Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-25
THE EVENING STAR
tONGRESNIoNAL.

Teachms n resolutions, saying;
The Charcee. 20 far as I shall discuss tsea.
aie few and distinct. Andrew johnson ~
chsreed with attempting 20 usurp The powev
OF other branc bee OF the Government with At
tempting TO obs;ruct and resist the execution Of
.ne INV, WIN misprisiOn Of bribery; and wte
the opn violanon Of laws which declare hik
acts misdeneanors, and subject him 90 fine and
imprisonment; snd with removing from once
me Secretary Of War during the session ef The
Senate, without the adyica and consent OF the
- nate, and with violation Of the On section q
the act entitled IAN act regulating the ten ure Of
certaln civil onoes There are other oneucss
cbsrgtd IN the papers referred 10 the commrS-
tee, which may consider more by themssl w.
Dir stevens then reviewed these charrrs n
length; tie laws barring on the Case and tAr
evidence against the Pr ~ldenL and concludaH
follows
The President had persevered in has ,sv,s-s
course through long series OF Unjust aSls
acts. When the so-called Confederate STATE
of America wire conquered and bad lain down
their ms, and surrendered their territory q
the victorious Union forces, the government
and final disposition Of the CONC uered country
belonged 10 Congress alone, according 10 ever
principle of the law Of nations. Neither the
Executive nor the judiciary had any right To
interfere with n, except so far a. was necessary
TO control IL by military rule until the sovereign
power of the nation had provided for It's o. VII
administration. No power hut Congress had
any right to say whether ever, or when. they
should b. admitted 10 the Union a. States and
entitled to the privileges OF the Constitution Of
the United States. And vet Andrew JohA-
son, with unblushing hardihood, undertook
TO rule them by his own power alone. 70
lead them INTO full communion with tAe
Union, dir CT them what governments % 49,
and what constitutions TO sdopt, and TO send
Senators and Representatives to Congress ac-
cording TO his instructions. when adsnonished
by express act OF Congress, more than once re-
pcated, he disregsrded the warning and con-
'unued his lawless usurpairon. He Is since
known TO have obstructed the re-establis hrent
Of those governments by the authority Of Con
grees and has advised the inhabitants 90 resist
the legislation Of Congress. In my Judgment
his conduct with regard to that transaction was
high handed usurpation OF power, which
ought long ago 20 have brought him to impeach-
ment and tTial, and TO have removed him from
has position of great mischief He has been
lucky in thus far escaping through false loglc
and false law. But his then acts which will
on the trial b. shown 10 be atrocious, are open
evidence of his wicked determination TO sub
vert the laws of his country.
i trust that, when We come to vote upon this
question. We shall remember that, although NJ
a. the duty Of the Pres 10 see that the laws
be executed the sovereign power Of the nation
rests in Congress. who have been placed around
the Executive muniments TO defend his
rights, and a. watchmen TO enforce bis obedi-
ence to the laws and the Constitution. HIS oath
II to obey the Constitution. and our duty 20
compel him TO do ia tremendous obi CATION.
heavier than was assumed by mortal
rulers. We are to protect or TO destroy the
liberty and happiness of mighty people, and
TO take care that they progress in civilization
and defend Themselves against every kind of
tyranny. As we deal with the first great polftl-
csl malefactor, so will he the result OF our ct
forts 10 perPtuate the hsppiness and good gov
eminent of the human race. The God Of our
fathers, who inspired them with the thought Of
universal freedom. will hold u responsible for
the noble institutions which they projected and
expected us 10 carry out. This Is not 20 be the
temporary triumph of a political party, but is
TO endure IN ats consequences until this whole
continent shall he filled with a free, untrampIed
people, or shall he nest Of shrinking .cowardIy
slaves
The House then proceeded, AMID g-ea, but
suppressed excitement, TO vote on the resolu-
ton, as follows
Resolved That Andrew johnson, President OF
the United States, be impeached Of high crimes
and misdemeanors.
During the vote, excuses We're made for the
absence OF Messrs. Robinson. Benjamin. WASH
burn of Indiana, Williams of Indiana, Van
Horn of Missouri, Trimble of Tennessee. Pome-
roy, Donnelly, koontz, Maynard, and Shells-
barger.
The Speaker stated that he could no, consent
that his constituents should be silent on 80
grave an occasion. and therefore, ss a member
OF the House, he voted aye.
The vote resulted-yeas l16, NAYS a..
1T was given in detail in our third edition
yesterday
Mr. Stevens (PaD moved to reconsider tbs
vote by which the resolution was agreed to, and
also moved TO lay the motion to reconsider On
the table.
The latter motion was agreed to, this being
the parliamentary mode of making decision
final.
Mr.. Stevens, PA then moved shat a COM
mittee of two be appointed 20 90 TO the Senate
and, al the bar thereof, i'm the name of the
House Of Rppresen ta,iyes and Of all people Of
the United States. TO lmpeach Andrew johnson.
President OF the United States of high crimes
and miscemeanors in Office, and acQuaint the
Senate and the House of Representatives will,
IN due time, exhibit particular articles Of i'm
parchment against him and make good the
same, and that the committee do demand thxt
the Senate take order for the appearance Of sad
Andrew johnson TO answer 10 said impeach-
ment-" and ssthat a committee of seven be ap-
pointed 20 prepare and report articles Of i'm
parchment against Andrew johnson. President
OF the United States, with power 70 send for
persons, papers, and records, and TO take testi-
nony under oath"
The rules Were Suspended and the resolutions
were adopted-yeaS. l3i; NAYS, 42
The Speaker then announced the two com
mittees, a follows
Committee of two TO announce TO the senate
the action Of the Housa-Messrs. Stevens Of
Pennsylvania, and Bingham of Ohio
Committee OF seven TO prepare articles Of i'm
pea chment-Messrs. Boutwell,. of Massachu-
setts; Stevens, OF Pennsylvania; Bingham. of
Ohio; Wilson, OF Iowa; Logan, Of Illinois; Ju-
lian. Of Indiana; and Ward, Of New York. Tho
House then adjourned.