The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-05-08


Emory, Mr.. Groesbeck said he would
dismiss that with a word. He read
the testimony of General Emory,
and said it must appear clear to all
that the Presidents whole purpose in
sending for Emory, was to ascertain
why certain unusual changes were be-
ing made among the troops in his de-
partment.
The 10th article he would leave to his
colleagues to discuss; but he would
ask whether the right of freedom of
speech in this country belonged
only to the private individual :?
Is it denied the officers of the Govern
ment? Can't the President,discuss the
measures of any department of the
Government? May Congress set itself
up as a standard of good taste? Is it for
Congress to prescribe rules of Presiden-
tial decorum? Will it not be enough
for Congress to preserve its own digni-
ty? Can it prescribe form of express
ION which may be used, and punish by
impeachment that which it cannot
reach by any form Of law? He would
not dwell further upon the subject than
to say that the sedition law of 1898 was
very much like article 10, and that as
we all know, was one of'the most offen
siVe laws ever enacted. 1t was in a
short time repealed, and no attempt
has ever been made to reiterate its pre-
cepts, but it has been reserved for the
House of Representatives of the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress, through its mana
gers, to renew this questionable propo-
sitiOn, and he would take it upon him
self to suggest that before any one was
condemned in a court of impeachment,
the country should have some law up
on the subject. He had therefore pre-
pared the draft of a law to meet the
case.
Mr.. GROEsBECK then read, amid
much laughter "a burlesque law contain
ing large number of premables reciting
the duty of the President to observe Off
cial decorum &C., declaring that such eX-
pressions as "a body hanging upon the
verge of the Government"weres subjects
for impeachment; and subjecting the
President to fine and imprisonment for
using such expressions or not observing
the rules Ofdec0rum as there laid down.
That, said Mr.. GrOeSbeck, is article No.
10. Laughter. The 11th article, ,hesaid,
would be investigated at length by his
colleague. He would only say of it
that there was nothing to support it
except the telegram from Governor
Parsons to President Johnson. He had
heard the Grafton of one of the mana
gers upon this article, sounding, sono-
rous and sensational, and he would ask
if that was the sort of an article upon
which conviction was anticipated ?
In reviewing the whole case he was glad
that no political questions were invOl-
, we'd in this. The questions are, where
is the power of removal lodged by the
Constitution? Is that power covered
. by the civil Tenure of Officeact? Can
the President make an dd interim APP
pointment? Did he do anything mis-
chievous in his interview with Gen En-
Ory? Ishe to be. held accountable for eX-
ercising the right Of freedom of speech
Stripped Ofall verbiage these questions
comprise the whole case. How meagre
! and miserable then is this case? Itissim-
ply a question of an dd interim appoint
/ ment that may be terminated in IA day
: and Of an attempt to remove Edwin NJ .
Stanton, who stood defiantly and poi
soned all the channels of intercourse
: with the President.
! We have been referred to many pre-
! cedent5 in the past history of England,
but those precedents should be to you,
| Senators, not matters for imitation, but
becOn lights to warn you from the dan
gerous rocks on which they stand
| What is to be your Judgment, Sen
atOrs? Removal from, office, and
perpetual disqualification If the
President has done anything for which
, he should be removed from Office, he
should also be disqualified from hold
ingoffice hereafter. What is his crime
He tried to pluck thorn out Of his
heart-for it had become thorn there
and the Senate had fastened it there.
, What more had he done? He had
made an ad interim appointment to last
for single day. You could have ter
t minated it whenever you saw fit. You
had only to take up the nomination,
which he sent to the Senate, and which
was a good nomination, and the Gd in
= feri,n would have vanished like smoke.
The thing was in your hands. You had
! onIy to act on the nomination and the
matter was settled. That was no crime.
l can point you to cases that have Oc-
7 Cured, and l point especially to that
case of Floyd's, where the Senate in its
, legislative capacity, weighed the ques-
= ton, decided upon it, heard the report
> of the President and received it as sat
f isfactory. For the purpose of the trial
. that is res ao!judicatd. What else did
/ the President do? He talked with an
: officer about the law. That is the En-
ory article. What else did he do?
: He made incorporate speeches. When
I reyiled he should not have reviled a.
: gain. When smitten on the one cheek
| 10 s,OuI6 bovn tTrned Tho Othpr also