The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-03-31
xLth CONGREsS---Seeond Session
WAsms aros, March 80.
crSarr

The Senate reassembled at eleven clock.
Mr.. Edmunds called up the bill to regulate
appeals to the Court OF Claims, which vas
amended and postponed until tomorrow.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill pending on
adjournment on Saturday, to relieve Mr. But
Ter of Tennessee, from political disabilities.
The question was on Mr.. buckaiew
amendment, TO strike out the word aConsti-
tuition" from the clause proposing to relieve
reconstruction laws.
Mr.. Buckalew argued tha. the reconstruc-
ton laws having no application to Tennessee,
Mr.. Butler could not properly be relieved
from the disabilities imposed by them
He gave way, at the suggestion Of Mr.. Sher-
man, who presented report from the Com
mittee on Conference on the bill to relieve
certain manufacturers from internal taxatie n.
Mr.. Henderson moxed that the report lay
over till to morrow, and that 1t be ordered
printed.
Ir. Sherman urged immediate action, say
ing that everything Objectionable to the Sen
ate had been stricken out.
Several Senators opposed action on the re-
port Immediately. and Mr. Sherman cons
sented that 1t 60 over, giving notice that ne
would press il as early as possible TO hnal
vote.
At 1890 the President pro lem. vacated the
chair, which was Immediately taken by Chief
Justice Chase.
The Sergeant-at- arms made proclamation,
commanding silence.
The President S counsel took seats.
At 1885 the Sergeant-at arms announced
the Managers on the part of the House, who
took their places, except Mr.. Stevens, who
entered soon afterwards, and took seat
slightly apart.
The House was then announced, and the
members appeared, headed by Mr.. Wash
burne Of Illinois, and were seated.
The minutes OF the last day proceedings
were read.
Mr.. Butler commenced his opening speech
at quarter To o clock. He referred 10 the
fact that the trial which was about TO CON,
mence. was the most important ia the history
of this country, and one that bad perhaps no
p-railel 10 the history of any country. He
then proceeded to state the case at it came
before the Senate. The Senate, he said was
different from other courts. II was d law unto
Itself, aud not subjec. to the ordinary rules of
courts, being governed only by the principles
OF justice and equity.
Mr.. Butler then proceeded to quote the
history of other impeachment cases in this
and in England, to show the position
Of the court 10 trying the case, lie d@els
on this OF great length.
After having stated the preliminary prlnci.
pies in the case, Mr.. Butler proceeded TO
vie the Articles of Impeachment He said
the House of Representatives and the people
have joined issue with Andrew johnson as TO
his right to act as be has This bill which he
has violated. received the requisite sonetion
OF both the Senate ard the House OF Repre-
seutatiyes after full consideration Of his OBJ
iecLons. Ii he is to be allowed to exercise
this dangerous power Of removal, where IS ],
TO ends The Executive power OF appoints
ment is clearly limited By the words OF the
Constitution, which renders the consent of
the Senate necessary. The power which be
has assumed to exercise is kingly. The pow
er Of removal was very elaborately debated IN
the first Congress, on the bill TO create State
Department. 1t was debated for four days,
and finally was framed 20 as 10 imply the
power OF removal in the President, but the
triumph fits supporters was short, fer when
it came to the House, on motion Of Mr.. B,n-
son, the provision implying the power OF re
mova in the President was stricken out. Il
went to the Senate, bat as the debates there
we're IN secret session, we have no means Of
knowing what did take place, but we learn
from the journal that this provision implying
the poxer o.. reG6val was retained BY the
casting vote of John Adams, the Wee Presi-
dent. Alas. most sill our woes have come
from our Vice Presidents. Notwithstanding
this, the facts show that the President made
no removal without notifying the Senate.
President Adams removed Mr. Pinckney by
nominating q successor TO the Senate. None
of the early Presidents had ever attempted
to exercise the unlimited power Of removal
now assumed By the present occupant OF that
chair. Congress has always asserted legls-
lative power in reference to removals from
office. In 1895 the powers of the Precedent
were canYasssd by Congress, and a commit
tee was appointed on the subject, Who report
ed that it was necessary to trim down his
power by statutory enactment, aud reported
no less than eight different h!lla on tie sub
iect One Of them vacated within a certain
lime all offices pertaining to the collection
OF revenue. Here was tenure of office act
reported by one of the greatest men OF the
country. 1t did not seem 10 ocpur 10 Can
gress then that 1t had not power to regulate
appointments to and removals from Office.
Mr. Butler cited further acts OF Cong ess
in support Of his position, and alter stating
the events of February, the removal OF Stan
ton. and the appointment Of Thomas, the IN
terview with Gen. Emory, he concluded bis
argument as follows: Who does not know
that from the hour the President began bla
ssarpalioas OF poaer he everywhere de-
nounced Congress, the legality and constitu-
tionality of It's action, and dehed its legit,-
mate powers, and for that purpose announced
his intention, aud carried ont his purpose as
far as be was able, Of removing every .rae
man from office who sustained The Congress
of the United States; and it Is to carry out
this plan of action that he sustains the un-
limited power OF removal, for the Illegal ex-
ercse OF which he stands before Fou this day
Who does not know that in pursuance oil the
same plan he used his veto power iadiserimi.
natey 10 prevent tha passage Of wholesome
laws enacted for the paeifieation OF the coun-
try aud when laws we're passed by the con-
s,ltutional majority over his vetoes, he made
most determined oppositiaa both open and
covert to them; and for the purpose OF making
that opposition effective, he endeayored to
array, and did array all the peopls lately In
rebellion to set themselves against Congress,
aud against the true loyal men OF the United
States.
The safeguards Of the Constitution against
nsurpaiion are in your hands the interests
and hopes Of our institutions wait upon your
decision. The house Representatives hasdone
its duty. We have presented the facts in the
constitutional manner we have brought the
criminal to your bar, and demand judgment
at your hands for his great crimes. Never
again, If Andrew johnson should 60 free this
day, can the people of this or any other
country by constitutional checks and guards
stay the usurpations of the Executive power.
| speak, therefore, not the language Of exsg-
gera.ion, but the words Of truth and sober
ness, in saying that our future political well
fare and the liberties Of all men hang tremb,
ling on the decision of the hour.
Mr.. Bingham, OF the Managers, rose and
said Mr.. President-The Managers on the
part of the House, are ready to proceed with
testimony to make good the Articles of Im>
parchment exhibited BY the House ot Rep
resentatives against the President Of the
United Statos, and my associate, Mr.. Wilson,
will present the testimony.
Mr.. Wilson, wish to state, in behalf of
the managers, that notwithstanding the mean
ing of the documents which We deem impor
tant to be presented in evidence haye been
set ont in the exhibit accompanying the an
swers, and also in some of the answers, we
still are Of the opinion that it is proper for
us to introduce the original documents, BY
way Of guarding against any mishaps that
might arise from imperfect copies sci out il,
the answers.
Mr.. Wilson then offered, in evidence. car
titled copies Of the osth Of Office Of president
johnson; of the appointment of Secretary
Cfrnton nv preaident T4;ncoln and ~ ,Ln..: