Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-05-01
ruption, and by their influence to enable
him to reconstruct the Union in the inter-
Il IL, I'LL

eSt VI tuc IcUclItttS CMttSs
He resorted to the usurpatiOn as ncces-
sary means Ofusurping all power and re-
storing the Government to rebel hands.
No criminal was ever arraigned who offer
. ed more unsatisfactory excuse for his
crimes. He had no right to do what he
J says he designed doing, and the evidence
as his purpose. The provisions of the con-
stitution relating to appointments were
then considered as theories given to show
made by the President except in concurr-
ence with the Senate. The letter of re-
mOval to Mr.. Stanton was an admission
by the President that Mr.. Stanton was Sec
retary of war on the 5lst of February. 1868
but that his suspension was abrogated by
the action Of the Senate, and that Mr..
Stanton thereby was restored lawfully 70
Office. By issuing the order for the re-
moval Of Mr.. Stanton the President made
the attempt in violation of the constitu-
ton. This is 8 Efficient to Justify verdict
! of guilty under the first article. The
right claimed by the President to make
removals when the Senate is not in session.
as during recess. shown by reference and
by the constitution to be unauthorized. In
the exercise of this unauthorized right the
Presid mt, previous 70 the massage of the
tenure of Office act. had removed hundreds
of public officers to the d-triment of the
public service, and appointed others who
IN the internal revenue service, have caused
losses to the Government of not less than
S35, 100000 year for two wears. The
passage of the tenure hill has proved ineff-
ectual as a complete security. and now the
President asserts his right to violate it, and
ny his Interpretation of the constitution
assumes alb Olute and nnoualified mower
over all officers in the couitry. The re-
noval of Mr.. Stanton ia the particular
crime of tho President, for which convict.
ion is demanded. By his conviction tho
Government will be purified aud restored,
By his acquittal the Government will be
surrendered into the hands of an usurping
aud INSCRIPTIONS man. who will use ali
the vast power he claims for the corruption
Of every branch of the public service and
the final overthrow of the public liberties.
rhe excuse of the President. that he acted
under the advice ofhis Cabinet. was cited
ls not tenable, rs he had no right to such
advice on anythinr outside of their special
departments. The act Of 1889, establish
ing department of Foreign Affairs which
was put in by the defence was then con-
sidered ana reference made to certain corr.
elletive documents. The action of the
Congress of I7S9. in nassiuy that hill. de-,
veIoped the fact that it was of the onin.
ION that the mower Of removal was not in
the President absolutely and during the
session of the Senate was vested in that
body and the President eoncurrently. and
and the debate then held and the votes
cast indicate that the newer Of the Pros
idcnt to remove during the vacation Of
the Senate was, at hest. a doubtfu! power
under the constitution.
The practice ofthe Government relative
to removals suhscouent to the MASSAGE of
/ the above act was then reviewed. and a
speech made by Mr.. johnson III the Sem.
ate in 1861, ia which he claimed that the
adm ,nstration was powerless without rho
concurrent action of the senate. was ono.
ted. But the act of 1879 il no srcuritv IN
the President None of his nrcdecessors
ron Washington 10 Lincoln. ever yrntur.
ed to claim uild ;. that act the mower to re.
move IL civil officer dprinr a session of tho
Senate and TO appoint a snccessnr Honno
it is. he is held apiltv nf n v;oiat;,, nf ,hs
| Constitution and his oath of ,fHn.
| The act of Feb. r. I7o, on which .h.
| President relics for iuSti6c,tion far a.
pointnr Gen. Thomas os Sncret,r,. nf W.
| nd interim was then cops;Jaro3 M I,,r,J,
and il WAS contepded tIat If tbot st.t.,,'
was auulicable to a vsc,nc,. .ro.to5 w.,
suspcnsion or removal tbnn tho pro,;5an.
mas violated if hv tb,t anno;,tm,a.. n'., ;s
that statute ia not annJ;rahia ,n. ,,,.,.. "s..
accustomed by n remaval than tb. anoa;n;
ment is witnont auibor;tr af i.w. in, ,hn.
statute was renen,rd bv ihe ,ct If F,.h On
|