The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-03-04
ANDERSON s. G. WEDNESDAY, MARCH a. 1863 NO.

House WOulQ not listen 10 impeachment
The Judiciary Committee presented a yet
stronger case against him, if there was
any case at all Hitherto no matter what
party was in power the institutions of the
country have been respected, and no one
ever attempted to pcrpctuate party by
overthrowing the institutions of the coun-
try. Wings and Democrats have been in
power, but have never attempted to per-
pctuate it by overthrowing the Constitu-
ton. Here, for the first time, the attempt
is made. Suppose you succeed. and make
the President of the Senate President OF
the United States, You establish precc-
dent which all other parties will look to.
The curse Of the South American Govern
ments has been in following Of the
course which this House now proposes to
fix as q precedent-that of overturning
the executive department Of the Govern
ment. In conclusion, he warned gentle
men to beware of the fatal precedent they
were now about to set.
Mr. Spalding (O) agreed that this was
solemn occasion. No more solemn duty
could devolve upon this House than the
consideration of an article of impeach-
mcnt. He had opposed impeachment
before, because he believed some overt
act should first be committed by the
President. 1t seemed to him that the
President had for weeks been courting
Just such measure as that which was
now before this House, and upon him now
must rest the responsibility. The Prcsi-
dent throws himself in direct contact with
an Act OF Congress passed On the I'd of
last March, over his own veto. 1t is true
the Act gave the President the right OF
suspension, but that poor privilege was at
an end when Congress was in session. In
spite of that Civil Tenure Act the Presi-
dent sent to the Senate message yestcr-
day, declaring that he had removed Ed
win NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War; the
Senate being in session. and there being
no right Of removal, the President has
thrown down the glove aud assumed the
right TO say to the Senate in spite of your
law have. removed Mr.. Stanton. He
cared not whether Andrew Johnson or
any one else was President. What he
wanted was peace, and lie saw no way of
securing it except by voting with una
nimity for tl'e resolution.
Mr. Pruvn IN. W asked how lcng
this debate was to be permitted to con-
tinuc.
Mr.. Stevens would allow debate until
the last moment 10 day, but the vote
should be taken before adjournment to-
day.
Mr. Bingham (ohio) said lie was ut
tcrly incapable of approaching this oucs-
ton in q party spirit. The gentleman
(AIr. Brooks) says the issue involved isan
issue relative to office. 1t was not So,
but AL issue whether the Constitution
shall be maintained by the Representa-
tivcs of the people. lie had no desire to
resort to this last power reposcd in the
people, and had restrained others so long
as there WAS any doubt hanging over the
question of his liability to impeachment.
With the past he was satisfied and was
responsible for it TO the common Father
of us all; but he stood here with Il convic-
ton rs clear rs truth, that the President
had been guilty of violation OF his oath
of office and of congressional and consti-
tutional law, and had trampcd upon the
Constitution of the United States. He
must have known that he could fill va
canclcs during the recess Of the Senate,
but no other time. He could make tom
porary appointments. but it needs no ar
eumcnt to show that he could not create
the vacancy TO fill the office. If he may
create Il vacancy and remove an officer
why could he not remove Lorenzo Thom-
AZ, and so 20 on from day to day until
the end of his term The gentleman had
argued that the Secretary of War was not
within the operation of the Civil Tonuro
Act, but the President recognized the
Act as embracing the Secretary of War
by the very act Of suspending him last
summer. lie complied with it by giving
the Senate his reasons within the time
designated in the Tenure of office Act.
The Senate, (Mr. b. argued.) was the
place of final resort for judgment in these
cases, and the Supreme Court could not
review the act of the Senate, or pass
Judgment upon it. That Senate had de-
cded that +. NJ. Stanton was Secretary
of War, the President of the United States
to the contrary Notwithstanding, and
under the law the President could only
appoint another Secretary when the SEN
ate agreed to Mr.. Stanton's removal. But
the President has chosen to violate the
fifth section of the Tenure of Office Act
and has defed the representation of the
people.
The gentleman from New York tells us
to beware. but did the gentleman not
know that it is written in the Constitu-
ton that the President shall be removed
from Office on conviction of high crimes
and misdemcanors Did he not know
that power of impeachment was vested
in the House of Representatives under
the Constitution? There is enough in
the facts already disclosed in the Presi.
dents correspondence upon this subject
to draw the inference that the President