Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-04-01
Impeachment

Inc answer OF the president put IN
on the 23rd, to the articles of Impeach-
ment presented, would cover eight or
ten columns of this paper and for want
of space to give it in full we propose to
state briefly the substance of it. To the
First article, which is in reference to the
removal of Stanton, the President reiter-
ates the statements and arguments, already
published in our columns, in his message
TO the Senate upon that subject: putting
it in legal shape and form.
To the Second article which charges the
appointment of General Thomas as Secreta-
ry of War, the President admits the ap-
pointnent. denies that he violated the
the Constitution or any law of Congress
by so doing, and maintains and will in
sist,
l. That at the date and delivery Of
said writing there was vacancy existing in
the office of Secretary for the Department
of War.
.. That, notwithstanding the Senate
of the United States was then in session,
it was lawful and according to long and
we'll established usage to empower and
authorize the said Thomas to act as Sc
cretary of War ad interim,
8. That if the said act regulating the
tenure of civil offices be held to be a
valid law, no provision of the same was
violated by the issuing of said order or by
the designation of said Thomas to act as
Secretary of War ad interim.
To the Third article he answers, chat
General Thomas was authoized and en-
powered to act as Secretary of War ad
interim, and whether the same amounts
to an appointment or mere designation.
he denies having violated the law OF
the Constitution. To the Fourth article
charging that he and Thomas proposed
10 get possession of the War Department
hy threats or by intimaidtisn, he puts in a
positive and distinct denial, and that the
article is insufficient 10 making specific
statements.
To the Fifth article, charging conspira-
cy to hinder the execution of the Civil
tenure act he puts in denial AYERS that
Stanton was not Secretary of War at the
time mentioned and the want of specific
allegation. To the SirM article charging
a conspiracy on the 2lst of February 1868
to take possession of the War Office by
force, the President puts in denial both
as to the intent set forth, and as to the rio-
lation of any law on the subject. To the
ISeventh article, he AYERS he never did con-
spire to take unlawful possession Of the
War Office, or did in any act commit a
high crime or misdemeanor.
To the Eighth article, alleging an intent
unlawfully to control the military appropri-
alton, the President denies that in appoint
ing Thomas be had any such purpose,
AYERS that there was vacancy in the
department, and that be disired to vindi-
cate his authority as President, and to
bring the question before the Supreme
Court To the Ninth article, charging a
conspiracy with General Emory, he gives
his note to the General, the conversation,
and the purpose of the interview, and his
construction of the law. To the Tenth
article alleging statements in his speech
to the Philadelphia Convention Commit
tee and to the citizens at Cleveland Ohio,
derogatory to Congress he denies the
charge and refers to the speeches them
selves, and not to extracts from them or
recollections of them and claims the
right as President or as citizen at all
times and in all places to speak his mind
on all subjects, that the occasions of the
speeches were not sought by him; and
that in any case, the making Of them was
not in any wise an official act, for which
he is amenable to impeachment.
To the Eleventh article, charging that
he denied the authority of Congress to
Iegislate, or propose constitutional amend,
ments because certain States were unrep-
resented the President denies that he
said so, but AYERS that it is not a full
Congress and clasms his right as citi'
zen to hold and speak his opinion on that
as on any other subject, without question
inquisition or impeachment or inculpation
in any form or manner therefore.
Election News.
As a general rule, but little political in
formation can be gained from the Spring