Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-04
Congressional
THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION.

THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION.
MAJORITY REPORT.
Submitted to the House, Nor. 25.
In accordance with the testimony herewith sub
mtted and the view OF the law herein presented
the committee are Of opinion that Andrew John
son, President Of the United States, is guilty of
high crimes and misdemean0rs, requiring the
iutsrpOsit0n Of the constitutional powers Of this
House in that upon the final surrender Of the rcb-
e armies aud the overthrow Of the rebel govern
ment, the said Andrew johnson, President Of the
United States, neglected to convene the Congress
Of the United States that by its aid aud authority
legal and constitutional measures night have been
adopted for the organization Of loyal and cOnst-
tudonal governments ian the States then recently
ia rebollion in that ia his proclamation TO the
people of North Carolina of the 29th 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
up therein republican in form, and that in his
office Of President it his duty and within his
power 20 guarantee TO said people republican
form Of government, contrary to the Constitution
which provides that the United States shall guar
antec to every State in the Union a republican
form of government. contrary also to deliberate
opinion of the Supreme Court, which declares
that Congress is vested exclusively with the power
to decide whether the government OF State is
republican or not in that he did thereafter recog
-
North Carolina under and in conformity 20 his
own advice aud direction, as republican in form
and entirely restored to its functions a State,
notwithstanding that Congress is the branch Of the
government in which by the Constitution such
power is exclusively vested. and Notwithstanding
that Congress did refuse to recognize such gov
ernment As legitimate government or n gov
ernment republican in form; in that by public
proclamation and otherwise, he did in the year
1865 invite, solicit and convene in certain other
States then recently in rebellion, conventions Of
persons many OF whom known traitors, who
had been organized in attempt to overthrow
the government of the United States, and urged
and directed such convention to frame constitutions
for such States; in that he thereupon assumed to
accept ratfy and confirm certain so-called consti-
tutons framed by such illegal and reasonable
assemblages Of persons. which constitutions were
never submitted to the people of the respective
States nor ratified and confirmed by the United
States, thus usurping and exercising powers vested
by the Constitution in the Congress OF the United
States exclusively; in that he pardoned large
numbers OF public and notorious traitors. with the
design of receiving from them aid in such conven-
tiOns called by his advice and direction for the
purpose of organizing and setting up such illegal
governments in the States then recently IN rebel
lion, prior to the annual meeting of Congress,
with the intent thus to cOnstrain Congress TO ac-
cent, ratify and confirm such Illegal and unconst-
tutional proceedings; in that he did within and
for the States recently in rebellion, create and
tahlish civil Office the Office Of provisional gov
/ ernor, ~ called, an office unknown to the con-
stitution or laws of the land in that he appoin-
ted 20 such Office created in said states respce
lively, men who were public aud notorious traitors.
he well knowing that they had been engaged in
open, PERSISTENT and formidable efforts for the
overthrow of the government OF the United States,
and well knowing, also, that these men could not
enter upon the duties of said office without com
mitting the crime Of perjury or in manifest viola
ton of the laws Of the country in that lac directed
the Secretary Of State to promise the payment Of
money to said persons illegally appointed as
salary or compensation for services to be per-
formed ia said Off ,e, illegally created contrary
TO the provisions of the law of the United States
approved February 18th, 1868, entitled An act
making appropriations for the support OF the army
for the year ending the 2Oth day OF June. 1851
and for a deficiency for the signal service for the
year ending June 3Oth, 1868; in that he directed
the Secretary of War TO pay moneys to said per-
for service performed in saidoi so Illegally
created, which moneys were so paid under his di-
recton without authority Of the law contrary to
law aud in. violation of the Constitution of the
United STATES in that he deliberately dispensed
with and suspended the operation OF the pro-
vision Of a law 81 the United States passed ON the
"a OF July, 1862, enttled An act tc prescribe m
oath Of office, and for other purposes; IN that he
appointed to offices created by the laws OF the
United States persons who, was well known to
him, had hecn engaged in the rebellion who were
guilty OF the crime of treason, and who could not,
without committing the crime Of perjury, or other
wise violating crminally the said act of July 2,
1862 enter upon the duties thereof; in that with
out the authority of law. and contrary TO law, he
used and applied property taken from the enemy
in time Of war. for the payment OF the expense
and the support Of the said illegal and unconstitu
tonal governments set up in the said Statos re-
Gently in rebellion, and for like purpose aud in
violation Of the Constitution and of his oath OF Of
fee, he authorized aud permitted levy of taxes
upon the people Of said States, thus usurpng and
exercising power which by the Constitution is
vested exclusively in the Congress of the United
States-all OF which acts were q usurpatiOn Of pow
er contrary TO the laws aud Constitution Of the
United States. aud in violation of his oath OF office
as President Of the United States.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Messrs Wilson and Woodbridge in their minor
declared by solemn vote ia the committee that
from the testimony then before them it did not APP
pear that the President OF the United States was
guilty OF such crimes and misdemeanors. They
then proceed TO state that the 2lst inst. this
action was reconsdcred, and by vote OF to
the committee declared in favor of recommending
70 the House an impeachment of the President.
The recentness Of the event compels general
treatment Of some features of the case, a. It is
presented by the majority, which otherwise would
have been treated more in detail. They say that
the COOL unbiased Judgment of the future, when
the excitement in midst OF which we live shall have
passed away will not fail TO discover that the po
tical bitterness OF the present time has in no in