The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-03-05

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lowed him, next spoke in support Of
the impeachment resolution.
/ Mr. Stokes, having ten minutes al
lowed him, on the same side Of the
question.
/ Mr.. Pike, having six minutes allow
ed, stated the grounds on which he
sustained the resolution Of inpeach-
n9ent.
Mr.. Nicholson opposed the resOIus
ton, and declared his belief that the
assumed violation of the Tenure-Of-
office Law was a mere preteXt, and
that the true motive Of the proposed
impeachment was to be found in the
determination to remove the Presi-
dent not as an obstacle in the path Of
reconstruction, but as a dreaded OBJ
staCie to the reconstruction measures
to be TesOrted to for the party success
Mr.. Miller sustained the impeach-
nIent fesOlQtiO on.
DlE, Eldridgeadtlressed the House
in opposition to the resolution. He
asked the gentlemen on the other side
if they believed or expected it was
possible for this Government, Of sew
eTal eO-equal departments, to exist
when, not only waF.ing with each
other, but when the one had not only
no confidential counsel with the other,
but was a known and determined
enemy, holding his position against
his cg-n pronounced conviction Of con.
stitutiOnal right and duty. He be-
lieved that this was part Of a great
organized plan to get rid Of the Ex-
ecutive, and to invest Congress with
all the powers of the Government. Ib
was the execution Of a great and de-
termined purpose to subvPrt and over
throw the Constitution and to destroy
all the constitutional departments Of
the Government. It was the carrying
out ola purpose long since formed by
the most radical Of the Republican
party. In proof of this, he sent to the
Clerk desk and had read notes Of
conversation he had last fall with
prominent member of the Republican
Executive Committee of Indiana, in
which the purpose was fOreshadowed
Of removing Mr.. Johnson, and put
ting in his place one who would use
the army to carry the Presidential
election, if necessary. He had no
doubt that this conspiracy would be
carried out.
Mr.. Judd said that his past action
in voting for the Impeachment Of
Andrew Johnson had met with the
appreciation Of his constituents, and
he had just received a dispatch which
justified has proposed action in voting
for this resolution. The dispatch was
read as follows:
CHICAGO, Ill, FEB. "a
"Hon. N. B. Judd:
"The Republican press and party Of tho
city Of Chicago unanimously demand the
impeachmene of Andrew johnson. A
mass meeting is called for tom PROV eve
ming, to give expression of this feeling.
l. d. OTIS, Chairman"
LIr. Harding said that his constituents
had instructed him to unite his voice and
vote with the Representatives of the loyal
millions, in demanding the impeachment
of the criminal who occupied the Presi-
dency.
Mr.. Shanks said that in this conjunction
the House should speak but one word, and
strike but one blow, and that the blow
should come first.
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, closed the
debate. He said:
AZ agree with these gentlemen who have
gone before me that this is a grave sub
ject, and should be gravely treated. 1t Is
Important to the high official who is the
subject of these charges, and it is impOr-
tant to a nation of forty millions Of people
now free, and rapidly increasing to hun
dreds Of millions. The official character
Of the chief of this grand nation being
thus involved, the charge, if falsely made,
is a cruel wrong. If, on the other hand,
the misdemeanor and usurpation charged
against him are true, he is guilty Of as
atrOciOus an attempt to usurp the liberty
and destroy the happiness of this nation
as was ever Perpetrated by the most de-
tesla ble tyrant who ever oppressed his feb
lOw-men. Let us, therefore, discuss these
questions in no partisan spirit, but with
legal accuracy and impartial justice. The
people desire no victim, and they will en-
dure no usUrpatiOn. The charges, so far
as I shall discuss them, are few and dis
tinct. Andrew Johnson is charged with
attempting TO usurp powers of other
tempting to Obstruct and resist the execu-
ton of the law; with misprision Of bribe-
~, and with the open violation of laws
which declare his acts misdeineanOrs and
subject him to fine and imprisOnm mt;
with removing from Office the Secretary
of War during the session of the Senate,
without the advice or consent of the SEN
ate; and with the violation of the 9Th sec
tiOn of the act entitled an act regulating
the tenure of certain civil officers. There
are other offences charged in the papers
referred to the committee, which I may
consider more by themselves.
''In order to sustain impeachment uu-
der the Constitution, do not hold that it
is necessary to prove crime as an in
dictable offence, or any act Nldl1gnT IN SC.
1 agree with the distinguished gentleman
from Pennsylvania, on the other side Of
the House, who holds this to be a purely
political proceeding. Itis intended for a
remedy for malfeacance in Office and tD
prevent the continuance thereof. Beyond
that, IL is not intended as personal pun
ishment for past offences and for future
action. Impeachment under the COTsti-
tuition is different from impeachment un-
der the English law. The trainers Of our
Constitution did not rely for safety upon
the avenging dagE er Of a BTutus, but pro
vided peaceful remedies which should pre-
vent that necessity. England had two
systems OF jurisPrudence-one for the
trial and punishment of common Offend
ers. and one for the trial of mon of higher
stations, whom it was found didicult 70
convict before the ordinary tribunals. The
latter proceeding was by impeachment or
bills Of attainder, generally practised to
punish official malefactOrs; but the system
soon degenerated into political and person.
al prosecutions, and men were tried, con-
demned and executed by this court from
malignant motives.
"Such was the condition Of the English
laws when our Constitution was framed,
and the convention determined to provide
against the abuse of that high power, So
that revenge and punishment should not
be inflicted upon political ar personal enc
mics. Hence the whole Punishment
was made TO consist in removing from
Office, and bills of attainder were wholly
prohibited We are to treat this question.
then, as wholly political, in which, if an
officer of the Government abuse his trust,
or attempt to pervert 1t to improper pur-
poses, whatever be his motive, he becomes
subject % impeachment aud removal from
Office. The offence being ind.ceable does
not prey eut inn eachment, but is not
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