilton: "This is the beginning of
the end, and that is the end of Andrew John
son. Ihave not felt as confident of victory for
four years as 1 do to-day" La f.a.s
A radical delegation from Arkansas is ex-
pected to-day. These ask for an enabling act.
In this they are sustained by Gov. Murphy
and all the State officers. r. II
A movement to elect Roswell Hart, radical
member from Rochester, N. Y, clerk of the
4Oth Congress is on foot. Hart was defeated
at home owing to personal quarrel
lg-s SPECTATOR.
a DIAMOND EYE. One Of the toughest sto-
ries in circulation just now is that of a Pole,
who has just arrived in France from China:
In 1880 he was exiled to Siberia for political
crimes, from whence he escaped to Montreal
arriving their i'll complete poverty After