St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-02-28
Remarks of Mr.. Bingham, of ohio.

In the House of Representatives, upon
the Report Of the Committee on Recon
structiun, that Andrew johnson be i'm
peached for high crimes and misdemean-
ors. and in reply to Mr.. Brooks, of New
York
The issue involved is not, us the gen.
tleman from New York said, the ques-
ton of an office, but whether the supre-
macy of the Constitution shall be main
tanned by the people of the Republic
The President of the United States has
assumed to set himself above the majesty
of the law. He has assumed TO defy
the law He has assumed 10 challenge
the representatives of the people to set in
Judgment on his maltcasanCe in office.
ANY man who has considered and OBJ
served my conduct touching this question
which has so long agitated this House
and this country must have discovered
that | have endeavored to keep others
back from making any unnecessary issues
between the President and the Represent
atives of the people touching the manner
in which he has discharged his duties Of
his great office. | had no desire to re-
sort to this last power rcposcd by the
people in their Representatives and in
their Senators for the vindication of their
own violated laws, so long us there was
any doubt hanging over the question.
Notwithstanding there was much i'll the
conduct of the President to call for the
interpo,ition Of the representative; of the
country, vet, as long as there was any
doubt hanging over the question of his
liability TO Impeachment within the text
and spirit of the Constitution. | was I'M
willing to utter one syllable to favor such
proposition or to record Il vote TO adj
vance it. With the past | am entirely
satisfied. | am responsible alone to
those who sent me here, to the CUnstitu
ton and 10 the common Father of us all.
have said nothing heretofore, which.
dying, would wish to changc stand
here, however. to-day, filled with the
conviction tina. the President of the Uni
ted States has Deliberately and dcfilntlv
and criminally violated the Constitution.
his oath of Office and the statutes of the
country. Propose to MAKE clear, in
the short time which VIII occupy, the
proposition which | have Just uttered
and in attempting to do it | desire To
say that it is Il moment of pain, sorrow
and of grief with me TO he compelled. ~
a representative of the people, to make
the utterancc that the President of the
United States has set this bad example
to all the people of the country by tramp
ling the Constitution and lIws under hi-
foot. Mr.. Bingham went on 10 argue
the question Of law involved in the mai
Ter, and to show that the President him
self had virtually admitted the con~tiiu-
tioul.Itv OF the Tenure of Office bill hv
exercising the power of suspension and
sending liz reasons therefor to the S.n-
ate, l,r which Ia had no authority cv-
cept hv that law. The gentleman from
New York Q6rook>) had warned them TO
beware. Beware of what Beware OF
rendering 4 faithful obedience - their
ulth> ~ Representatives To beware
Of til" step authorized bv the ConStiru-
ton 10 put this uSurpcr of authority ON
trial before the only tribunal ON earth
authorized to try him for the crimes
CHARGED Did not the gentleman know
that it Is written in the Constitution that
the President. the Vice President and
every other ''l! officer of the nltci
lr..l lao.
Impeachment OF and conviction of hi-h
crimes and mi-icmcanor- Dill he Not
know thar il l. written il the same Con-
S''ut'oh 'lai Inc representatives "i the
Py'!'II SI''''' Ia, 't,' So'e power u I'M
P'"'n,''e'' ANA yer inc Gentleman
.o'' them /" beware "l putting nc RES
.'''''' Ca 'r''s,' ne 'h''@''a'"} "'lI'rt'oA
!" sly t''''' '''er' was ch'"-h III me- cor
,'>i'"''',,''e >uo'll.''' yesterday |" ln>u-
'"t ll""Sr III drawing lie inference
'''' ''i' l .'>'''"' l. ny MS "'' 4Hl.'E OF
"h"'-'r CRIME u,''''r another act oi Con
IF's~ ''Hi'loil" 10 'iT act "i lNp',
""lrh makes 1t nigh 'rlmr' punishable
~ me ana ''il'r''o''l'l'ei!t' ior any per-
SON ny i"rce' threat OF intimidation t"
prevent any person exercising the tune
''o',S o, an "I'lI'r u''''er ,he government
VI me h''ed '>'aie>: ne uha'Fto"k To
say 'hat on nun iiFe>ll2ul"h "t the
';.NS Tue ir'-'Ie'' would he !"nhd @u'.ty
Oh attempting by threat and by lnIm'ia-
hng' Ii not Ivy force to prevent the Sec
retarv OF War exercising the duties OF
the office 10 which he had been assigned
ny the solemn Judgment OF the Senate.
Ii panied him to make such an utter
ance.
If he had had any control over the