Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-03-05

THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION
THE DEBATE In THE HOUSE.
Speeches by Prominent Members
- on Both Sides.
sol - mfll4 D.
The House Votes for ImpeaCh-
ing the President.
I26 for and Al against ImPeach-
ments
...l.l. .
Fhe order Of Debate, &c.
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT
JOHNSON. ..
JTI
RiG WieUvs 0n the Tenure
The House Votes for Impeach-
ing the President.
I26 for and Al against ImpeaCh-
ments
Fho order Of Debate, &c.
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT
JOHNSON. as
His Views on the Tenure
Of Office Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The House
re-assembled at 10 o'clock, and resumed
the consideration of the impeachment
resolution, the interval between this
hour and noon being technically re-
garded as belonging to the session Of
Saturday. The desks Of the members
were very sparsely occupied at the
opening OF the proceeding; but every
seat in the galleries, save some In the
diplomatic gallery, was filed when the
debate opened by Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio,
who, in the course Of his remarks, said
the House was now brought face to
face with q man who was recognized
as an eremy of the Government, and Q
strong ally and friend of the ''lost
cause;" man whose public and private
acts had been marked by viola
tious of law. Dare the House
longer shrink from the exercise
OF its power in rescuing the govern
ment from the usurper, and thus pro-
claiming that the government is one OF
constitutional law, not of usurped
power? When, two months ago, the
House voted down impeachment, he
had encouraged loyal men to keep
their hearts, that time would vindicate
them. He did not now exult in that
vindication. He had much rather that
the acts Of this accidental President
would fall to the groand, or that he
had so administered the government
as TO bring it back to the path of
peace, union and prosperity. The inn
peachmentiof this man was now neces-
sary, if not for the safety Of the ma
tion; at least to teach lesson to future
Presidents, and to vindicate the match
less constitution of the country.
WILSON, of Iowa, chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, in support of the
resolution, said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: The public peace is
again disturbed by the President of
the United States. He denies to the
nation that repose which it SO much
needs; he will not obey the law, and
by it he must be judged. 1 do not OPP
pose his case under the spur Of hate or
in the heat of passion. Its presence l
deplore, but its demands 1 will not re-
spect and obey. As q representative 1t
is my duty TO see that the laws of the
republic are not defied by criminal in
Office, if, within the terms of the Con-
remedy may be found.-
The presence of the criminal is pal
pable fact; the remedy is plain and in
disputable, and from the performance
Of the duty will not shrink. An i'm.
peachment OF the President OF the
United States is made inevitable by his
own deliberate criminal conduct, as
presented to rs by the case which now
commands our attention. We cannot
escape this conclusion if we would, for
the President would hedge MS about
with new acts of enormity, if there be
any logic in his course of procedure, |
which would at last compel rs to take |
mp the gage that he has now defantly |
cast at our feet.
Heretofore his challenges have not |
been, in my judgment, in due form Of
law, or stamped with the character Of
real crimes and misdemeanors, and
therefore / have resisted o resort to |
the extreme remedy which the Consti- |
tution has placed in our hands. Per-
hsps have been more cautious than |
most men could have been, but no re.
gret comes to me on this account, for |
believe did my duty. The consider
ations which urged upon my mind aud |
moulded my conduct in the case with |
which the Committee on the Judiciary |
of the house was charged, are not to |
be found in the present case. The
logic in the former case is made plain,
not to say perfect, by its influence in |
the present one. The President was
working to an end suspected by others
ard known to himself. His then means
were not known to the laws as crimes or |
misdemeanors; neither by the common
law, or by the statute, are they 80 pro- |
nounced. he mistook our Judgment
for cowsrdice, and worked on until he |
has presented to as a sequence, high
misdemeanor known to the law and
defined by the statute. If we permit
this to pass unchallanged by that high
power with which the constitution has
clothed us, no man can measure the
future troubles of this republic. For
one am not willing to wait for an
ascertainment Of the unknown quanti-
ties of future presidential crimes and
misdemeanors. We have before us
the elements, and its quantities are as
certained, and am in favor of wiping
it from the executive blackboard by on
impeachment of the criminal who
placed it there. Its presence is q cause
Of regret 10 me, and it must be Of NOR
tifcation to the people of this
republic; but j will face il and
they will meet it by asserting
the insubordination of the Presi-
dent to the law Of the land. He is not
q maker of the law, or judge thereof,
and it is enough for him to know that
the Constitution, which he is sworn to
preserve, protect and defend, says that
he shall take care that the laws shall
be faithfully executed. What laws2
Those which are passed in pursuance
Of the terms of that Constitution which
he is sworn to preserve, protect and de-
iend. And how are these laws passed?
By the two houses of Congress with
The approval Of the President, or in
Iuch case as he does not approve he
hall return it, with his objections, to |
he house in which il shall have origi-
lated, who shall enter the objections
i length on their journal, and pro-
eed to reconsider IL; and il, after such
sconsidaration, two-thirds Of that
ouse shall agree to pass the bill, IL
ball be sent. together with the objec.
onD, TO tho other house, by whom it
hall likewise be considered, and |
approved by two-thirds Of
% bouse, IL shall become O
". What kind ofa law? One which