Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04


him 10 take possession Of the Department Of War
and 10 eject the incumbent, +. M. Stanton, then
| in lawful possession OF said office. Here II this
act stood alone, would be an undeniable official
misdemeanor not only msdemeanor per Sc, but
declared to be so by the act itself, and the party
made indictable and punishable in a criminal pro-
| ceeding. II Andrew johnson escapes with bare
| removal from ofice--if he be not fined and incar-
cerated in the pententiary afterwards under crimi-
| nal proceedings he may thank the weakness or
| clemency Of Congress and not his own innocence
We shall propose to prove on the trial that An
| drew johnson was guilty OF misprsion of bribery
by offering to Gen. Grant il he would unite with
him in his awless violence, to assume in his stead
penalties and endure imprisonment provided by
the laws. Bribery is one Of the offenses specific
ally enumerated for which the President may be
impeached and removed from Office. BY the Con-
sitution, Art. 2, Sec. 2, the President has power
to nominate, and by and with the advice and con-
sent OF the Senate, to appoint all officers Of the
United States, where appointments not there
in otherwise provided for, aud which shall be es-
tablished by law and to fill all vacancies that may
happen during the recess Of the Senate, by grant
ing commissions which shall expire at the end Of
the next session. Nowhere either in the Consti-
tuition or by statute, has the President the power
to create vacancy during the session Of the SEN
ate and fill it without the advice and consent Of
the Senate and yet on the 2lst day Of February,
1868, while the Senate was in session, he notified
the head Of the War Department that be was re-
moved from office and his successor, dd interim,
appointed Here is plain record of violation Of
the Constitution and laws which If it stood alone
would make every honest and intelligent man give
bis vote for impeachment. The President had
perseyered in his lawless course through long
les OF unjustihable acts When the so-called Con-
federate States Of America were conquered, and
had laid down their arms and surrendered their
territory to the victorious Union, the final dispo
Stion Of the conquered country belonged to Con-
gress alone, according to every principle oil the
law of nations. Neither the Executive or Judicia-
ry mad any right to interfere with it, except far
as necessary to control it by military rule, un-
til the sovereign power of the nation had provided
for its civil administration No power but Con-
| gress had any right to say whether or when they
they should be admitted to the Union as States,
and entitled to the privileges Of the Constitution
Of the United States; and yet Andrew johnson,
with unblushing hardihood, undertook to rule
| them by bis own power alone to lead them in
full communion with the Union, direct them what
governments to enact and what constitutions to
adopt, aud to send representatives TO Congress ac-
cording to his instructions. When admonshed by
express act OF Congress, more than once repeated,
he disregarded the warning and continued bis law
less usurpation. He is since known TO have OBJ
structed the re-establishment OF those govern
ments by authority of Congress. In my Judgment
his conduct, in regard to that transaction, was a
high-handed usurpation Of power, which long ago
| ought to have brought him to impeachment and
trial, and to have removed him from his position
Of great mischief. He has been lucky in thus far
escaping through false logic and false law but
his then veto, which will on trial be shown to be
atrocious, is open evidence Of his wicked deter
mination to subyert the laws Of his country.
trust that when we come to vote upon the question,
we shall remember that, although it is the duty Of
the President TO that the laws be executed the
sovereign power OF the nation rests in Congress,
which has been placed around the Executive as
| monuments to defend his rights, and as watchmen
| to enforce his obedience to the laws and Cons;i-
tuition. His oath is to obey the Constitution, and
our duty to compel kim to do it all,isa tremendous
obligation, heavier than was ever assumed by NOR
| tai rulers. We are to protect or destroy the lib
erty and happiness of mighty people, and to
take care that they progress in civilization and de-
| fend themselves against every kind of tyranny.
As we deal with the first great political malefactor
so will be the result OF efforts to perpetuate
| the happiness and good government of the human
race. The God of our fathers, who inspired them
with the thought OF universal freedom will hold us
responsible for the noble Institutions which they
| projected, and expected us to carry out. This Is
not to be a temporary triumph Of political par
ty, but is to endure in its consequences until this
whole continent shall be filed with free untram-
melled people or shall be nest of shrinking cow
ardly slaves.
|
tee Of two ordered to inform the Senate, and
of seven to prepare articles Of impeachment On
the first committee the Speaker appointed Messrs,
Stevens Of Penn. and Bingham of Chic and on
| the last, Messrs Boutwell, of Mass, Stevens Of
Penn, Bingham of Ohio, Wilson of Iowa, Logan
OF Illinois, Julian of Indiana and Ward OF New
York.
In Senate, Feb. 25, the Clerk Of the House an
nounced the adoption of resolution of impeach-
ment by the House, when Messrs. Stevens of
Penn. and Bingham of Ohio, committee Of the
House, appeared at the bar of the Senate, and
! Mr. Stevens said:
"Mr. President: By order of the House OF
Representatives we appear at the bar OF the Senate,
and in the name of the House of Representatives
and Of the people OF the United States do i'm
peach Andrew johnson, President of the United
States, OF high crimes and misdemeanors and we
| do further inform the Senate that the House OF
Representatives will in due time, exhibit partcu-
| lar articles OF impeachment and make good the
same, and id their we do demand that the
Senate take order for the appearance Of said An
drew johnson 10 answer 10 said impeachment
The President id" The Senate will take
| order on the same.n
Mr.. Howard rose to move the appointment of a
committee, but Mr.. Davis, who had the floor, OBJ
jected to the introduction Of other business
Mr.. Howard claimed the right, as a question Of
privilege to introduce resolution for the appoint
nent OF select committee OF seven, to consider
the Message from the House, and report thereon,
Mr.. Davis ayailed himself of the occasion to
assert his rights to the floor. but, after some par
leying, he gracefully yielded,
Mr.. Bayard Of Delaware objected to any such
action until the President had been actually i'm
peached.
Mr.. Howard said that the proposed action was
in accordance with preeedents which he cited
! Mr. Pomeroy took the same view Of the cas-,
and so did Mr.. Reverdy Johnson.
The resolution was agreed to.
The Chair then appointed Senators Howard
Cameron. Edmunds, Pomeroy, and Reverdy John
son as the committee, who will report rules t.
guide the Senate as Court Of Impeachment.
Senator Chandler presented letter from th
Governor Of Michigan, exhorting the Senate no
to faiter and the Senate very properly refused t
receive it.
In Senate Feb. 90, Mr.. Howard from the Selec
Com. of the Senate, appointed to consider and re
port on the message the House Of Representa-
tives in relation to the impeachment Of Andre'
johnson, President Of the United States, reporte
the following resolution:
Whereas, the House of Representatives, on th
25th day OF the present month, by two OF thei
members Messrs. Stevens and Bingham, at th
bar of the Senate impeached Andrew johnson
President of the United States, OF high crimes an