The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-27
Impeachment.

THE answer of the President put in
on the 23rd, to the articles of Impcach-
ment presented, would cover eight or
ten columns of the COLUMBIAN and for
want of space to give 1t in full we pro-
pose to state briefly the substance of it.
To the E1rStatt ticle, which is in reference
to the removal of Stanton, the President
reiterates the statements and arguments,
already published in our columns, in
his message tu the csenate upon that sub
ject: putting it however in legal shape
and form.
To the Second article which charges
the appointment of General Thomas as
Secretary of War, the President ad-
mits the appointment, denies that he
violated the Constitution or any law OF
Congress by SO dulnl, and maintains
and will insist
/. That at the date and delivery OF said
writing there was IA vacancy existing III
the office OF secretary for the Depart
ment of War.
=. That, notwithstanding the Senate
of the United States was ;hen in session,
| 1t was lawful and according TO long and
| well established usage to empower and
authorize the said Thomas TO act rs Sc
cretary of War dd interim.
| 3. That the said act regulating the
tenure of civil offices be held to be
valid law, no provision of the same
was violated by the issuing OF said order
or by the designation of said Thomas to
act az Secretary of War dd interim.
| To the Third article he answers, that
General Thomas was authorized and
empowered to act as Secretary of War
al interim, and whether the same
amounts to an appointment or mere
designation, he denies having violated
the law or the Constitution. To the
Fourth article, charging that he and
Thomas proposed to get possession of
the War Department by threats or by
intimidation, he puts in u positive and
distinct denial, and that the article is
insufficient in not making specific state
| ments.
To the FgfW article, charging conspi
r2cy TO hinder the execution of the
"Civil tenure act" he puts in denial;
AYERS that Stanton was not Secretary Of
War at the time mentioned; and the
want of specific allegation. To the
Sirth article charging conspiracy on
the DIST of February 1868 to take lpos-
session of the War Office by force, the
President puts in denial both as to the
intent set forth, and as to the violation
ofany law on the subject. To the Ser
eRh article, he AYERS he never did con-
spire to take unlawful possession of
the War Office, or did in any act COM
NIT high crime or misdemeanor.
To the EighM article, alleging an in
tent unlawfully to control the military
appropriation, the President denies that
in appointing Thomas he had any such
purpose, AYERS that there was Il vacancy
in the department, and that he desired
to vindicate his authority rs President,
and To bring the question before the SUI
prcme Court. To the Ninth article
charging Il conspiracy with General
Emory, he gives his note to the General
the conversation, and the purpose ofithc
interview, and his construction of the
law. To the Tenth article alleging state
ments in his speech to the Philadelphia
Convention Committee, and to the citi'
zens at Cleveland Ohio, derogatory tC
Congress /; he denies the charge and re-
fer4 to the speeches themselves, and
not to extracts from them or recollection:
of them and claims the right as Presi
dent or as q citizen at all times andin al
places to speak his mind freely on all
subjects, that the occasions OF the
speeches were not sought by him; and
that in any case, the making Of them
was not in any wise an Off cial act, fol
which he Is amenable to impeachment.
To the Eleventh article, charging that
he denied the authority of Congress tc
legislate, or propose constitutions
amendments, because certain State'
were unreprescnted the President de
nies hat he said so, but avers that it i,
not full Congress; and claims his
. right rs citizen to hold and speak hi,
opinion on that as on any other subject
without question, inquisition or i'm
: peachment or inculpation in any form
or manner therefor.