Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-16
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACH-
MENT.

Appended VIII De iOunu the substance OF
the eleven articles Of accusation against the
President. The technical verbal surplus
age is omitted in order that they may be
more readily comprehended. Theinevitable
discussions, rumors and speculations with
which society and the newspapers are filled,
make this summary convenient for the
understanding of the vote when il may be
taken:
Article !. That the President issued an
order to remove Secretary Stanton, with
intent to violate the tenure Of office act.
Article II. That he by letter authorized
Lorenzo Thomas to act az Secretary of War
dd interim, when there was no vacancy in
that office, with intent to violate the same
act.
Article III. That he 30 authorized
Thomas to act as Secretary with the intent
to violate the Constitution of the United
States.
Article ". That he conspired with Lo-
renzo Thomas and others, by intimidations
and threats, to hinder Mr.. Stanton from
holding his office as Secretary of War, thus
NlOldbiuE NDLHNtAubiOH dilNl lIit GOusDl-
racy act of July 3lst, 1861, thus commit
ting high crime in office.
Article Y. That he conspired with Lo-
reno Thomas, and other persons unknown,
to prevent the execution of the tenure of
office act and, in pursuance of this con-
spiracy, attempted to prevent Mr.. Stanton
from holding his Office of Secretary of
War, thus committing 4 high misdemeanor
in Office.
Article vi. That he conspired with Lo-
reno Thomas TO seize by force the War
Department, contrary to the conspiracy
act, and with intent to violate the tenure of
Office act, thus committing high crime in
Office.
Article VII. That he conspired with
Lorenzo Thomas TO seize by force the War
Department, with intent to violate the
tenure of Office act; thus committing a
high misdemeanOr in Office
Article VIII. That he delivered TO Lo-
reno Thomas a letter of authority to act
as Secretary of War ad interim with intent
unlawfulIy to control the military appro-
priations, in violation of the Constitution
and Of the tenure of office act and so COM
mitted high misdemeaDor in office.
Article y. That on February 22d last
he instructed Major General Emory that
that part of the appropriation act of March
., 1867, which provides that all orders of
the President and War Department rela-
ting so military operations shall be issued
through the General of-the army, was I'M
constitutional, and tried to induce Emory
10 violate il, by receiving orders directly
from the President; with the further in
tent to prevent the execution Of the tenure
of office act, and to prevent Mr.. Stanton
from holding the office of Secretary of
War.
Article Y. That he delivered inhamma-
tory and scandalous harangues, at various
times, 10 bring contempt upon Congress.
Ia this charge specification first quotes a
speech at Washington, August 18th, 1868;
about body changing on the verge of the
government"
Specification second: The Cleveland
speech Of September Sd, IS66-"Your
Congress that is trying to break up the gov
ernment," etc.
Specification third: The st. Louis speech
Of September 8, 1S66-"If / have played
the Judas, who has been my Christ that
have played the Judas with Was it
Ihad Stevens Was II Wendell Phil
hpsY etc.
These speeches are charged az a high
misdemeanOr in office.
Article XE. That he declared in pub
lie speech in Washington, August ! s, 1866,
that the thirty-ninth Congress was not a
constitutional Congress of the United
States, but Congress of part of the States
thus denying the validity of their legisla
ton, except 80 far rs he chose to approve
it and, in pursuance of this declaration,
attempted to prevent the execution of the
tenure of office act, by unlawfully con-
irving means of preventing Edwin M.
Stanton from resuming the office of Secre-
tary of War, when the Senate had refused
10 concur in his suspension and aiso
attempted to prevent the execution Of the
act Of March ,, 1867 (as in
article 81; and also Of the act of March
:, 1867, 'for the more efficient government
Of the Rebel States" thus committing
high misdemeanor in office.