Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-04-10

On the Presidents action in Pardoriing Deserfsr
for EEectisn Purposes Mqrch %, 1857.

In reply to the gentleman from Nov ork, 11r.
Wood, who says this is an absurd and unjust agl-
satlon Of the question Of impeachment, having had
somethlng to do with that agitation, suppose /
may without oense state some Of che grounds urOn
which I have acted -''-'' = ~
~ .ne 1ls. place, as TO what has been done by
~ 'ulasseS NC man has right to know what
sney know IL Is enough that thar hava sz;li AL.
EMMY that there is sufficient eroDsa =. a.
investigation, and that thsy have not !.
That being so, no has right to saw ~, ~
hive found nothing. They have found sons.s5sy
bv which they feel themselves called upon II oee
tiaue their search into the acts Of the President
The absurdity Of this agitation, as it is called
may be seen in the fact that the Legislatures Of two
States have BY solnn vote called upon Congress TO
investigate for the impeachment Of the President.
The necessity Of the proceedings is sustained By the
fact that petition after petition has been submitted
under the rule and referred to that committee. It
Is seen IN the fact that the country has no longer
any confidence in the Executive. In nv Judgment
the Constitution meant 10 provide that when the
country, by an almost universal voice. expresses its
loss Of confidence in the Executive, the time has
then come for Congress to declare that the occupant
of the presidential chair which he no longer flls
but obstructs should be removed.
The gentleman from New York Mr. Wood, says
that such precedent will put the Executive at the
mercy of Congress. Well who compose the Con-
gress Congress the representatives Of the peo-
Pile, fresh from them, speaking their will, echong
their thoughts and enactng their high behests- 1t
is for them to bring to the Senate representing the
organization of States the charges against the high
officer who has offended against the peoples viii
under the Constitution. And it is for that Senate
on their solemn oaths, to judge upon the state Of
facts thus presented. hold and SHALL may say
that the country holds-that every officer ought 10
continue in Office upon that tenure alone, except
possibly Judges who are the only exceptions, that
they removable by the Representatives Of the peo
pie upon such misbehavior in Office as the people
shall deem sufficient.
Now, with the full sense of all the responsible
ties that are upon me, knowing that speak in the
face of the nation, inform the gentleman from
New York of one piece of testimony that can be
brought on oath before the Committee Of the Judi
ciary. do not say it has yet been brought before
them but say there is piece Of testimony that
can he produced showing gross abuse Of the par
doning power by the President A claim agent in
West Virginia last year conceived the idea of hsv-
ing large number of deserters from the Army of
the United States pardoned in order that he might
obtain large gains from pressing their claims for
their forfeited bounties and pay before the War De-
partment. He took from the returns of the adju-
tant general of that State list Of one hundred and
ninety three deserters forty only of whom he knew
anything about all the rest were unknown to him,
except that they stood upon the rolls marked "de-
serters." be went to the Democratic candidate in
one of the congressional districts of West Virginia.
to state that if he could get these one hundred and
ninety-three men pardoned they would vote the
Democratic ticket in the last election and as the
district was likely to be close, their votes would
probably elect him. Thereupon the candidate
wrote letter TO the President of the United States
which letter was sent to him.
Now, say again that that letter was sent to the
President of the United States saying that the dis
trict was close and that if these men were pardon
ed they would vote the Democratic ticket and thus
carry the district. With it was sent copy of the
list of deserters to the President of tho United
States, and thereupon every of these one hun
dred and ninety-three men restored to the roll
and thus entitled to claim his pay and allowances,
which they had forfeited by deserton; and the paw
and allowances, in the judgment of those who have
Investigated the subject exceed the of seventy
five thousand dollars.
Now, sir will explain to the House how came
to know anything about this matter for sir, am
no volunteer. The House did not seem to desire me
to take any part in developing the evidence bearing
on this impeachment and have let the House and
its committee take of itself in that regard
But sir, happen to be member of the board of
managers Of the National Asylum for Disabled
Soldiers; by the choice of my fellow-managers /
am president of that board. The fund which Con-
gress has appropriated to the support of our dis
abed soldiers in that institution consists of the fines
and forfeitures suffered by deserters and when ]
was looking after that fund, as my duty to do
found that without evidence to sustain him. without
examination the President of the United States for
pOnJlcdi r6dSOns, Had baken Sfo,OUO OF Lnab Iun0
which the managers of this institution, of which he
was one oteiO, to administer for the benefit
OF the disabled heroes of the war; and had turned it
over to the deserters from the army on the under
standing only that they should vote the Democratic
ticket. Learning this fact, sir felt bound to pur
sue this investigation; and the testimony which I
have now in substance given 20 the House has been
given upon the oath Of brevet brigadier general |
Of the army of the United States.
Now, sir, let me state one fact further, because
Il Al
speaking upon sworn testimony; if it is not true
let it be investigated. / never brought out any Of
these facts bearing on impeachment ex cept when |
have been much enforced
Like the flint which shows hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.
Mr.. Wood. VIII the gentleman permit me to /
ask him whether, according to this testimony or
within his owR knowledge, the President had per-
sonsl eognizance of theGe facts n
Mr.. Butler. / will state what the testimony is.
That list of hundred and ninety three deserters
with other testimony but this letter. went to the
President through the hands of Col. Thomas b.
Florence, who is somewhat known to members of
,he House; and the answer that came back was 8
of every one Of the men on that list,
without dotting an or crossing t. so far as can be
een and upon other testimony than the fact that
hey would vote the Democratic ticket which I
suppose would be good reason for restoring all the
leserters from the army thereby entirely absorbing
The President has no right to restore to deserters
hundreds and thousands of dollars out Of the Treas
Try without some evidence of some deserving other
han that they will vote for the Democratic ticket
md be had no other evidence in this case. There
s where the trouble comes in. He received letter
rom the candidate for Congress, accompanied by
ist of deserters, and without evidences without In
JURY, without anybodys recommendation, without
my deserving on their part he does shat act which
estores them takes from the Treasury SIS GOO takes
t from the poor manned soldier, and gives il to
hese deserters.
introduced the name Of Colonel Florence be-
ause it was introduced in the testimony and
lever do anything behind any gentleman's back
The same testimony also shows when Mr. Florence
rought back this list, which was sent to the claim
gent in the charge of and directed to the care of
Ion. Thomas b. Florence, that he was paid by this
lain agent $1,000 for his services in that behalf ,
& there any other question any gentleman would
Ike to ask me? Laughter.
Mr. Chandler. ask the gentleman If that is the ,
ate at which Democratic voters were procured in
is experience when he was q Democrat2 I
Mr. Butler. " Out of the abundance of the heart |
be mouth speaketh." was never a Democrat in
be gentlemans State. / never knew of any such .
in my own.
Mr.. Marshall do not know whether I under Z
sood the gentleman from Massachusetts, correctly.
lie speaks of facts which have been proven. To !
that evidence does he refer2
Mr.. Batter An Investigation, sir, which ] in !
ituted for the purpose os seeing where the money
the asylum over which presided was going, and
hitch took care should be put in the proper
hannes.
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Our Purchase from Russia.