The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-26
sptcy Debate on impeachment.
NOISE or EpREsENTATTvEs-sAruRDAY

MI. bl ltIN hafAbh hso NV ittuttS
allowed him by Mr.. BLAINE, said that the
Thirty ninth Congress said TO the people
If the United States that Andrew John
son was bad man, and that the House and
Senate should stay here and take care OF
his acts. In obedience to that law we
arc assembled here to-day. The Presi-
dent has Just vetoed, on grounds of uncon-
stitutionality, the bill to carry out the de-
tails of the reconstruction acts. And now
/; is proposed that We shall 80 away and
leave the whole matteri in his hands for six,
seven, or eight months. Thus you say
he can be trusted, that he is q good man,
that this great question Of rcconStructing
the empire Is perfectly safe in his hands.
The last House of Representatives re-
solved that there is good reason to believe
that he ought to be ~impeached, and the
Judiciary Committee has been instructed
% inquire into the matter.
Now, there either Is or Is not a rcasona-
Ne ground for impeachment. That qucs-
ton should be determined at once and for
ever. and not be left before the country as
a disturbing influence.
Justice to Andrew Johnson requires that
!. shall be determined at once. Justice to
tat buNlNtSN lIAtltSlN W lIt CblulIN re-
ouircS it. We are acting like a general
who, having started a%critical movement in
the field, abandons the field and gets ont
al sight and sound of the action. The
loval men and the business interests OF
the country will hold every member re-
sponsible for what may happen in conse-
Quence of nc adjournment. And now, first,
and last, and all the time, ! respectfully
protest against the adjournment.
Mr.. BLAINE said the statement has
gone so long uncontradicted on the floor Of
this House that The great loyal people Of
the country are waiting ~anXiously for the
House 10 institute measures of impeach-
mcnt that ! think ii ought to be contra
dicted, | ask the gentleman from Massa-
chusettS through what convention, through
what organization, through what express
sion of public opinion anywhere, he feels
justified in talking with such confidence.
! maintain that ont of the seventeen or
eighteen hundred newspapers which re-
present the loyal people of the country,
and which are the best induces OF public
opinion, the gentleman cannot find twenty
five that regard impeachment as serious
aud when the gentleman talks about our
remaining here and having the question
settled, | tell him that in the public mind
the question is settled.
Mr.. BUTLER.-What way?
Mr.. BLAlNE.-It is settled that on any
showing that has been had, as bad a man
as Andrew Johnson is conceded to be, and
whatever he may have done, the people do
not believe it worth while TO upturn the
foundations of the Government by having
.la !. xtra,r3ipar gpnntunla hara nfrnttinn
lin ont of office in that way. There has
.ccn no manifestation anywhere of a de-
,re on the part of the loyal people justify
NJ the declaration of the gentleman.
Mr. STEVENS, of PennSylvania.-The
Gentleman will allow me 10 say that within
Tire last two weeks one of the largest meet
.ng> ever held in the interior of Pennsyl-
v4uia was held in Schuylkill county, impe-
utiycly demanding Impeachment.
Mr.. BUTLER.-The gentleman will fur.
Their allow me TO say that | had the honor
10 place before the Legislature of his own
State (Mainc) the question whether An
drew Johnson ought TO be impeached, and
in my Judgment it would have voted for
impeachment al once but that ] advised
the question TO be left to Congress.
Mr.. BLAINE.-The gentleman may be
better posted about the affair than am,
but my advices from there are that the
Legislature regarded the matter as mex
pcdient.
Mr.. BUTLER.-Let me further say that
! have presented petitions for impeach-
ment from many parts OF the country, and
when the gentleman tells me that the
newspapers of the country do not want
Impeachment, let me- ask him how many
d. these newspaper people have daughters,
sons, nephews, ~uncles, aunts, and cousins
ii the Federal Offices of the Government
MIR. BLAINE.-If the gentleman means
10 impugn the newspapers Of the country,
lake up the gauntlet, and say that a bet
ter class of men does not exist in the
United States han those who represent
the press.
Mr.. STEVENS expressed the desire that
the question be postponed until Monday
or Tuesday next. There were three or
four small appropriation bills and other
matters to be disposed OF. As to the ques-
ton of impeachment, he had nothing to
say, having heretofore expressed his views
on that question. He believed the people
expected the House to examine the matter,
ana II there was Just cause to lmpeach An
drew Johnson. The House bad also yester-
day instructed the Committee on Public
Expenditures to inquire into the impeach-
mcut Of the Collector of New York. He
minated that Mr.. BLAINE had not enter
tanned his present views against impeach-
mcut until after the election of the present
presiding officer of the Senate, and referred
10 a remark made by Mr.. BLAINE that he
preferred the present Executive to remain
Ia Office rather than nave the shilly-shally
ways of the senator from Ohio (Mr. WADE)
introduced into that position.
Mr.. BLAINE denied having made the
statement in that way, though he admitted
having expressed a preference for Senator
FESSEYDEN over Senator WADE, in case OF
the removal of the President, and he init
mated that it was not exactly proper on
the part of Mr.. STEVENS to retail private
conversation.
Mr.. STEVENS denied that it was pri-
waite conversation, and said that Mr.. BLAINE
expressed the idea openly about the House
in an ardent, excited manner though not
In course of debate.
Mr.. BLAINE said that the conversation
referred 10 was not even alleged by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania 10 nave been
win himself. IL was Simply one Dc nda
CHANGED to oyerhear, and he heard only a
part of it. His respect for the age and
services of the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania forbade him from characterizing this
violation Of the amenities of debate as he
would under other circumstances.
Mr.. STEVENS said he had heard nothing
Of Mr.. F~EssENDES's name in the converse
ton referred TO.
Mr.. BLAINE replied that was because he
had heard only halt the private converse