New-York tribune., 1867-10-19
JUDGE LAWRENCE UPON IMPEACHMENT.

In the Appendix to The Congressional Globe
for the last session. now Just published speech which
delivered in the House, but printed by permis-
sion under the rules of the House. Judge William Law
OF Ohio In which he summed up the grounds upon
which he favored impeachment The special significance
Of the language lies the fact that Judge Lawrence is
member OF the Judiciary Committee, and this speech is
therefore looked upon recital OF tho charges upon
which the President will be arraigned IL at all An
interesting statement Of the extent TO which this speech
reflects the opinion Of the rest Of the members Of the
judiciary Committee will be found IN our Washington
dispatch above. We quote as follows:
:" The military power cannot without the sanction OF
Congress, establish permanent civil governments for
times OF peace when agrant war ceased an e %
President TO both Houses Of Congress- Refusing
to perform this duty which nc knew 70 DC necessary Ior
this and other purposes he issued seven solemn proe
nations assuming TO appoint seven civilian provisional
SG be noag adyce no and consent of the Senate
BY these procamatons he usurped the power 70 create
an office unknown TO the Constitution or the laws; to
MI that office with incumbents holding by the tenure
of his pleasure, without the advice ana consent OF
the Senate with salaries fixed by no law but his Will,
and to be paid ont OF the public treasury IN VIOLATION OF
the law He assumed the power to clothe these ocers
with authority elections TO be held for members
Of conventions TO create State governments by amend.
ing State constitutions IN mode different nom that
prescribed therein and without the sanction OF congress
He prescribed the qualifications of electors and members
OF conventions requiring OF each an oath not required by
he enfranchsed Rebel in these states who would
take the oath he prescribed and excluded loyal freed
these States from all right TO participate IN the elections
or otherwise In political power lie put II IN the power
OF Rebels contrary 10 his former convictions OF DUTY 70
institute governments forever denying freedmen the
political aud civil rights OF citizenship Inc Presdent
assumed the right TO determine when the new State gov
ernments should into operation, requiring the proys
governors remain In the exercise of their func'
tons until relieved by his express direction
A President whose conduct is marked by acts which
may define him tyrant Ia unfit TO be the ruler or fee
people and deserves impeachment In thus devising the
scheme OF dsfranchsement the President 10 have
been guided by purpose TO speedily secure power to the
act contrary 70 his own convictions expressed at
earlier date This usupation ny the President clearly
conplish H. and force 10 upon the country not only
grayaes the crime, but In view OF his motives c0nst
tues additional grounds OF Impeachment 40 achisVe eve
his purposes he was guilty OF many unnecessary ana IN
authorized usurpaons and acts OF oppression he hed
the liberty OF the press subject 10 DIS df
such newspapers as he disapprOved, ana permit, 1he
ting them TO resume publication, contrary TO t1e
support s%SSs tie Il policy @ Of
yiscd that order improper and mschievous In ITS
tendency He held large portions OF the Rebel popula
tOn abec serviity not rs measure OF safety 20 the
Government, but that lie might br1be support OF his
policy by the exercise of the pardonng power lie mas
restored Rebels property OF the value OF many MILLIONS
OF dollars in violation Of law and in disregard OF the
rights OF loyal citizens. He has, without authority ana
without consideration, and in violation OF the law trans
struced by the Government in part at cost OF many
millions OF dollars he has also other property used for
and in violation OF law sold railroad rolling stock and
other property of the United States of the value OF many
curty for less than its value to corporations controlled
by Rebels, and when payments fell due he has cor
rupy and without authority suspended the performances
of their obligations He has prOsttuted the power or ap
ponnent 10 and removal from office 90 the maintenance
OF his policy regardless Of and TO the great peudce OK
the n6uc interests corruptng by IT, far possible,
all who base enough 10 abandon principles ana ex
known in any former administration. He aimed blow
az the Constitution and the liberties OF the country by
refusing TO submit appointments office, 10 the Senate
for their advice and consent and by retaining men III
office regardless OF that body He made an order remoy
ing all penalties from large number OF persons marked
as deseters on the rolls of the War Department for the
purpose OF securing the election of fayorte candidate
FOR Congress in West Virginia regardless OF duty ana
without evidence. He assumed power 10 dispense
with the acts ofICongress, and appointed Rebels TO
the punishment OF traitors for the confscatlon or
their property that used for nurrectenary purposes
hs assumed 10 himself the right TO determine when war
had ceased without consulting the law-making power Dy
whose authority alone can be made ana peace de
clared in cases OF rebellion The assumption OF power
TO declare peace say when or how long the laws OF war
the pleasure OF President and might he made fatal to
the national existence While these us9rpations We're
being practiced President mant3ned the operation
OF martial law in Rebel States suspendng from the rgnt
hold Office under the soealed state anthorty w wn4 G
offenders by military commissions ana 10 push % az is m
cold blood unofendlng citizens IN the exercise OF their
peaceful rights Processing TO regard louisiana rs
regularly organized state, he in violation OF the Con-
stntion authorized the Attorney General OF that state
notorious Rebel TO call on the nauoh i'dy a
ioyai @ssemblage OF people. And though there
" am absolute massacre" "a murder without
sitv y" Inv n Rebel mob in New Orleans one OF the
guilty perpetrators have ever been brought to justice or
punishment While thus giving announcement to
Rebels 10 suppress q loyal and lawful assemblage he
refused military aid when demanded by the Governor
OF Tennessee preserve peace ana execute the laws
Assuming the right TO require illegal conventions TO
be held in states at his pleasure he denied the
right legal Convention TO be held In Louisiana While
many thousands of loyal citizens including freedmen,
were murdered without cause by Rebels during his work
o reconstruction the President failed 70 the guilty
nerpetrators be arrested tried punished and forc
Xiv dissolved military commission In Virginia, sitting
for the trial of an Acknowledged murderer whom the
civil authorities failed 20 punish and he is to-day at large
and unmolested He has brought reproach upon himself
and degraded the dignity OF his Office by indecent ha
rangues 10 people and has denounced Congress as
body called which assumes 10 be- Congress OF the
United States while in fact II is Congress OF only part
OF the States