The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-26


thus 70 cosciae such persons 70 himself and secure
their aid IN support Of his aforesaid unconstitutional de-
power Oo ss o s oss o. ONE. II the .s snd
Of the constitution Of the United siaies, ~ NE
aid Andrew johnson, President o. the United
lsassned the public revenues. disordered tho ossness
and finances Of the country, encouraged MISREPRESENTATION
sentiments OF hostility bstvsen different classes OF c
xens revived and kept alive the spirit OF me repeon
Illuminated the nation dishonored republican
obssructed the restoration OF sad States the unon ana
delayed and postponed the peaceful ana rsof
sanzaon or the government Of the United s.aee The
COMMITTEES, therefore report the accompanying rsso0-
sEoRGE g. BOUTWELL,,
FRANCIS THOMAS,
THOMAS WILLIAMS
WILLIAM LAWRENCE,
JOHN @. CHURCHILL
peachment OF the President OF the United stsses:--
Resolved, That Andrew Johnson, President OF the
United States 10 impsachsd Of high crimes and msde-
meanora
Views OF Mcssrs. Wilson and WoodbriGe.
Representatives James +. wilson and Frederick
Woodbridge handed In report dissenting from The con-
illusions arrived as by . majority Of the committee
They say on the third day Of June 1867 was declared
BY solemn vote in the committee that from the tessi-
mony then before them. il did not appear that tho
President Of the United States guilty Of such high
crimes and mlsdcmeanon called for exercise Of
the impeachment power OF tbs Rouse The vote stood
yeas 8 nays4 On the 2lst instant this action OF the
committee was reversed, and vote Of ave 10 four de-
cassd In favor Of recommending 10 tho House an i'm
parchment Of the President Forty-ssght hours have
not yet elapsed since informed Of the character
OF the report which represents this changed attitude Of
the committed
The recentness OF this event compels general treat
msnt or some features OF the it 10 presented BY
the majority which otherwise would have been treated
Of more in detail The report Of the majority resolves
all presumpons against the President closes the door
against all doubts acarms facts established by the
testimony, support OF which there s not particle Of
evidence before us which would b received BY any
court in the land. We dissent from all Of ihis, and
from the temper and spirit Of the report The cool ana
unbiased Judgment OF The future whom the excitement
in the midst which We 1.-Two shall have passed away,
will not fail TO discover that the political bitterness Of
tho present time has in considerable degree given
tone 70 the document which we decline 70 approve
Dissenting DO from the report Of the Committee
both to The law OF the and the conclusions drawn
from the sscts developed by the testimony due
regard for the body which imposed VI the high and
transcsndany important duty involved in invessa
ton Of the charges preferred against the President i'm
pels 70 present q length views OF the subject
which has been committed 10 US by most solemn vote
Of the House Of Representatives In approaching this
duty feel that the spirit Of the partisan should be
laid aside and that the interests Of the republic they
measured by IT, constitution snd laws alone shall
guide US and deeply regret that in this regard
eanno, approve the report Of the majority Of tho
committee. wnls we would not charge them with q
design oct the part Of parsans in this grave proceed
ing w nevertheless feel PANIED BY the tone, temper
and spirit OF their report Bat regrets viii not
the demands Of the present grave and commanding
OCCASION and We therefore, respond to them by pre-
senlng the House the results Of careful deliberate
and, hope, conscientious investigation OF the
case before US.
Mssrs wnsos and WOODBRIDGE then proceeded TO
dscuss the constitutional question. With regard i'm
psachment Sc, showing by reference 70 legal sushor-
TICS that impeachment cannot be supported by any
aet which falls short Of indctable crime mis-.
demesnor English presidents referred 10 II length
and copous exlract& made from the testimony Of
the committee in order TO refus the reasoning and
cluson Of the majority. They conclude a. follows:
great deal or the matter contained in the volume
Of testimony reported to the House OF value what
ever. Much Of il / hearsay, opinions OF wit
nsssss and no little amount OF utterly irrelevant ;,
the case Comparatively smAli amount OF It could b
used on trial OF this before the Senate. All o
the testimony relating the failure TO try and admis
SION 20 bad Of Jefferson Davis, the assassina
ton Of President Lincoln, the diary Of >
wilkes Booth, his place Of burial the prsctiC'
pardon brokerage the alleged coFsspondsncs or the
President with Jefferson Davis may be Interesting 10
reader but Is not Of the slightest importance far
determination Of this ID concerned. still much Of
ms Ieeyan. matter hss been inter .oven INTO .ns
deepen its tone. STRIKE the stage effect OF this
Irrelevant matter and the prominence given 70 the
Tudors the otuars and Michael Burns aud much OF the
play win disappear and settle down upon the real evi
dence In tho case-ths which viii establish in Of
the attending crcums tsnces. substantial crime by
elamenfs
in many respects dwsrfs into political contest.
In approa hing conclusion do not fail 10 recognize
The standpoEts from which this case can be re-
viewed, the legal and the political Viewing II
from the latter the case ia success. The Presi-
dent has disappointed the hopes and expectations
Of tnose who placed him in power has betrsy Cd their
confidence and joined hands with their enemies he
proved false % the express and implied conditions
which underle hs elevation power and in view
or the deserves the and condemnation Of
every well disposed citizen OF the republic. While
acqrlt him OF impeachabe crimes, we pronounce him
gnliy Of many wrongs This contest with Congress has
delayed reconstruction and inflicted vast INJURY upon
the people Of the rebel states He has been blind 10
the nsccssities Of the times aud the demands Of
progressive civilization, envelopet in the darkness OF
the past and seems not 10 have detected the aawning
ing the grand changes which. the past
years have wrought, he seeks ~ measure the great
events which Surround him by the narrow rules which
adjusted public Affairs before no rebellion and lie lcgi
mate consequences destroyed tiem and established
others. Judge him politically condemn him, but The
day Of political impeachment would be q sad one for
the country Political un6tness and incspacily must be
tried al the ballot boz not In the high court or I'M
parchment. A contrary rule might leave 70 Congress
6nt little time FOR other business than the trial OF i'm
peachmcnts But we not now dealing with pollti-
cal ofrencss Crimes and msdemeanors
demanding our attention. DO these within the
meaning . OF the constitution appear Rest The
case upon political offences. and we are prepared
10 pronounce against the President. for such
offences numerous aud grave " Mexican experiences
Is desired need have difficulty, for there almost
svery election Ia productive OF revolution The peo
pie Of this republic desre such result - have mot yet
been abs 70 discover H. nor would favor II II its
presence were manifest while condemn and ccnsnre
The political conduct Of the President, and Judge him
upwise In the use Of his Discretionary powers, and APP
pea No IKE people Of the rspGblc 20 sustain us We still
slrm Al he concuson st shch We have arrived Is
correct We thsreiore declare inss me sase p:oIs ~
does not declare such high crimes AUD misdnmeanors
within the meaning OF the constitutions Is require ths
and rscommsne the Adoption Of the following resoiu-
ton -
Resolved. That the Committee on me Judiciary be dis.