The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-04-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, april %.
SENATE.

creE session 10 lake OoDhte on the anal
question, to be reported with the pro
ceedings.
Mr.. Williams moved to amend by
inserting the following at the end
But no Senator shall speak more than
once nor TO exceed fifteen minutes dur
ing such deliberations
AT the desire of Senator johnson
rule % was read.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the
amendment by inserting after the
words "fifteen- minutes" the words
zone question: The amendment was
rejected by 10 to so.
Mr.. Bayard moved TO amend Mr..
Williams amendment by allowing
thirty instead of fifteen minutes. Re-
jected; l6 against 3S.
On motion of Mr.. Morton, seconded
by Mr.. Howard, further consideration
OF the subject was postponed until af-
ter the argument is concluded.
The additional rules offered by Mr..
Sumner was, upon his motion, laid
over until the close Of the argument.
The Chief Justice then directed the
argument to proceed.
At 1890 o'clock Mr.. Stevens mounted
the clerks desk and read his argument
in a pretty firm voice, from printed
slips. After about ten minutes he took
chair and read sitting. at five min
utes before one his voice showed signs
vi hehh uG5Sy anu 44Es DuAAG4 4GAO LAlG
remainder ofthe argument.
Mr.. Stevens said he should discuss
but q single article, the one that was
finally adopted upon his earnest solicit
tation, and which, ifproved, he consid-
cred as quite sufficient for the convic-
tion of the distinguished respondent.
He desired TO discuss the charges in no
mean spirit of vituperation, but argue
them in manner worthy of the high
tribunal before which he appeared, and
of the exalted position of the accused.
The trial of the Chief Magistrate OF the
nation, which was intensely interesting
to millions of men, could not be belit-
Andrew johnson took upon himself the
duties of office he swore to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed.
The duties of legislation and the adju-
dication OF the laws fall in no way TO
his lot. To obey the commands of the
sovereign power of the nation, and to
see that others obeyed, was his whole
duty. His attempt to escape that duty
will be misprison of perjury Mr.. Ste-
venS said accuse him IN the name OF
the House OF Representatives of having
perpetrated that foul offense. Mr..
Stevens then reviewed the question OF
IL g Secretaryship of War, and charged
that the President had plainly and will
fully violated a law which he had sworn
to see faithfully executed. MIR. Stevens
ridiculed the idea set up by the respon-
dent that the case did not come under
the tenure of-office law because Mr..
Stanton was appointed by Mr.. Lincoln.
He claimed that by the Constitution
the Vice President when called TO the
presidency was not serving out new
Term of his own, but only the unex-
pired term of his predecessor. Rela-
tive to the matter of intent, Mr.. Stevens
said was in the impeachmeuts more
than in the indictments. The averrinG
of the fact charged carried with 1t all
that was necessary 10 say about the in
tent. He went further than some and
contended that no corrupt or wicked
motive need instigats the acts for which
the Impeachment is brought. It was
enough that they We're official viola,
tions of law. The President Justified
himself by asserting that all previous
presidents had exercised the same
right of. removing officers, but there
were now express laws against II, so
the cnses were not parallel. The Presi-
dent said he removed Mr.. Stanton to
test the constitutionality of the law.
cided by votes twice given by two
thirds of the Senators and
House OF Representatives. It stood
as law upon the statute book. Instead
of enforcing that law he took advRn-
tage of the name and funds of the Uni
tee States to resist it, and to
induce others to resist it: The
remove Satnton under the tenure Of Of
flee law; this was direct contradic-
tion of his own letter to the Secretary
of the Treasury. How necessary that
man should have good conscience
or n memory. The President denies
that he attempted to prevent the execu-
ton OF the tenure of Office law, and yet
s,,l l,Fa nnrrnunn0AnuRa with EHnn Grant
he reproached the General by the as
sertion that he [Grantl knew his OBJ
ject was to prevent Edwin NJ. Stanton
from forthwith resuming the functions
ofhis Office. Notwithstanding the SEN
ate might decide in his favor, ques-
ton ofveracity grew out OF this cores
pondence, the President asserting that
the General had promised to aid him in
defeating the execution of the laws by
preventing the immediate resump-
lions of the functions of Secretary
of War by Mr.. Stanton and that the
General violated his promise. This
the General denies, though he agrees
with the President that the President
did induce him to make such a promise
and to enter into such arrangement
He maintained the President had been
guilty of violating law and OF mispris-
on of official perjury: Mr.. Stevens
then referred to the claim OF the Pres
ident to. violate the tenure office law
because he considered it invalid and
considered the position OF the President
in accepting the oath to take care that
the laws are faithfully executed. He
also detailed the action of Congress on
the law, expounded its provisions and
criticised the claim of the President
to diregard them. He then took up
the action of the Senate on the message
OF the President informing that body
of the suspension of Mr.. Stanton ana
afterwards its action on the removal OF
Mr.. Stanton and the appointment of
Mr.. Thomas dd Interim Notwlthstand'
ing the Senate declared he had no pow
er TO remove the Secretary of War and
designate any other officer to perform
the duties of the office dd interim, he
continued Thomas in Office. This off
spring of assassination, said Mr..
Stevens, turned upon the Senate, who
have thus rebuked him in a constitu-
tional manner and bids them defiance.
Mr.. Stevens then discussed the article
charging the President with usurping
legislative powers, and proceeded 10
show how he had tnterfered Win the
work OF reconstruction. He then
briefly reviewed the whole case, COM
pared the services OF Mr.. Stanton with
those OF Mr.. johnson, noticed the claim
of counsel that no removal OF Stanton
had taken place because Mr.. stanton
still held on to the ofice, and concluded
by saying II the President is not willing
TO execute the laws Of Congress let him
resign and retire to his village obscu-
riIy.
After the death OF Mr.. Lincoln instead
of being content with the position the
people had given him, he sought to be-
come thereafter as the Chief Executive
of the nAtionj this he knew could only
be done by changing principles and
creating a new party to sustain MIN.