Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-03-05
Hon. Luke =. Poland.
scoech on Impeachment, delirered in .he
House Of Representatives.,
Feb. 80, 1863.

House of Representatives.,
Feb. %, 1853
Mn. POLAND, Mr.. Speaker, | desir
70 say a few words in explanation OF m,
own position. and of the vote which fee
compelled to give upon the importan
proposition now before the House.
II is well known TO the members Of thi,
House, to my constituents, and the eoun
try, that | voted against preferring tn,
articles OF impeachment of the Presiden,
which were reported by majority of tn,
Judiciary Commute. at the commence
ment Of the present session. II is MOI
needful that | enter into any detailed
statement of the reasons upon which that
vote was given. But | will say that from
careful examination of all the evidence
taken and reported to US by the Judiciary
Committee ! WAS not satisfied that tn,
President had been guilty of any such
-axpress AMI snecitin inl.t.n.. III /. a.. ..
any such wiful and corrupt official mis-
conduct As would legally authorize con.
viction by the Senate. The President
and the Congress Of the United States
were diametrically opposed in their views
as to the proper policy to be pursued in
the restoration of the States lately in re-
bellion. The political party in the coun-
Try opposed to the majority in both
Houses of Congress had rallied to the
support of the Presidents policy, and in
opposition to that Of Congress and the
President had joined his political fortunes
with the party in opposition to that which
placed him in office.
1t did not appear TO me that any such
special and definite offence could be
proved against the President as to give
his impeachment or conviction any other
appearance or character than political
one, and | greatly feared that We should
thus establish precedent which might
seem to justify any future Congress in
removing from office any President on
account of mere political differences. Ii
Is known, too, that very great differences
existed upon the law of impeachment, and
whether the President could legally be
impeached for corrupt misconduct in Of
nee when no law had been passed de-
elaring such misconduct to be a crime,
and enaeting penalty against it.
In the feverish evaporation existing
between the President and Congress |
thought it especially unfortunate that we
should be called upon to establish u
precedent that would have the force of
law upon that subject The country had
just emerged from terrible war Tor the
nations life, which laid upon us stag
gering debt which required all our effort,
10 meet our national finances were in u
precarious situation the reaction in the
business of the country, caused by the
shange from the immense demands of war
10 the lesser ones of peace, had created a
general depression in all the industries of
the country, which were laboring under
heavy but necessary burden of taxation
Under these circumstances, when every
effort and energy Of every department Of
the government was needed in aid of the
business and industry of the country, it
seemed To me unwise to add n new ele-
ment of excitement to the financial eddies
and whirlpools, and another cause to dis
tract the attention of Congress from
proper effort to ameliorate the condition
Of the country
was not, perhaps, as much affected by
the political aspects and consequences OF
the question as some other persons. here
and elsewhere, but ] could not resist the
belief that under the circumstances a
prosecution OF impeachment against the
President would be regarded by people AS
political persecution, and prove disas-
trous to the party upon whom must rest
its responsibility.
Besides these reasUns, i ftsiTtI If pOs-
sible, to avoid the disgrace and obloquy
which such proceeding would bring
upon republican institutions and govern
ment among other nations and peoples OF
the earth
have not been able to approve the
course of the President for the last two
years, more than other members of my
political party. considered that in Con-
gress, as the law department of the gov.
eminent, rested the power and the duty
OF prescribing the forms, terms and con-
ditions upon which the seeding and re-
belling States should again be restored to
their places in the Union, and when the
determination OF Congress had been ex-
pressed on that subject by the oonstitu.
tonal majority over the objections of the
Presidsnt, that it was his duty to forego
his own private views and in good faith
10 execute their law as the will of the
people That he did not do so, but, on
ths contrary 80 far as was in his power
without expressly violating the law, dc
sired md designed that the legislation o
Congress should prove futile and unavsil
ing. was forced to believe. Notwith
standing this. believed it safer and wise
70 endure the evil for the short remainde
d the 1Besident's term than to risk tn,
penils incidental to this new trial of GU
system a government by an attempt Il
remove the chief officer of the nation.
was grstified that my own view o
The proper action to be taken proved to b
j In harmony with q majority of my politi
al friends L. this House. ! hare res:o:
heisvs, to, that my own immediate