The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-03
The Impeachment Matter,

| IL Will De seen by the proceedings OF Congress-
'ha' the Committee having the question Of impeach-
ing president johnson under consideration has re-
ported hVe for impeachment and four against it,
"he'ner the majority or minority report viii be
ADOPTED by the House of Representatives remains
be seen We do not believe the impeachment charges
| will be sustained
Washington letter writer gives the follow ing in
formation concerning the Reports submitted to the
House:
| Gen Grants evidence covers three columns h,
the following tells his story:
'tBy Mr. Woodbridge: Ouestion-I updars,a,d
your position to be this that you do assume to
originate Or marguerite any policy, but that when
any question came up and your opinion asked as
| you gave an opinion?
Answer-Tlat is it exactly and presume the
"hoie committee so understood me. | have always
been attentive 10 my duties and tried not to in
tef1cfe With other peoples | always ready to
originate matters pertaining to the army but never
was Wiling to originate matters pertaining to the
| civil government Of the United States. When was
asked my opinion about what had been done was
wiling TO give it. l originated no plan and sug-
gested no plan for civil government; only gave nv
views on measures after they had been originated
SIMPLY expressed an anxiety that something should
| be done to give sort of control down there
There were no governments there when the war was
over and wanted to government estab-
hshed and wanted to see it done quietly. did not
pie'Ehu W say now II should be done what
| iorm.'
The majority of the impeachment committee, in
their report recommending impeachment lay great
stress upon the alleged usurpation by the Pres ldent
OF the partionng and veto powers also the authority
10 make removals and appointments, and pa rticulary
refer to what IS termed fragrant violation of the
sltutional powers of the Executive, by organizing
governments in the Southern States at the end of the
war; without asking the advice of Congress, they
assert for personal purposes. beg to refer to the
pardOn1ng OF hundred and ninety three n
west Virginia. deserters from army during the
war, which they state in behalf of private and
interested parties, and in order that they may
in accordance with the Presidents opinion, their
restoration causing great depletion of the treasury
The tenor Of the Executive offences throughout the
entire report consists in alleged usurpation of the
powers above mentioned.
The jority assert also, that BY various official
and other declarations the President has sought to
obstruct the laws of Congress for the pacifcation
the States with reference the Constitutional Amend
ment approved by Congress.
This report is very lengthy, and is signed by
Messrs. Boutwell,, Williams Churchill, Thomas and
| Laurence.
| A report was also submitted by Messrs Wilson
and Woodbridge, dissenting from the views of the
maj orlty, and asserting that there evidence
presented which demanded impeachment but they
condemned his political views, and were willing to
! censure him.
| The minority report by Messrs Marshall and
Eldridge, strongly defends the President from abuse
by his political enemies; that his only faults
| COHSiSt III not nOiung 10 the pOlcal views OF the
party which elected him. in subjugating the people
of the South. The report is extremely caustc, and
abuses harshly some of the witnesses who testified
before the committee. Mr. Baker is accused of per-
jury and they conclude that the President will be
held in respect by his countrymcn when his calum
n!ators are pilloried in undylng and indigna
ton of the American people.
The points made in the summing up of the maj orty
against the President not borne out by the
! testimony
First, as to the President having usurped the
/ powers of Congress in organizing governments in
the Southern States, it will be found in Gen. Grant
! testimony that the programme which followed
! out by Mr. johnson, had been laid down by Mr. Lin
coin. 1t also appears in General Grants testimony
that he was present, by invitation, at the Cabinet
councils in which the reorganization Of the Southern
States considered and that while he asscnted to
the plan followed by the administration, he did
| offer any suggestion of his own, but was silent
! listener The only active part he took in
straining the Presidents order to have prominent
rebels like General Lee brought to condisn punish
mcn.
As to the pardon of prominent rebels, it appears
that many of the most prominent OF them were par
d03el the recommendation Of Grant, Speed
Stanton, &c. As to the pardoning of some hundred
desertcrs from Western Virginia regiment, which
the report alleges done in order that they might
vote for a Democratic member of Congress, 1t
appears from the evidence that they were only tech
ncally descrters that they were not pardoned until
weeks after the election and that the President
merely endorsed the application in the usual FORM
referring it to the Secretary of War, who himself
granted it.
The committee enquired into the possession by the
President of certain Tennessee bonds, the suppo
siton that his possession of them might have some
connection with his release of the property of South
/ crn railroad companies, but it appeared that Mr.
Johnson had been possessor Of those bonds for the
last twelve years
In reference the tria of Jefferson Davis Attor-
ncy General Speed and the counsel for the Govern
mcnt shoulder all the responsibility of not trying
him. the avowed being that Chief Justice Chase
would not preside and that Attorney General Speed
would sent, under any circumstances, to have
the trial conducted before Judge Underwood. There
was attempt on the part of Lafayette Baker to
get up story about an imaginary letter from john
son. Military Governor of Tennessee. to Jefferson
Davis, offering the State to him, but the
committee could have had no trouble in deciding
what degree of credit to be given TO it The tale
fell stillborn. There is allegation against the
President of his having personally given ground OF
! offence. Mr. Ashley, of Ohio, who presented the
articles of impeachment acknowledges that he has
produced the committee all the valid evidence in
his possession
| THE voTE on CoNvENTIox.-Thc vote in 81 coun-