The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-01-17

The House ON Ashley lkesOiutkOm.
The proceedings of the mad fanat'
les at Washington on Ashley's bill
looking to the impeachment of the
President, are before us. They indi-
cate SO clearly. the revolutionary ten
dency of Congress that we shall make
a short extract from the House pro-
ceedings:
Mr.. Ashley: "Then, sir, on my response
bility as Representative in this House, and
| in the presence and before the American peo-
| pie, charge Andrew johnson, Vice-Presi-
dent and acting President OF the United
States, with the commission of high crimes
| and misderneanors and / now propose res
olution." [Applause in the gallery.
Mr.. Finck rose to another point of order,
/ whether the question raised by Mr.. Ashley
was properly question OF privilege.
The Speaker decided it was; that it had
been so decided upon point Of order raised
| by Hon. Horace Everett, of Vermont, in the
Twenty-seventh Congress.
Mr.. Ashley then presented a preamble and
resolution, as follows:
/ do impeach Andrew johnson, Vice Presi-
dent and Acting President of the United
Y =
charge him with the usurpation of power and
violation OF law, in that he has corruptly
| abused the appointing and pardoning powers;
In that he has corruptly disposed of the pub
lie property of the United States; in that he
has corruptly interfered in the elections, and
committed acts and conspired with others to
commit acts which are high crimes and mis-
demeanors; therefore, be it
/ Resolved, That the Committee on Judic-
| larry be, and they are, hereby authorized to
/ inquire into the official conduct of Andrew
johnson, Vice President, in discharging the
powers and duties of President of the United
States, and to report to this House whether
in their opinion, the said Andrew johnson,
while in said office has been guilty of acts
which were designed or calculated to over
throw, subvert or to corrupt the Government
of the United States, or any department or
officer thereof, and whether the said Andrew
johnson has been guilty of any act, or has
conspired with Others to do acts, which, in
the contemplation of the Committee, are
high crimes and misdemeanors, requiring
| the interpOsition of the constitutional pow
er of the House, and that said Committee
have power to send for persons and papers,
| and to administer the customary oaths to
witnesses
Mr. Finck, of Ohio, demanded the yeas and
| nays. The motion was lost. Yeas, SO nays,
los.
The Speaker stated the question to be up
on seconding the demand for the previous
question.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, inquired whether,
if that demand were not seconded, it would
be in order to move to refer the resolution
to the Committee ON Judiciary.
| The Speaker said that it would
Mr.. Bingham-"Then hope the demand
will not be seconded"
Mr.. Ashley-"And hope it will
On motion of Mr.. Bingham, tellers were
ordered and the demand for the previous
question was seconded by a vote of Is yeas
to 46 nays.
Mr.. Hubbell, of Ohio, inquired whether
motion to refer the resolution to the Judicial
ry Committee would be in order.
The Speaker decided that it would not,
unless the vote seconding the demand for
the previous question should be recon-
sidered r,
Mr.. Hubbell, of Ohio, moved to reconsider
that vote.
Mr. Wentworth, of Illinois, hoped that it
would be done, as he wanted to make
speech upon the subject. laughter
Mr.. Stevens, of Pa, moved to lay the mo-
ton to reconsider upon the table. which was
done, by vote of yeas IS, nays AZ.
The Speaker then declared the question to
be upon agreeing to the resolution.
Mr. Niblack, of Ind, raised point of Or
der that the motion to reconsider being laid
on the table, carried the resolution with it.
The Speaker overruled the point of order.
On the adoption of Mr.. Ash1ey's resolution
the vote stood as follows: Yeas 1857 nays
as
Mr.. Spaulding moved to lay the resolution
on the table. The vote was negatived-a
yeas, los nays.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, demanded the pre-
yious question on the passage of the resolu-
ton, and it was ordered.
The resolution was then agreed to-yeas
LOG, nays 46. -.
The committee to whom this pre-
amble and resolution was referred con-
sists Of Messrs Wilson, (Iowa) Will
liams, Woodbridge, Boutwell,, Thorn
as, (Maryland) Morris, Lawrence,
Cook, (Illinois) and Rogers; and as
the deposing Of the Chief Executive
has gained considerable favor with the
majority of Congress, it is reasonable
to suppose the ''mighthy consider
atoms presented in Ashley's pream-
BILE will influence the investigation
of the Committee. This species
of warfare, if continued to be waged |
against the President, must beget re-
aud when "like for like is
returned, the Jacobius must fall as did |
the violent revolutionists and turbu-
lent demagogues of France in 1871. |
There is no specific charge of crime in
Ashley's bill, and Newelps ''articles'
are tissue of falsehoods from be-
ginning to end, entirely devoid of
anything approximating to truth.
They may roar and below in Con-
yress and indulge in savage speeches
With impunity,I but when an attempt
s made to remove the head of the
Government to advance party in
erests, howl must rise from the bulk
# the people, and the strong arm that
,uides and directs the nations power,
will soon decide whether radicalism
n liberty is to perish. The Pres
dents answer to the charge was brief
mt Significant am ready" It sig
ifies he will be a dangerous foe-an
nemy not to remain passive