Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04
e Congressional.
IMPEACHMENT OF THE
PRESIDENT,
SUMMARY OF DEBATE IN THE SENATE,
FEBRUARY 2l.

SUMMAR1 Of DEBATE IN IHE SENATE,
FEBRUARY 2l.
We copy the following from the Washington
correspondent Of the Boston Adrerfiser.
The act Of the Executive met with strong con-
demnation from every republican senator who
spoke, and | believe that in the course Of the eve
ming nearly every man Of them had something to
say. 1t was unanimously looked upon as an act
full OF evil. Mr.. Doolittle and one or two others
OF she conservatives attempted to defend it or
to apologize for it by saying that johnson meant
nothing but good for the country by putting
things into such shape that the constitutionality
Of the tenure OF office act could be tested before
the courts This chah caught nobody, and Mr..
Doolittle was answered that the Pl esident had no
right to make such a case. Anarchy will come
again. said Mr.. Trumbull, " If laws made in
proper manner are TO be treated unconstitution-
al until the Supreme Court decides otherwise; if
the President violates the law he must be held res
ponslble as any other man is, and he cannot plead
good intent any more than a thief or murderer
Something was said about Mr. Stantons obstinacy
and lack OF propnety in trying 10 stick TO the war
office after he had been reinstated, though the
President would not allow him to enter the White
House and would hold no interview with him. To
this it was answered by authority that on the day
OF his reinstatement, well during the follow
ing day, he had no idea Of remaining in the de-
partment except until his successor could be
/
that he prepared letter Of resignation and would
have forwarded it to the President the third or
fourth day after resuming his duties, if the action
Of the Senate had been respected by MIR. johnson I;
that the President authorized the announcement
that Mr.. Stanton would not be recognized as Sec
retary OF War by the administration, either direct
ly or indirectly; that this was not only fragrant
contempt Of the Senate, which has equal power
under the Constitution with the President In the
making of cabinet ministers but gross insult to
Mr. Stanton, and OF such character that no man
with decent seif-respect would then have tender
ed his resignation, and that therefore the Presi-
dent has only himself TO blame for Mr.. Stanton's
continuance in office.
1t was held by all republican senators from the
beginning Of the debate, believe, that the Presi-
dent had no right to appoint Secretary of War
dd iafertm during the session of the Senate, but
several senators, including such lawyers as Messrs
Trumbull, Fessenden, Drake and Edmunds, were
not wholly clear on the point of his right to re-
move; they did not take ground in favor of this
right by any means, but Mr.. Fessenden said,
there several laws bearing on the subject, and
il was not wise to assert off hand an opinion on
such an important legal question. Messrs Sum
ner, Chandler, Pomeroy, Wilson, Harlan, Conk-
ling, and indeed many others were entirely posi-
tive that the President had no right to make re-
moval. 1t was suggested by two or three persons
that the executive communication be referred 70
| the judiciary committee for an examination Of the
| law, but this found little favor, Mr. Wilson argu-
ing warmly that the emergency demanded immedi-
ate action. This view finally prevailed, and Mr..
Wilson's resolution, considerably toned down from
its original form, was adopted 1t will be seen
that this does not, in direct terms, deny the right
to remove, but passes upon both the Presidents
acts at once and denies the right to remove and
appoint ad interim.