Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-31

/ nv III. N9shbufnc o. ihiuois, ahu were
seated The minutes OF the last day were
read Mr. Butler commenced his opening
stetch n a quarter before one O'Clock.
he referred = Tie feet that the trisl
Z ~ ch was about 10 o9tInae ncc was the ms st
/ important ir the bis,c'' III our country and
ora that had perhaps 70 parallel il the his
I t1ry al any cher country.
| lie tlen proceeded % state ,ae case as ii
caue t-nre tie Senate. The Senate, he
sait, was d.i - from ether courts Il
Ha@ q law uuto isi Il and WIS nci subject "a
tt ,in4tv ru.es 81 cGnr;s being governed
o. vs. tag ~. 4einles - Justice.
Ar. Dlr Isl rroCe,dei To quote ihe
hl t#ig ofa Impeachment cases IA thls
CO. ny y l1s aua ~ snow IL po~eE
d ~ court D. trxlnE the case. lie uwel.
on them at great length. After having
stated the preliminary principles 10 the case
Mr. Butler proceeded ~ review the articles
OF Impeachment.
He said that the House of Representa-
tives and the people have joined issue with
Andrew johnson ~ 10 his right to act as be
has. This bill which he has violated re-
ce,yed the requisite sanction OF both the
Senate and House OF Representatives, alter
a full consideration Of his objections. Ii
| he is TO be allowed to exercise this danger
| Gus DO er OF removal where is II 10 end' Inc
| Executive power OF appointment IS Clearly
| limited Nv the words Of the CONSTITUTION.
which orders the consent oil the SENATE
necessary. The power which he has as
sumed to exercise is king.y he power oil
removal VS. very deliberately debated IN
! lie first Congress on the bill to create
ate Department IL was debated for four
days ana finally was so framed as to Imply
tie power Of removal In the President, tut
iac triumph al its supporters was short
! iIvtd When il came TO the House
"a motion OF Mr. Benson, the provision
Implying lite powers OF removal in the
President. was stricken out. |, went to the
| senate, bu. us the debates there were in
secre, session, We have no means OF know
lng what did take place, but We learn from
| the journal that tins provision, implying
| the power III removal, was retained by the
casting vote Of John Adams, the Vice
i President Alas most all our woes have
come from our Vice Presidents. Notwith-
standing this, the facts show the President
made no removal without notifying the SEN
ate President Adams removed Mr. Pick
ering by nominating "A successor to the
| senate. None OF the early Presidents
| had ever att mpted to exercise the unlim-
it,d power Of removal now assumed by the
prt sent occupant in that chair. Congress
has always asseh,ed toa legislative power
in reference To removals from Office. In
1926 tie powers of the President were CAL
vasscd in Congress and a Committee ap-
| pointed on the subject, who reported that
1t was Ut osssary to trim down his power y
statutory enactment and reported no le q
than eight different bills on the subject; one
Of them vacated within certain time oil
offices pertaining TO the collection of reve-
puc. Heie was tcnure-ot-otlice act re-
ported by one of the greatest minds of the
country. II did rot seem to occur to Cot
gress then that it has not power to regula .
appointments TO and removals from office
MIR i cited further acts of Congress In
support oil his position, aud after stating the
events of Fcbruary,-tbe removal OF Stan
ton. the appointment OF Thomas, the inter-
view with Gen. kmory. DC, concluded his
argumen; as follows: Who does not know
that from the hour the President began his
usurpat!ons of power, he everywhere de-
nounced Congress and the legality and Con-
stitulionality OF its action, defied its legiti-
mate powers, and for that purpose az
nnunced his intention and carried out his
purpose as far as he was able of removing
every true man from Office who sustant Il
| the Congress OF the United States And it
il to carry out this plan OF action that he
sustains the unlimited power OF removal for
the Illegal exercise OF which he stands before
| yuu tie NY Who does not know that in
pursuance of the same plan lie used his
veto pos CT r. 4iscriminatcy 10 prevent the
passage oi wholesome rs enacted for the
pa iilcaI ION of the country, and when the
laws were passed by the Constitutional ma
ioiity over his vetoes he made the most de-.
tormined opposition, both open and covert
IN them, and for the purpose OF making that
opposition tilectual, lie tndeavored 10 array
AMI did array nj the people lately in rebe.
ltnr, t. SIT Themselves against Congress-
aud against T.. true and loyal men, their
neighboie, SO that murders, assassiuations
and massacres were rite all over the South
.rn States which he provoked by his refusal
TO consent that a single murderer be pun
ished, though thousands OF good men have
been slain and further. that he attempted
hy military order to prevent the execution
OF bets OF Congress by the military com.
menders, who were charged herewith
These and his concurrent acts show con-
clusively that his attempt to get control OF
the military forces OF the Government by
. the Selling of the Department of War, was
. done in pursuance of his general design
The safeguards Of the Constitution against
usurpation are in your hands. The interests
and homes of free institutions wait upon
your decision. The House of Representatives
has done lis duty. We have presented the
facts in n Constitutional manner We have
, brought the criminal 10 your bar and de-
mand judgment at your hands for his great
, Dtimes Never again, ii Andrew johnson
sh rGa ~ free tins day, can the people Of
THIS or any other country ny Constitutional
,cks and guards Stay the usutpations of
acu'ive power | speak. therefore, not
the language OF cxaggeration, but the words
q truth and sohcrness in saying tina. the
future political welfare and liberties of all
nien hang lEcmuiousiy en- the decision Of
tais House"
Mr.. bingham, one OF the Managers. rose
ant SAID
S!r. rrcsiieut:-The Managers on the
part OF the House are ready to proceed with
the testimony 10 make good the articles OF
Impeachment exhibited by the House of
Representatives against the President OF
the [ kited States, and my associate Mr..
Wilson, will present the testimony.
Mr.. Wilson, wish to state in behalf of
the Managers that notwithstanding the
documents which we deem important to be
present In evidence have been Set out in the
exhibits accompanying the answers, and
also in some OF The answers We still are OF
opinion that 1t Is proper tor us to introduce
the original documents by way of guarding
against any mishaps that nigh. arise from
imperfect copies set out in the answers
MIR. Wilson then offered in evidence ccrti-
fed copies of oath OF oince of President
Johnson, Of the appointment of Secretary
Stanton by President Lincoln, and OF the
ratification OF said nomination by MIR.
johnson. and President Johnaon's co rmu-
nication to the Senate assigning his reasons
TOR the suspension of the Secretary of War;
Alter which the court adjourned till
! IL tomorrow, and the Chief Justice
| vacated the Chair
The President pro. TEN called the Senate
| to order.
The report of the Committee on Confer
encc on the bill &c relieve certain manutac-
lures from internal revenue tax was taken
up and alter considerable debate was
agreed 10 whcreupcn the Senate sd-
jourped-
House. MIR. Churchill introduced bill
to amend the &C. of March LIST, 1902, rela-
tive TO vacancies in the office If President
and Vice President of the United States. re-
curing "a new election in an interval of
eighteen months between the double va
cancy and the ordinary termination OF the
| "a ,crp 80 ho J,l