Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-24

| lanr. His aCmini. a;toa has hem A constant
I AID rClonErd WasGare a ainst an the material
interests Of the country. II had prost ated bust
ness, lt bad oIprsssed labor, dtstrOyad stII.s.
I imraired the pubic credif. and s,n,,s a.
public morals. Surrcundcd by red HANDED
ret els. advised aud couns clled ~ the worst men
| hat ever crawled like fiithy p;Ilcs al The
I oistOoi of pOwer, he has useSi all the vast at
thOr.ty Of the Government - prevent a ~
union OF the Stafes-the rCs:o fatiOn OF the har-
mony, peace and happiness OF the country
/ he loA al men IN the rcbsl States have be- n
| brought 10 a condition under hls administra-
uon from the contemplation OF which all men
rooll with hoiro Murder, rapine, morn
clarism, robbery. and all the crimes stalk
throufh the whole land, and every day he re-
mans IN ofnce adds 20 the long list Of victims
oI 1etei vengeance, cruelty and hate With
seCh fresldent nearly all the departments Of
ue GoNernment had e come demorallzed and
coiIupi 70 an lKtent which could nnd no par
al al IN the history Of any country NJ any age.
ne httcrney General not satisfied by being
the medium through winch so many mail ron
bers, counterfeiters, and public plunderers
have been Pardoned and turned loose upon the
country, las, with osteniatiOus and boastfuI
audacity proclaimed that he will not ,-,ndicaaa
the laws of Congress. Look AZ the NavV D,-
partment with its profiicacy, its eNtrayaeanoe.
robbel les. and persecution of the honest and
best naval officers OF the country. The Namip-
istralon Of the Treasury Department wa-
eharaeterized by the most appalling frauds,
with countless millions of revenue stolen 70 o.
into the pockets Of thieves, partizens and plum
dererS, or 10 make up vast noliucal
fund % demoralize and corrupt the people
Ihe Interior department with Its land sob-
blng and Indian contracts. and corrupt
extensions OF patents. The Post Ofise
Department arraigned before the House by a
committee of the House, and The State Depart-
Inent arIalgned before the nations OF the earth
ior l's failure 10 vindicate the rights OF IN.
natlon and the citizens Of the nation Con
isonted as we are this day by this state OF
things, so threatening 10 the national esistence
and so destructive 10 all that is held tsaar 20
posterlty, where As the patriotic many of any
political organization who does not call upon
CongrVss 70 sternly do its whole duty. and
purge the Capitol Of the crimes which now
defle the nation.
Mr. Woodward (Pal addressed The House m
opposition 10 the resolution. he argued that
the resolution was a great mistake, and thar
any Impeachment of the President on the idea
that Secretary Stanton was within the protec-
ton OF the tenure OF Office bill WAS what
Fouche, the old chief OF the French police.
would have called worse than a crime-a blum
der. Whatever Executive power the Federal
government possesses was vested IN the Presi-
dent whereas made the sole trustee Of the peo-
pie IN that regard. In the matter OF appoint
ments 10 Office and the treaty making power a
check was imposed upon the President out
even IN these instances the power exercised
wss the Presidents. The concurrence of the
Senate was only regulation for the exercise
OF the power. Ii was q mere advisory direc-
uon, not an Executive power. The separate
ness and completeness Of this Executive
power in the hands Of the President was q
decline essential TO the harmony OF the
sibilities Of the President 70 the people
Ii Congress meddled with IL Congress became
tfess rasser, and Its act an impudent nuli:y,
and the President was not 20 be Impeachsa g.
disregarding IL. He quoted extracts fy,,,n r.
debates in the first Congress upon M Exac,
i've Department, and argued tina. thai debate
settled lne Question aosol.ely, and demon
sTeted the utter unccastitutionality OF the act
81 March "a, lSs1. He also argted that by the
very NSMs OF that act itself Dir. Stanton
did not come within its scope, and quoted
and Bingham taking that same view OF
the law when II was under consideration.
Mr.. johnson was man Of the Republican
partys own choosing, and he verify believed
that the President was trying 20 restore the
Union-to pacificate the country, and 10 ad-
minister his high Office with a faithful regard
10 the obligations Of the Constitution and the
best interest Of the people He seemed 10 hlm
10 be a true friend 10 the whole OF his country
a faithful public officer, and entitled 10 Cabinet
advisers who Were his friends, and not his en-
emles. Congress had far better sustain such a
man in his Constitutional rights, and address
itself 10 the relief Of the suffering country than
TO waste Its time and the peoples money in inn
peaching faithful public servant on charges
that are both false and foolish. At the aisle OF
denunciation, he (Wood) denied the right of
the House 10 impeach anybody and the right of
the Senate TO Try any impeachment. The House
was not composed, az the Constitution REQ uired
OF members chosen by the people of the
several States, nor was the Senate COM
posed Of two Senator'S from each StaIe.
In conclusion he said: Mr.. Speaker, so sure
am that the American people will respect tue
objection. that II i were the Presidents coun-
sellor, would advise him. if you prefer arti-
cles OF Impeachment, TO demur 10 your luris-
diction and that Of the Senate, and 10 issue a
proclamation giving you and the world notice
that while he held himself improbable ior
misdemeanors in OFF ce before the Constitution.
he never would subject the Office he holds an
trust for the people 10 the irregular. unconsti-
tutional, fragmentary bodies who propose TO
strip him of il. Such proclamation. with the
army and navy on hand 10 sustain IL, would
meet popular response that would make an
end o. Impeachment and impeachers.