The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-08


Mr.. Butler commenced his opening
speech at a quarter before one o'clock
He spoke at great length, presenting
to the Senate the several propositions
of fact and law upon which the House
of Representatives would endeavor to
sustain the cause of the people against
the President. The speaker reviewed
the impeachment trials Of other coun-
tries, in order to show in the light of
those precetlcnts what really constitu-
ted impeachablc oiIense'. lie defined
an impcachable high, crime or misic-
mcanof to be one in its nature or con-
sequences subvcrsivc of some funda-
mental or essential principle of Cow
ernmcnt, or highly prejudieial to the
public interest and this might consist
of violation of the Constitution, of
law, of an official oath, or Of duty, by
an act committed, or omitted, or,
without violating a positive law, by
the abuse of discretionary powers from
improper motives, or for any improp-
or purpose.
Mr.. Butler referred to- the impeach-
ment of Lord Dandy, a case, he said,
which went a great way toward cstab-
fishing the principle that no Minister
could shelter himslf behind the throne
by pleading obedience to the orders OF
his sovereign. He was answerablc
for the justice, the honesty, the utiIit'
of all measures emanating from the
Crown, as well as for their legality
and the executive administration Wa:
thus or ought to be subordinate in all
great matters ofpolicy to the superin
tendence or the virtual control Of the
two Houses of Parliament.
The speaker then reviewed the
question whether the High Court OF
Impeachment was really the Senate
or not, and passe,lon to the matter Of
the competency Of one Of the triers,
on account of affinity to the accused,
saying We believe it is, nay, his
duty to the State he represents, to sit
upon the trial rs he would upon any
other matter which should come be-
fore the Senate. His seat and votes
belong to his constituents and not to
himself, to be used according to
his best judgment upon every
grave matter that comes before the
Senate. -. ..4T
Mr.. Butler then recited the articles
of impeachment and said: The
House of Representatives and the peo-
pie have joined issue with Andrew
johnson as to the right to act as he
has. This bill which he has violated
received the requisite sanction of both
the Senate and House Of Representa-
tivcs, after full consideration of his
objections. If he is to be allowed tc
exercise this dangerous power of re-
moval, where is it to end? Does the
Constitution invest the President
with all the Executive power which is
enjoyed by Kings and rulers Of other
nations? If so, it has been much
more liberal to him than the Legisla-
tive branch Of Government.
The Executive power 'yef appointment
is clearly limited by the,words of the
Constitution, which orders the consent
of the Senate necessary. The power
which he has assumed to exercise is
.kingly. The power of removal was
very deliberately debated in the first
Congress on the. bill to create State
Department It was debated for four
days, and finally was 80 framed as to
imply the power Of removal in the
President. But the triumph of its
supportcrsawas short-hved. When il
came to the House on motion of Mr..
Benton, The provision of implying the
powers Of removal in the President
was stricken eak It went back to The
Senate, but as the debates there were
in secret session we have no means of
knowing what did take place. But
we learn from the journal that this
provision, implying the power of re-
meval was retained by. the casting
vote Of John dams, the Vicc Presi,
dent. Alas I most all our woes have
como from Vice Presidents. = Not
,withstanding this, the facts show that
the, President made no removals with
ont notifying the Senate. President