New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-26


them with new heads and accordingly directing his pre-,
tended Governors TO order Conventions of s1c Of the
PeQpe as ~ was MS pleasure TO indicate TO make his Con
suluuons lOr then on such terms and with such pro-
visions as were agreeable himself UnprOvlded how
ever, % COURSE; III the absence OF Congress, with the
necessary resources TO meet the expenses Of these organ
Hauons he not only directs the payment of portion of
OUT OF the contingent fund Of the War Department,
but with boldness uneQualed even by Charles The First
when ne undertook to reign without n Parliament pro-
uSs Ior deficit by authorizing the seizure property
ernmep+ dd OF moneys belonging to the Gov
Lne,' ana directing his endeavOrs 10 levy taxes for
lle same purpose from the subject people"
The further reading of the report was dispensed WITH
excepting the conclusion, as follows:
In accordance with the testimony herewith submitted,
ana tne view OF the law herein presented the Committee
United States, is guilty of high crimes and msdemeanors
requiring the nterposton of the constitutional powers
Rebel armies and the overthrow Of the Rebel Govern
ment the said Andrew Johnson President of the United
se that by It's aid and authority, legal and constitu
uona measures might have been adopted for the organi
states then recently in rebellion. In that in his proca
nation TO the people Of North Carolina of the Goth day of
May, 1865 he assumed that he had authority to decide
whether the Government OF North Carolina and whether
any other Government that might be set M therein was
republican Tin FORM and that in his office Of President
was us duty and within his power TO guarantee to said
people republican form OF government contrary to the
Constitution which provides that the United States shall
guarantee to every state in this Union g. republican form
OF government contrary also, to deliberate opinion of
the supreme Court, which declared that Congress is
vested exclusively with the power to decide whether
the government of State is republican or not In that
he ala thereafter recognize and treat plan OF govern
10 his own advice and direction as republic In form and
entirely restored to its functions rs State nOtwhsand
ing Congress is the branch Of Government in which, by the
constitution such power IS exclusively vested ana not
witstanding Congress did refuse recognize such Gov
eminent ms a legitimate Government, Government
repnhlcan IN f0rni IN that by public proclamation
and otherwise he did in the year 1865, invite; solicit
belhon conventions OF persons many Of whom were
known traitors who had been organized in an attempt
TO overthrow the Government OF the United States and
urged and directed such convention to frame eonsutu-
tiOns for themselves.
In that he thereupon assumed TO accept ratfy. and
confirm certain called Constitutions, framed by such
illegal and reasonable assembages Of persons, which
respective states, nor ratified aud confirmed by the
United States; thus usurping and exercising powers
vested by the Constitution IN the congress OF the United
In that he hardened large numbers of public and noto
rous traitors with the design Of receiving from them aid
in such Conventions, called by his advice and direction
governments the states then recently in rebellion |
prior to the annual meeting OF Congress- with the intent
thus TO cOnstlan Congress 10 accept raty and confirm
such illegal and unconstitutional proceedings.
In that he did, within and for The States recently in
REBELLION create and establish as civil officer the oiee
OF Provisional Governor so called an Office unknown to
the Constitution or laws Of the land
States respectively, men who were public and notorious
traitors he well knowing that they had been engaged in
Of the Government Of the United States and well know
said Office without committing the crime Of PERJURY IN
manifest violation of the laws OF the country
In that he directed the Secretary OF State 10 promise
payment Of money to SAID persons 20 Illegally appointed,
salary compensation for services 70 be perioes in
of the law of the United States approved February
1862 entitled an act making appropriations for the sup
port OF the Army for the ending the JOh DAY OF
June 1864 and for deficiency for the signal service for
the year ending June 80, 1863"
In that he directed the Secretary OF War 10 pay moneys
said persons for service performed in said Office He
eay created which moneys paid under MS drec-
violation OF the Constitution of the United States.
In that he deliberately dispensed with and suspended
passed on the % Of July, 1902 entitled An act to pre-
scribe an oath OF office, and for other purposes"
In Ip ~ laws %
the United States, persons who, as was well known 10
him, had been engaged IN the Rebellion, who were guilty
of the crime Of treason, and who could without
uniting the crime Of perjury, or otherwise violating Grim
inay the said act Of July p 1902 enter upon the duties
In that without authority Of law. and contrary TO law.
he used and applied property taken from mo enemy III
port OF the said Illegal and unconstitutional governments,
"a set mn In the said states recently In rebellion and for
like purpose and in violation OF the Constitution, and
OF his oath Office, he authorized and permitted levy
Of taxes upon people of said states thus usnrpng
vested exclusively in the Congress OF the United States
70 the laws and Constitution Of United States aud
violation Of his oath of office President OF the United
In fact the said Andrew Johnson, President Of the
United states has In messages TO congress ana oler
WISE publicly denied substantially the fgh OF congress
TO provide for the paccaton, government and restoT
ton of said states TO the Union and IN ke aner ne
has asserted ms exclusive rght 10 pioEiue
therefor. and TO accept and proclaim the restoration OF
said States TO the Union, az Oh "hoh ~ ~ , o
the ghful authority OF Congress and calculated 10 SUD
vert the Government OF the United states. 49,. :, -,
II II.
vetoed various bills passed by Congress for the pachca
ton and government OF the States recently IN rebellion
and their speedy restoration 10 the Union ana upon the
round ana for The reason that said States had been
restored their places the Union by MS Aforesaid ne
gal and unconstitutional proceedings, thus so
and using constitutional power OF the office lac held 80
prevent the restoration of the Union upon conS
tutonal basls
In that he has exercised the power OF removals from
and appointments 10, Office for the purpose OF maintain
ing efectuay his aforesaid usuTpaon ana Tor the pur
pose Of securing the recognition by Congress OF the state
governments, Illegally and uncOnstltutOnay SET up III
the States recently IN rebellion such removals ana aI
pointInents having been attended and followed with
great injury the public service, and with enormous
In that the exercise OF the pardOning power he |
issued order for the restoration OF l95 men belonging
to West Virginia, whO upon the records OF the War De
partmen marked deserters from the army in |
time of war and this upon representation Of private
and interested persons and without the previous nves
cation by any officer OF the War Department for the sole
purpose Of enabling such persons TO vote IN election
then pending in said State and with the expectation that
they would vote TO support him IN his aforesaid
constitutional proceedings He then well knew that the
men 50 restored by virtue OF such restoration, would
be entitled to large sum Of money from the Treasury Of
In that by his Message the House OF Representatives
OH the ed OF June 1865, and other public and private
means he attempted to prevent the ratification OF an
amendment the Constitution of the United States
posed the several States by the Houses OF Congress-
agreedbly the Constitution Of the United States, al
though such proposed amendment provided, among
other things, for the validity Of the public debt
of the United States rendered the payment Of any claim
for emancpated OF debt incurred in aid OF
or by the Government Of the Tned States
or by any OF the States recently III rebellion. He well
knowing tDaL the pIONiSOnS ny HIS
dctaOn in the said illegal Constitutions for said States
were wholly inadequate TO protect the loyal people
of the United States against the payment Of claims
account debts incurred by such states In ad OF rebel
lion thus rendering 10 practicable and easy for those In
authority in the aforesaid illegal and unconstitutional
Governments thus up 70 tax ana Cypress the loyal
people such States for the benefit OF those who have
been engaged in the attempt TO overthrow
The Government of the United States ln
That has made official and other public declarations
and statements calculated and designated TO injure and
impair credit Of the United States TO encourage per
sons recently engaged in rebellion against IFS auth0rty
to Obstruct resist the reorganization OF the Rebel
States so called, upon Republican basis;
and calculated and designed also 20 deprive the Congress
~ Snfes of the confidence OF the people