The New York herald., 1868-05-17


The contest of the President with Congress had
been waged with great bitterness for nearly two
years and after the fall elections OF 1866 the tri-
umph OF the republicans emboldened the leaders OF
the party to carry out with undisgused bodness the
measures they had resolved upon The bill placing
the exrebel States under military rule and fore
ing universal negro suffrage upon them had not yet
been passed, but it and other measures which have
since become law had been decided upon. The only
obstacle to the entire success OF the radical policy
was Mr.. Johnson but he, by simply contenting him
self with vetoing such bills as did not meet his ap-
proval, had given his opponents no opportunity TO
compass his removal. To every radical representa-
tive the President was obnoxious and all would
have been glad to him deprived OF his ofice but
itwas not known If solid party vote could be relied
upon TO override veto and carry through measure
negro sulrage) which was not only unpopular
among the people of the Northern States but which
many believed was so glaring violation OF the con-
stitution that enough republican congressman would
be found who would shrink from giving it their sup
port TO prevent its success
THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY MR.. ASHLEY.
That this was the true secret Of the desire to get
rid of Mr.. Johnson the developments made after
wards plainly showed But be that as IL may,
movement was inaugurated looking to his impeaoh-
ment, and on the 7th day OF January, 1867 Mr..
lege and with ludicrous effort to initiate the action
and language Of Burke in his celebrated speech i'm
peaching Warren Hastings said, after few pre-
liminary remarks:-
l do impeach Andrew Johnson Vice President
and Acting President OF the United States Of high
crimes and msdemeanors
charge him with usurpatiOn of power and VIOLA
tion OF law;
In that he has corruptly used the appointing
power:
In that he has corrupty used the pardoning power;
In that he has corruptly used the veto power;
In that he has corruptly disposed Of public pro-
perty of the United States;
In that he has corrupy interfered in elections and
committed acts which, in contemplation OF the con-
sttution, are high crimes and misdemeanors There
fore,
Be it resolved, That the Committee on the Ju-
dietary be, and they are hereby authorized to In
qure into the official conduct OF Andrew Johnson,
Vice President OF the United States dischargng the
powers and duties of the Otfice OF President OF the
United States and TO report to this House whether,
IN their opinion, the said Andrew Johnson, while
in said office, has been guilty OF acts which are
designed or calculated to overthrow subvert or cor
rupt the government of the United States any de-
partment or ofice thereof; and whether the said An
drew Johnson has been guilty OF any act or has con-
spired with others TO do acts which, in contempla-
tiOn OF the constitution, are high crimes and msde
meanors requiring the interposition of the constu
tional power of this House; and that said commit.
tee have power to send for persons and papers, and
10 admpister the customary oaths to witnesses
These charges and resolutions were not allowed
any length of time for debate. The democrats and
conservatives endeavored to gain time, but the ma
jorty were memorable. The call for the "previOus
question: made and sustained, and the resolu-
tion adopted by strict party vote Of one hun
dred and yeas to thirty nays and referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
INVESTIGATION BY THE COMMITTEE.
The Judiciary Committee set promptly TO work and
examined o very large number Of witnesses The
manner in which they proceeded was to say the
least very ndelicate Mr. Johnson's social relations
were made the subject OF investigation; the number
OF United States bonds he owned or had bought and
other matters connected with his private business
were ascertained. In fact nothing left undone
to obtain some ground which to report in favor Of
his impeachment. On the 9th Of February the COM
mttee began to take testimony and toward the close
OF the session reported that not having fully inves
gated the charges they were unable to arrive at any
conclusion The subject was therefore tranferred to
the Fortieth Congress. After this body met 1t was
ascertaned beyond doubt that majority OF the
committee was opposed to taking any further
steps looking to impeachment. None OF the EVIL
dence, II was asserted, constituted a high crime
and msdemean0r and it Ia probable that a report to
this effect would have been rendered had not the
summer recess OF the House been taken. At this
time the committee stood as follows:-For reporting
against impeachment-Mess Wilson, rep., OF Iowa,
chairman; Woodbridge, rep, Of Vermont; Churchill,
rep, ,eof New York; Marshall, dem., OF Illinois, and
Eldridge, dem., Of wsconsin-5. For reporting in
favor OF Observation-Disclosures. Boutwell, rep, OF
Massachusetts,; Williams, rep, OF Pennsylvania;
Thomas, rep, Of Maryland, and Lawrence, rep. OF
Ohio.
A MYSTERIOUS CHANGE AND REPORT IN FAVOR OF
IMPEACHMENT
Before Congress met in the fall there were rumors
a1oat that Mr. Churchill, OF New York, who had
hitherto opposed impeachment, was now In favor OF
It. The reasons assigned for this remarkable
bltng il TO his having been refused certain
appointments by the President Whether this be
true not cannot, OF course, be ascertained
and the probabilities against its truth. But be
that 1t may 1t is quite certain that the 25th OF
November, 1867 Messrs. Boutwell,, Williams Thomas
Lawrence ana Churchill, majority OF the commit
tee, presented q report favoring Impeachment.
Messrs. Wilson and Woodbridge, republicans, and
Messrs. Marshall and Eidridge democrats presented
minority report, In which they held that the evil
dence was not snfcient to warrant further action
the part OF the House, Prior to this time the fall
elections had taken place, and the radical party had
not only met with heavy losses, but had in several
states been defeated by decisive majorties This
reaction against the policy Of Congress had its eject
upon the great majority OF the representatives.
When therefore, after some nlbusering on the part
OF the democrats, vote taken the eth of De-
cember on the report OF the majority 1t was declared
rejected by 50 yeas to los nays. The following was
The vete:-- 49,.
Yeas-J8. t-
Anderson, rep, OF Mo. logan. rep, OF III.
ArnelL sp., OF Tenn. I.oughridge, rep, Of Iowa.
Ashley, rep, OF OHIO. Lynch rep, Of Me.
Boutwell,, rep, OF Mass. Maynard, rep, of Tenn
u oomall, rep, OF Pa. McCurg, rep. ~ No.
Bromweli, rep, OF III. Mercer, rep, of Pa.
Butler, rep of Mass. Mullins rep, ienn.
Churchill, rep, ofN.Y. Myers, rep. OF Pa.
Clarke rep., of Ohio. Newcomb, rep, Of Mo.
Clarke rep OF Kaneas. Num-, rep, OF Tenn.
Cobb rep. Of wis., O'NeilL rep, Of Pa
CoburA, rep, OF Ind. Orth, rep, OF Ind.
Covode, rep, of Pa. Paine rep, OF Wis.
Cullom, rep, Of III. Pie, rep, oi MO.
Donnelly rep, OF MINI. Price rep, OF Iowa.
Fckey rem. of Olio. Schenck, rep, OF Ohio.