The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-02-27

speech Of Hon. Jas. r. Wtlsea - ssWs'
IN Faver Of Impeachnsne-

Mn. SPEAKER The puohc 49,. Ii-ss-a
disturbed BY the President o. ~. $3.50 |
States. He denies TO the nnuon ~ 49,
, .h;ch il 20 much needs. He Win NOT -1oey
wn'c sn- : s = 81 il 10 must be judged. %
-, ",nrosch this case under the spur OF hate,
80 - ,he heat 81 passion. Its presence De-
. - but lis demands | will respect and
rrbey Asa Representative, y is my dssy 70
see that the laws OF the republic are not de-
fad by a criminal IN Office, if, within the
terms Of the Constitution, . remedy may %
found. The presence of the criminal Is par
pable fact. The remedy 10 plain ana inal:
rusable, aud from the performance o. .n.s
du,y | win not shrink. An impsse1ment
Inc President ofthe United stAsea = nsue
iney,t bile BY hisown deliberate cfsssI = ~"
duc,. as present 10 ns by the case wn.cu ~.
commands orr attention. re cah"us ..sp
,his CONCLUSION five would, for The Fresident
su.s hedgr Is about with new acts Of greater
snorm;ty-if there be any logic IN his course
&c ctdurc-which would at last compel US
a. lake no the gage that he has nov deianty
cas-, 4, our feet. Heretofore, his challenges
have not been, in my judgment, in dne form OF
iav or stamped with the character efrselcr'mes
and miade uneanofs and, thereforet lhave re-
,;st. 4 resort to the extreme remedy when
= . e.or s,itution has placed in oat hands.
perhans have been more cautions than most
nen would have been, but no regnsee ceme 70
me on this account, for believe did my
duty, The considerations which urged upon
nv mind and moulded my conduct ~ zine case
with which lie Committee on the yudiciary
OF this House was charged, are motto pc iound
i ths nressnt case. The logic IN the former
case ia made plain, not to say perfect, by iis
senuence. In the presen, one, the President
Wa working to an end. suspected BY others,
and known to himself. His measures then
we're no, known 10 the laws as crimes or mis-
demeauors, either by the common law or dry
statute: but they are nov so pronounced.
He mistook our judgment for cowsrdice, and
worked on until he has presented us, rs Sc
ouenee. ( hish misdemeanor known 10 Law
and defined by the statute. five permit this
to pass unchallenged by that high power with
which the Constitution has clothed us, no man
can measure the future troubles OF this re
public. For one, am not willing to WAL ior
an ascertanment Of the unknown quantities
of future presidential crimes and misdemea-
| nors, We have before as the element and It.
| an sptiiies ascertained, and am 10 iavor OF
4 xiping il from the executive blackboard
! by an impeachment OF the criminal VINO
| placed it there. Its presence Is source
| of regret to me, and it must be OF
modification TO the people of this republic;
bu, will face it, and they will meet II by as
sertinp The INSTRUMENTATION of the President
"a the law of the land He is not a maker OF
the law. or q Judge thereof, and IT IS enough
for him 10 know that the Constitution to which
he ia sworn to protect and defend, says that
1 he shall take care that the laws shall be faith
/ fully executed. What laws? those which
are passed in pursuance of the terms OF hat
/ Consti- alton which he is sworn to preserve,
protec, and defend. And how are these laws
passed Ny me L"o iiouses u eoss ~
the appfoSai Oh she Ees'uehs' y. Z, ~
Vas ne Goes hot approve - h1 s"ai ,i. - !.
with his o'jsctions' 70 me Houss ~ shcn Il, y
\ shall nave ofiginaasu, .ho sla4' 1n'f sne -
jeetons al large on ,ne.r lonIha.' ahu ptoee ~
70 reconsider u; and u, a.'s1 sucn ie =,
eIation' Two 9h'fos O INN Iouse snan 81 Is
to>Pass lac piii, II snA'a nc ST. So. h -
/ me ot5t 9, ne, ~ ~. os"e ~; r.
II shai, hhe".se 1e eoasia IT, ~ :, hli,
proved oy ,"o-th,, . % .hs. rous ~ naa
become Jaw. M. hiha VI one
WINCH inc ffetiaeot saaii tase caie lia' !. VIC
faithfully executed. ne Ions'i.a,ion goes
not make him Jaage OF the law, guy On -.
&c nor thereof, ana re Is pouhd ~ execute
T. at which me iam-hahihs power ofe1ees "
be The law OF tne iaba. Whatever may pe
his op,hloh OF Tue 'a". as q mere M
dividuai member OF me hano 1a, lem
ily, he Is boaha 70 sleia 10
that higher duty when Inc CONSUMPTION I'M,
poses upon bim as an o'neer OF ne 1'a'e =
bis conscience iofpau, nc may resign the
trust but he ms no fieht 70 re'aih me pow.
er OF tne puoiic ounce anu suoo'oinate .ha'
To the Judgment OF mere lnafsiauai iaeinoe,
Of The community OF nation ~hien nap eio,heo
him with executive powers Tor me enforce
mebt OF us laws as Pupi'e onicel ny su,r
~,
because ne Is nov Only smorh 70 eAScu' inc
law ou' a'so possesses ne ne, fieni ~ Ie.gna-
uoh' ~ ms conscience Niil ho' peEtnA MN
10 execute tiseh laws, ne may 1essshlh's .tuss
ana leave % ms successor ths performance OF
aau'y III Ah'c, ms Jups'hen'' as an t.iai.'on-
al, WIN not SURRENDER 10 MS oohganohs us
i puuitc oshcsr' "tli'hs"ess " saoiii', " .ie
pehsty suoscfiDeo 'of .he ''oiauoh ~ -"
may, 10 some eaeeha' excuse uisooe1'ehce gu
me part q private c','1sn, NM tne same 81,
| ,ime avail nothing 20 me pubic ola1e.. me
laster may: .. any nhs, " sesga1.iohi ps.
COME P'isa'e ein y w. .ue 'olnifi chhho'
become puo''c oi.icei - TINS couhify, eAreps
py inc SURFACES OF ms ieiio~,ci'izens II ne
accepts me result OF tneir SURFACES ne merges
his individuality INTO mat OF the othfiai crea
ture. which BINDS itseis " an oath Rs an e1-
ecative Queer 10 90 that ~nicn, as mere
individual, ne may not oehese 1qss, righ'
or constitutions. ooen an aeceTancs re,
, moves MN rom tne spHefe OF ing r'sht o.
private Judg ment 70 TIE place OF the pnole
oficer' ANA oinas MN 10 observe tne law, MS
Judgment to The contrary notwithstanding.
Inc Constitution invests the fresifeht with
executive power IN order that ne may take
care hat tue AVS De iahhinly eHecused-
Every abuse OF this power, whether Il be an
improper one or exercise Of II, BY Neglect OIL
refusal y exercise Il, IS breach pf ohcin
, duty. But It 10 not every breach qf offica
duty that can be chargedas crime Or misde-
meanor against The delinquent ofhcer. What
ever doubt may have arisen IN other cases
81 the criminal character OF the official con-
] duct involved, this one we are now consider
ing presents 10 basis on which to rest doubt
peiibefatess, not to say dehan iy,ithe Pres
lent has violated penal statute of tbs
Va el ates. and thereby committed higt
} m'sdemeanor, which the law says shall Ds
/ punished BY hne not exceeding w, 600, o.
BY imprisonment not exceeding i've years, OF
oo'l - punishment IN the discretion OF tn.
coafl, aet % March Z. 1881, Section =.
AZ ~ 'ie circumstances a.1endanl upon I'M
Gase suo@ ''ias 'ns reslasn' acuon ives dc
/ ny aa ana s,i'iua Insse y ho' snaue
sasuss y ps''1n.ioh ln .ns cass as y pre-
ssn'eo = Us ~ psfserse'y mas rusnea upo'
: n's owh ues'ruc'lon- oostiha'eiy y has forces
+ upon US an ISSUE IA Hhich we must JON or prov
. ourselves unworthy representatives OF
Tree peoE'te. nave nov sought MS issue