The New York herald., 1867-01-29
DEBATE At THE NEW YORK LyCEUM.
- Ought the President 10 be Impeached ga
...-.. .. Lively Discussion.

- Ought the President TO be Impeached GA
....-.. Lively Discussion.
small audience of ladies and gentlemen assembled
last evening in the rooms Of the American Geographical
society al Cliuton Hail. to further discussion OF
the question: nought the President to be Impeached
by the members of the New York Lyceum. The meet
ing was called to order at eight O'clock Mr. D. B. Mel
sh in the absence of the President acting Chairman
After the transaction Of routine business the SUBJ
ject prescribed for debate
fought TIE PRESIDENT TO BE IAPEAcHED? 7"
was discussed at considerable length, D. b. Dudley
making the opening remarks There we're two classes
said, OF those who negatively answer the question
OF which believed the impeachment 10 be justhable
expedent; and the other, that II was neither
jusufable por expedient He believed It to be oon ex-
pedent aud justiaabe. 1t not reproach TO our
institutions 10 mpe CHI the President, but on the con-
trary silence or Congress in the face of what the
President had in violation Of his trust greater
reproach As regarded the removal OF President john
son. far II affected the nnances OF the country, 1t
was well known that the securities of the
government fell only one per cent when the
subject was first brought by resolution to the
notice Of the house. IL would not affect the finances
more than the removal Of some railroad presidents
would some sad there was not time to do u II ana
cited the Of Warren Hastings which occupied eight
years but Lord Bacon had been tried and removed IN
less than that many weeks Besides business was done
in different style here and the charges could be sup
ported all they could be supported in few months,
and if the President had satisfactory defence To make,
no could make the lime. The element
Of time therefore did into the Tho spirit
and letter of the constitution must be carried OUT.
Errors Of Judgment we're mpeachabe as in the case OF
the Earl OF Bristol, who counseed against with
Spain violation Of the wisnes OF the people OF Eng.
land But the Presden, had committed over: acts and
just constitutional to impeach him as it TO
elect him. The second article fourth section, gave
definite ana explicit authority for an impeachment.
This was not parusan moVemenG ~ seooa on
motives OF high national justice. He would have
| and national security 10th Of which imperavcy
| demanded tho impeachment He never heard
that the New York HERALD was called radical paper;
but the NEW YORK HHRALD has said what was necessary
under the constitution and under laws II plainly
and distinctly tells the people what IS necessary And
NEW YoRK HERALD says that the President ought
be mpeached and IL does not stop there. gives good
and substantial reasons for his impeachment Now
until any away, explain away those reasons,
the case far the public is concerned, sapds for
impeachment IL said that the only charge against
tho President his great love for unity and consttu
| tion but the charges against him serious aud
positive One of the charges the tact that he as
sumed that, under Certain circumstances he could be-
the tyran the DICTATOR he termed II, OF this
nation. when he said In public speech that with the
$50 600 QUO which proposed TO be given hun by
saraps every village he could become by
aid of the army and navy. A man can be I'M
-, W %ou drs as ass hss was ns
second pa he had disobeyed hs constitutional duty
executing the laws of confscaon against proper
ty used by the rebels In aid Of the In the third
place. greatest OF ALL he had usurped the law-mak-
ing power Of Congress. tAppause.) Andrew johnson
did not follow the footsteps OF Abraham Lincoln in the
appointment Of Provisional Governors but appointed
men from civil life, without having before invested
even one Of his friends Gensra Dix had said was extra
consttuonalnot In pursuance Of any provision in the
constitution In his Instructions to these Provisional
Governors had usurped the Law making power. thief
Justice fancy had decided that rested with Congress
alone to determine what government shall be esap-
hsh3d IN the Stale, and in endeavoring TO mould the
State CONSTITUTIONS he had usurped legislative power
which might bee 'me dangerous and which warranted
impeachrnenIof the Presiden, would evidenlly over
the constitution; but 10 must b. remembered that
the same paper Ind sad during the war that the re-
beiion had broken up aud destroyed this government
forever He would stand on principles Of common JUS
tice aud carry the impeachment bodlywould tear
out this cancer from the vitals OF the body polite
W L OsxsHY followed on the negative side, saying
tha. no single act ever alleged TO have been committed
impeachment II there was only decline Of one per
cent In the national bonds IL must be remembered that
that was twenty-five million dollars though the gentle
man. In his magnncence might see dt 70 snap his dbger
against this Laughter and applausel There was,
party. (Laugnter) All that necessary for the
resolution ~ be offered In the House and old Ihad
Stevens get mp and talk the subject aud t would
be .passed-tlau9nter and appauss)-by tue regular
parliamentary proceeding. 1t was no reason why the
President should be inpeached because the New YoRK
HERALD said but this reason, but rather
consideration why he should not be impeached He
considered that the refusal Of tnat power which the
Freedmens Bureau bill proposed TO give him was very
good why he did want become dictator,
BY referring TO II IN the speech alluded 70 he merely
WISHED by this illustration 70 enforce his expression OF
loyalty to The people. Hc did not pretend 10
deny that President Johuson had done unconsti-
sutona acts There Was nothing in our system
Of laws to justify the appointment Of provisional
governors, but it was . legitimate deed that followed
precedents abiished by the party which elected him.
There was both executive and legislative usnrpauon
during a the war-made necessary In order vindcate
the spirit and integrity OF the republic The appoint
ex sting system ws. in accordance with recommend
alton by Congress itself, in bill which was passed by
that body besore the death Of President Lincoln Under
the provisions Of that bill the provisional governors mad
been appointed In regard TO the last charge the same
could also be made against Conxress and why should
not the President have al share in these extra
constitutional measures? The Supreme Court had
cded exactly opposite TO what was asserted by the last
Judge Taney ne said decided that the President Of tbs
United states having recognized certain government in
Rhode Island that government was the legitimate one
Of the STATE and the matter longer in the hands
Of Congress- The act OF the President final. The
keeping Of Southern representatives from the halls Of
thing that johnson had Besides the character Of
the man who initiated the impeachment was very bad
President Johneons worst act was white as snow
compared with the best OF that tApplause.)
ID. b. AnLlsH remarked that the very fact that Pres
dent johnson bad expressed disposition W insugurats
another civil war and with the aid OF the aud navy
lead the Southern rebels aud tner Northern
against Congress in the exercise Of their lawful powers
was the best reason why he should be mpesched aud
removed at once tAppsuse.l II pc was that kind of
man the danger Was IN permitting him still 70 bold the
States can honestly draw s salary under an spprop
ton by Congress which does not represent and coin
| prise the whole country, lheu he can legally be I'M
peached II he cannot johnson went the other horn
Of the dilemma and was SIMPLY thief-applauss)-iz
| drawing has S25,0 900 per year.
i An ArDnok-Did Congress Ok that sum at 325, ,000f
| Mr. MEIlsH-Congress makes the appropriated II
lsgislaed this point and when johnson says be
not BE- impeached by trump" Congress he nsulied al
| Others IN the service Of the government.
| A MrSsER-What has that 70 do with impeachment
Suppose he kicked them, thas would be an insult bu
| would II be q reason for impeachmentf
Mr.. MEl1IsH-He did say something on that subject
for when Ne went 70 81 Louis he stated that he wanted
70 "kick OUT all the men that had been appointed BY
President Lincoln. daughter and applause The So
preme Court had decided that with Congress alone
rested the power Of defining the powers Of State govern
| mentA
GxoRcE W. CHAPMAN would urge the impeachment Of
President johnson or any other President sassfac
proof Of guilt; but that had reference 10 the
| power Of impeachment But there had mot been any
definite charges against the President There had in
deed been degree Of eloQusnce displayed IN the
ments Of his opponent, but that did imply that h
ASSERTIONS would be taken Arguments th audanca