The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-02-25
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MIDHIGHT REPonr.


4 54t-
XLth CONGRESS---Secend Session
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a.
/ HOUSE.
The House took into consideration the i'm
peschment resolution reported.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, opened the debate
with the reiteration of the charges against the
/ President he had made when the proposition
TO impeach was brought before the House
before.
/ Mr.. Cook followed declaring that the Pre-
sident not only had violated the Tenure ol
Office Law, but that he had exercised powers
unwArranted BY the Constitution and the
Laws.
Mr.. Boyer spoke against the resolution,
saying the House was dsharred from reviv.
ing the charges already passed upon. He
did not believe the people would sustain this
new proceeding, which he characterized as roy
dictionary. He proclaimed that the law had
not been violated because Mr.. Stanton WAS
mot appointed BY President johnson.
Mr. Kelley supported the resolution. As
to the appointment Of Mr.. Stanton, Mr.. john
son was really Nice-P President, acting as Pres
ident; therefore, there was no force in Mr..
Boyer's point. He argued that the case OF
the impeachment was . criminal case, and
the Court must have the Jurisdiction Of the
person Of ,hs criminal and the control Of bis
movements the criminal, therefore, had no
power to perform his official functions. He
argued this point at some length.
Mr.. Price, Who had one minute from Mr..
Bremon's time, said For two years the peo>
pie in Congress and the people out Of Con.
gsess had been keeping watch and ward a.
the poftals of liberty, and that Andrew John,
son, with recklessness peculiar to himself.
was rushing mAdly and furiously on his fate
Mr. Blaine said the President had plainly
violated tho laws apd thrown down the gaunt-
let and dared Congress
Mr.. Briggs said the members would not
vote for the resolution, on connection and
without regard to any threats.
Mr.. Washburne, OF Illinois. declared he
should vote for the resolution. He had not
heretofore favored impeachment, because he
felt there might be doubt Of his conviction,
and because be had heard the President
would be warned and SO conduct himself as
to avail resort to the extreme remedy pres
scribed by the Constitution. But every act of
forbearance had been fresh invitation to
further more fragrant expressions, until at
last he had flung himself against the very
buiwarks of the Constitution, deiying the laws
and over riding the coordinate branches Of
the Government. The time had now arrived
when the peoples representatives could no
longer delay tho yindication Of the Constitu-
ton. The pathway of duty was plain. That
great party which with patriotism, courage,
fidelity and heroism. had carried the country
10 triumph and glory through the war. would
not now be overcome by band OF meree-
nary camp followers Of corrupt and treason
able administration. The time bad to come
when the President should be promptly i'm
peached; for his last great crime against the
Constitution, his longer continuance in Office
was perpetual and enduring menace sgains:
the peace and happiness Of the country. The
whole official lcourse ofthe President had been
marked by a wicked disregard Of all obliga
tions Of public duty and by devotion OF
pei tidy, treachery and surpidity in heart. As
mendacious as he was malignant, he had in bis
official capacity sought to hnrl down and de-
stroy the bravest, the nob!est, and best In the
land. His sdministration has been = CON
stant and prolonged warfare against Gil the
material interest Of the country; it had pros
trated business; ii had oppressed labor; de-
stroyed States; impeached the public credit
and sapped the public morais-surrounded
by red handed rebels, advised and consulted
by the worst men that crawled like filthy rep
tiles at the foot-stoo of power; be had used
all the vast authority of the Government to
prevent the union of the States. and the res.
io.ation Of harmony. peace and happiness OF
the country. The loyal men in the rebel
States have been brought to condition, un |
der bis administration, from tbs eontempla- |
tion Of which, all men recoil with horror; |
murder, rapne, incendiarism, robbery and
all the crimes stalk through the land, and
euery day he remains 10 office, adds to the
long list of victims Of rebel vengeance, cruel
ty and hate which such President entails. |
Nearly al! the Departments Of the Govern
bad become denoralised and corrupt, TO an
extent, which could find no parallel in the
history of any country OF IN any age |
The Attorney General not satisfied with |
being his medium through which SO many
mail robbers, counterfeiters, and public plum
derers have been pardoned and turned loose /
upon the country, has with senten' ious and
boastful andaeiiy. proclaimed TIM. be will not
vndicate the laws Of Compress. Look st the /
Navy Department, with lis profligacy, robbie, |
ries, and prosecutions Of the honest and best
naval officers of the country. The administra-
lion of the Treasury Department was charac
terized by the most appalling frauds;
With countless millions of revenue stolen 10
20 into the pockets Of thieves, partisans and
pIunderers, or to make up vast political
fund 10 demoralize ard corrupt the people.
The Interior Department, with the land, job
bine and contracts, and the corrupt extension
Of patents The Post Office Department ar
raiRued before the House by committee Of
he House; the State Department arraigned
before the rnlers of the earth, for its failure Is
vindicate the rights of the patton, and the
citizens of the nation confused, As ne are
his day, By this state Of things, so threaten
i've to all that is held dear to posteri,y. i
Where is the patriot Of any political organi-
za,ion who don't call upon Congress to Stern
" do its whole duty, and purge thi. Capital
Of the enemies which now deGle the nation?
During the delivery OF Mr.. Washburne'
speech the hour Of twelve arrived, VIXEN the
session Of Saturday terminated and the regu-
lar legislative session Of Monday commenced.
Mr.. Woodward obtained the floor refusing
10 yield few minutes to Mr.. Mashbarns to
conclude bis remarks, because Of the slan-
iers uttered By him against the President,
and proceeded to address the House against
he impeachment. He argued that any i'm.
:, - al cf thu sidput the ida thai