Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-03-09

q
Mr.. MORGAN. Mr.. Chairman, it is
to be regretted that the action of the
House, upon an occasion like the pres
ent, should be marked by unseemly
haste and partisan excitement. Respect
for ourselves, if not for the Chief Mag
istrate Of the Republic, should cause us
to remember that we are acting in the
capacity of grand jurors, and that our
deliberations should be characterized by
dignity and decorum. The action Of
the House is of an extraordinary char
acter, and calculated to lose us the con-
fidence and respect of the American
people. Even before the articles of i'm
peachment were laid on our desks by
the action of the majority we are forced
into debate upon the charges preferred
against the Chief Magistrate without
having had an opportunity of knowing
what the charges are. And I was
struck with the remark of my honorable
colleague Mr.. LAwRENcEl, that he rose
to discuss the question of Impeachment
without having had the opportunity of
reading even the first article. Sir, there
is not court in our country in which the
grand jury would find bill of indict-
mentiagainst the most Infamous male
factor without first hearing with deliber-
alton the evidence to sustain the prose-
cution against the accused. We are
acting not only in presence of the
citizens of the United States, but in the
actual presence Of the civilized world,
for even while we are debating this
grave measure our action is being dis
cussed in London and Paris and St. Pc
tersburg, for the telegraph has made us
neighbors. alagIs sgan ts5 J
During an entire year, sir, persistent
efforts have been made to find some
ground upon which the President could
be deposed from his high office; and
twice has the House, once by direct
vote and once through the action of its
committee, declared that the President
had committed no act for which he was
liable to Impeachment. aosi
Prefer articles of impeachment against
the Chief Magistrate of the Republic,
and for what2 Has he arrested and inn
prisoned citizens without trial and with
out defense If he has, then I will
vote. for the articles of impeachment.
Has he struck down the liberty of the
press? If he has, then / will vote for
the articles of impeachment. Has he
denied to ten States of the Union their
rightful representation in Congress If
he has, then is he guilty of a fragrant
violation of the Constitution, and should
be arraigned and punished, and / will
vote for the articles of impeachment.
Has he established absolute military
ldespotisms over the States of the South
on the pretextof of comforting upon them
Republican forms of government For,
if he has, then he is not only ruthless
violator of the Constitution, but tyrant,
and he deserves to be impeached, and 1
will vote for his impeachment. Has he
disfranchised a majority of the white
race in the South in order to establish
negro domination over white men, wo-
men and children, loyal and disloyal
alike2 For if he has, then he has not
only trampled upon the Constitution,
but committed crime against nature by
reducing the highest race in the world
to the servitude of the lowest, and there
by sought to barbarize and utterly de-
stroy nearly one-third of the entire I'm
ion; for, if guilty of SO great crime, he
deserves to be impeached, and l will
vote. for the articles of impeachment.
But. Mr.. Chairman, / find no such
charges made in the indictment drawn
| by the learned lawers who have reported
the articles of impeachment. Upon
what ground, then, is it proposed to send
the President of the United States for
trial to the bar of the Senate2 Let the
action Of this honorable body on Mon
day last answer: 5 '.-f a.-ss ~
"Mr. STEVENS, from the committee on
Reconstruction, said {: l beg leave to
make the following report: h .1r5
"That, in addition to the papers re-
ferred to the committee, the committee
find that the President, on the .21st day
Of February, 1868, signed and issued a
commission or letter of authority to one
Lorenzo Thomas, directing and author.
izing said Thomas to act as Secretary Of
! War ad imterina, and to take possession
of the books, records and papers, and
other public property in the War De
partment, of which the following is {
copy: a.sE ai.' ig' ~ sa5 q ~ E
~ ExEcuTIvE MANSION, :, l
/ ;g5s WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l, 1861 :
SfR: Hon. Edwin M. Stanton hay
ing been this day removed from Office al
Secretary for the Department of War
4 you are hereby authorized and empower
ed to act as Secretary of War adj interim
and will Immediately enter upon the dis
charge of the duties pertaining to tina
office. Mr.. Stanton has been instructed
to transfer to you all the records, books
papers, and other public property
now in his custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Brevet Major General Lorenz'
| Thomas, Ad5utamt General Of the Uni
| ted States. Army, Washixgtom, Distric
| of Columbia. t'atsn .@
Official copy respectfully furnished t.
Hon Edwin M. Stanton. &.
| s,- L. THOMAS,
Secretary Of War ad interim.
| "Upon>th the evidence collected by tn
committee, which is herewith presented
and in virtue of the powers with which
they have been invested by the House
they are of the opinion that Andrew
| johnson, President of the United States
be impeached of high crimes and misde
| meanors. They therefore recommen,
to the House the adoption of the accom-
panying resolution.
/ .,, THADDEUs STEVENS,
r GEORGE S. Boutwell,
i JOHN A. BINGHAM,
| ,9s g. T.. HULBURD,
JOHN +. FARNswoRTE
!TTkE gE FHar pn.n,.N