Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-03-04
Washington, D. C , Feb, 22ud, 1868.
Judge Woodward on Impeachment.
A Eul0gy OH the President--JOhnsOn the
COuutry's Friend-R .sistance 10 lmpcach-
ment Advised--The Senate's Right to try
Impeachment Denied.

Speeches without number were deliver
ed in the House of Representatives Mon
day, on the Impeachment question. Judge
Woodward of the 18th Penn'a District,
spoke against the bill. On obtQining the
floor he refused to Weld minutes time to
Mr. Washburne, of Illinois. to conclude his
remarks because of the ISLANDERS uttered
against the President. Mr.. Woodward
argued that the resolution of Impeachment
was mistake, and that any Impeachment
of the President on the idea that Secretary
Stanton was within the protection of the
Tenure of Office bill, was what Fouche, the
CI.ief of the old French Police, would have
called worse than crime-a blunder.-
Wa,hever executive power the Federal
Government possessed was vested in the
President, who was Che sole trustee of the
people in that regard In the matter of
appointment to office and the treaty max
ing functions a check was imposed upon
the President, but even in those Instances
the pow er exercis, d was the Presidents
The concurrence of the Senate was only a
regulation for the exercise of the power
1t was a mere advisatory discretion, not an
executive power. The separateness and
completeness of this executive power in the
hands of the President was doctrine es-
sential to the harmony of the system of
government and to the responsibility of the
President to the people. If Congress
meddled with it, Congress became tress-
passer and Its act All impertinent nuliity,
and the President was not to be ilnpeach-
ed for disregarding it. lie quoted extracts
from debate in the first Congress upon the
Executive Departments, and argued that
that debate settled this question absolutely,
and demonstrated the utter unconsttution-
ality of the act of March 2. 1867. He al
SO argued that by the very items of that
act itself, Mr.. Stanton did not come within
its scope, and quoted Senator Sherman and
Messrs. Spading and Bingham as taking
that verv same view of the law wheE 1t
was under consideration. Mr.. johnson
was man OF the Republican party's own
choosing, and he verify believed the Presi-
dent Was trying to restore the Union, to
pacifcate the country, and to administer
his high office with faithful regard to the
obligations of the Constitution and the best
interests of the people. He seemed to him
to be true friend to the whole Of his
country-a faithful public officer, and ent-
tied to Cabinet advisers who were his
friends and not his enemies. Congress had
far better sustain such man in his consti-
tniional rights and address itself to the re-
lief of the suffering country, than TO waste
its time and the peoples money in the i'm.
peachment of faithful public officer on
charges that are both false and foolish
At the risk of denunciation, he, Wood
ward) denied the right Of the Senate to try
Impeachment. The House was not COM
posed as the Constitution required, of
members chosen by the people of the
several States" Nor was the Senate com,
posed of "two Senators from each State. y
In conclusion, be said: Mr. Speaker, 30