Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-03-05

10 . strict Observance Of my duty. 1
will vote for the pending resolution, 70
the end that the law may be vindicated
by the removal Of An unworthy public
servant from an official position which
be has dishonored BY his perveEse dis
regard Of duty, and his unjust oon-
tempt Of the supremacy OF the law.
WooD addressed the House again on
the impeachment resolution. he said
that the proceeding was as unwarranted
les il was unprecedented. Tho Presi-
dent has been guilty Of no legal crirni.
nal offence under the constitution and
laws. The grounds on which the reso-
lution Of impeachment issought TO be
maintained are all frivolous, technical,
and utterly unworthy Of any attempt ct
refutation. II any branch OF the gov
eminent has been guilty Of high crimes
and misdemeanors, il is that which
would usufp all power, and make the
co.ofdinate branches subserVient TO its
will and its selfish partisan desires.
The President has been careful
to maintain his oath Of Office,
which requires him to preserve, pro-
tect and defend the constitution to
the best Of his ability, and this is the
extent Of his offending, and no more.
II the House aided by like spirit and
for a like motive in the Senate, shall
consummate the matter and displace
the chief magistrate Of the nation un-
der so slight o pretext, it will commit
an offense greater in effect than that
attempted by the leaders of secession
| in 1861. Their effort was to accom-
plish territorial disintegration; this
effort is to disorganize the Government
itself. II carried through, the public
credit receives fatal blow, because
the instability Of our public institu-
tions becomes manifest, and this basis,
upon which now rest all monetary and
proprietary interest, will be shaken. As
q consequence, the great industrial in
terests will become paralyzed, taxa
ton win become materially enhanced,
the currency further deprecated,
trdde and commerce destroyed, aud the
people, taught by the example of Con
aress, will learn to disrespect and dis
regard the authority of the official
power 80 necessary for the protection
Of life, liberty and property. Thus
would social and political evils follow,
alike, subversive OF the pride and pub
lie good. viii the necessity for the
removal of the president justify the
probability of such experiments at this
time? Is our national condition in
that square position to warrant al tx
pertinent so fraught with possible dam
gers? II such considerations have no
weight with the mSjority OF this House,
can that party bear the responsibility
thus incurred9 Can it take upon itself
the odium of all extraordinary and
revolutionary proceedingsp Can it
escape from the consequences incident
to so violent o remedy for imaginary
wrongs, when no motives OF public
good will sustain itP / imrlore the
gentlemen of the House, before these
impending calamities, let them reflect
upon the personal consequences of
the step they are about to. take.
liz the danger to their country
and to the existence of their party
can excite no alarm, let them RENE n
Der their oath of Office, the constitu.
ency to whom each must render his
account, and the individual liability
thus incurred iD our positions as mem
bers Of this House. We are not our
own agents; We are here in repre-
sentative capacity. Nor do we reflect
alone the voice and wishes of politi-
clans at home, Under the theory and
laws OF our country we are all the SER
wants of the whole people, whose wants
and wishes We impersonate on this
floor. To their happiness and pros
perity let us devote ourselves. To their
best interests let as be faithful, and TO
their bidding let us bow, so that We
may hereafter meet them without fear
and without reproach. The day will
speedily come when all of rs must
render an account Of our stewardship,
not only to onr friends and neighbors,
but to God and our country. Let us
try SO to discharge this duty that,
whether living or dying, in public or
private life, in the presence OF our
families or Of cur Maker, we can justi-
| fT aud maintain our conduct.
EnDREDGE addressed the House in
opposition to the resolution. He asked
whether the gentlemen on the other
side believed or expected that it was
possible for this Government, of sew
eral co-equal departments to exist,
when they we're not only warning with
each other, but when the one had not
only one of the confidential counselors
of the other, but known and deter
mined enemy, holding his position
against his own pronounced conviction
Of constitutional right and duty,
Attwenty minutes before FIVE o'clock
the House proceeded, amid great
but suppressed excitement, to vote on
the resolution, as follows:
Resolved, That Andrew johnson,
President Of the United States, be i'm
peached for high crimes and misde-
meanors.
During the vote excuses were made
for the absence Of Messrs. Robinson,
Benjamin, Washburn, Williams, Van
Horn, of Missouri, Trimhle of Tenn.
Pomeroy, Donnelly. ,Kooutz, Maynard
and Shellabarger. ,t.. fI
K The Speaker stated that he could not
consent that his constituents should be
silent on SO grave an occasion; there
fore as Q member of the House be voted
"sye." s3gcTi ..35
The vote resulted--yeas 126, nays At,
as follows: -.,..-.. t..-
YEAs-Ne Ssrs. Allison, Ames, Anderson, Arnsll,
Ashley. Of Esyada Ashley, Of Ohio, Bailey; Baker,
Baldwin, Banks, BeSman, Beatty, Benton, Bingham,
Blaine, Blair, Boutwell,, Broomall Bromwell, Buck
land, Butler. Coke, Churchill, Clarke, Of Kansas,
Clarke, Of Ohio, Cobb, Coburn Cook, Cornell. 90.
vods, Cullom, Dawes. Dodge, briggs, Eckley, Eg-
gieston, Eliot, Fansworth, Ftrhs, Ferry, heids,
4F.vely, Griswold. Halsey, Harding, Highly, Hill,
Hooper, Hopkins, Hubbard, Of Iowa, Hubbard, OF
West Virginia, Huburd, Hunter, Ingersoll, Jenckes,
Judd, Julian, Kelley, Kelsey, Ketcham, Kitchen,
Lann, Lawrence, Oh Penasylvania, lawrence,
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