Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-01-08
PRosossp rHPGAcHaEN OF THE PRESIDENT
OF tbs UNITED Stalls
In the House of Representatives, yesterday,


Mr.. Ashley. of Ohio, rose to question OF
privilege, and said / rise, SIT, to perform a
painful duty, but duty, nevertheless which |
deem imperative upon me-a duty when 1
think cannot be further postponed and when
cannot, without crlmlnallty on our part, De ION
rer neglected. had hoped, sir, that this duty
WouI, have devoved upon an older and more
experienced member of this House than myse f:
Prior to our adjournment asked a number OF
gentlemen to introduce resolution, which l at
forwards offered and on which | failed to obtain
SUSPENSION of the rules. Confident that the
loyaI people Of This country. demand at our
b nds the action provided tor IN the proposition
that am now about to submit -
Mr. Flick, of Ohio, rose to a question OF
order-that there was no question before the
House. :.
The Speaker decided the point Of order to be
we'll taken, and said that if it were insisted upon
the gentlem II, from Ohio Mr. Ashley could
not be permitted to proceed.
Mr. Einck insisted upon the point ct order.
Mr. Ashley. Then, sir, on my responsibility
rs q REPRESENTATIVE of this House and in its
presence and before the American people, l
charge Andrew Johnson Vice President, anu
acting President Of he United States, With the
commission of high crimes and mlsdemeanorss;
and [ now propose a resolution. lhpplause ID
the gallery.
Mr.. Finck rose TO another point Of order -
whether the question raised ly Mr.. Ashley Vas
properly question Of privilege.
The Speaker decided hat 1t was; that II mad
been so decided up"na point OF order raised by
Hon. Horace Everett Of Vermont, IN the IWen-
ty-seventh Congress.
Mr. Ashley then presented preamble and
rese ution, as follows, and demanded the prevl-
Gus question upon its passage:
LIDO impc ch Andrew Johnson Vice Presl-
dent and acting President Of the United States,
of high crimes and misd,mcanors. l charge
him with the usu patton OF power IN violation Of
law, in that he has corruptlv used the appointing
power; inthat he has corruptly US d the pardon
ing power; in that he has cowuptly used the veto
power; in that he has corrupty disposed Of the
public property of the United States; Ill that
he has coriuptly interfercd in elections; and
committed acts and conspircd with others to
commit acts which, in contemplation ofthe Con-
stituton are high crimes and mlsdemcanOrs ::
Therefore, be it
Rcsolred That the committee on the Judici-
ary be- and they are hereby authorized to in
ouire into the official conduct Of Andrew John
son, Vice President of the United States, dis
charging the powers and duties of the Office Of
President of the United States, and to report to
this House whether, in their opinion, the sad
Andrew Johnson, while in said office, has been
guilty of acts which were designed or calculated
to overthrow, subvert, or corrupt the Govern
ment Of the United States or any department or
any officer thereof; and whether the said Andrew
Johnson has been guilty OF any act, Or has con-
spired with others to 40 acts which. in c0nEcm-
platOn of the Constitution, are high crimes and
misdcmeanors, requiring the lnterposltlOn OF the
constitutional power Of this House; and that
the said committee have power to send for per-
sons and papers, and to administer the cuSt0ma-
ry oath to witnesses.
Mr.. SpaIdlng, of Ohio, moved to lay the res
olution upon the table; and on that motion
Mr. Finck, of Ohio, demanded the yeas and
nays The motion was lost--yea5 SO, nays
lO5.
The Speaker then stated the question to be
upon seconding the deruand for the previous
question.
Mr. Bingham, Of Ohio, inquired whether, if
that demand were not seconded it would be in
order to move to refer the resolution to the
Committee on the judiciary.
The Speaker said that it would.
Mr.. Bingham. Then hope the demand
vii MT be secluded.
WI ASHLEY. +Ahu t'PI ~ VIII.
On motion Of Mr.. Bingham 1eIIers were Or
dercd, and the demand FIR the previous ques-
ton was seconded hy vote Of rs to IS
Mr. Hubbe Of Ohio, inquired whether q
motion to refer the resolution to the judiciary
Committee would be in order.
The Spo .ker decided that it would not, I'M
less the vote seconding the demand for the
previous question should be reconsidercd.
Mr. HubbeIl, OF Ohio, moved to reconsider
that vote.
Mr.. Wentworth: Of Illinois, hoped that it
would be dono as he wanted to make speech
upon the subject. Laughter.
Mr. Stevens. Of Pennsylvania, moved to lay
the motion to reconsider upon the table, which
was done by the following vote-yeas 95, nays
H.
The Speaker then declared the question to
be upon agre, ing to the resolution.
Mr. Nihack, Of Indiana, rai>cd point OF
cr4t r-that the motion to II consider being LAID
on the table, carried the resolution with IT,
The Speaker ovrrru ed The point of order ;
and the preamble and resolution were then
adopted by he following vote-yeas l08, nays
SO absent or not voting Is.