The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-05-21
THE ARTICLES OF I.MPEACH-
.f ME- MI

understood exactly what the President
was charged with, we append the substance
of the eleven articles of Impeachment.
Those who have taken an interest in the
proceedings of the trial and watched its
developments will be more than ever
struck by the fimsiness of the charges,
and, if at all unsophisticated, surprised at
the smallness of the vote by which Mr..
Johnson was acquitted on the | lth article
Article |. That the President issued an
order to remove Secretary Stanton, with
intent to violate the tenure of Office act.
Article IL. That he by letter authoriz-
ed Lorenzo Thomas to act as Secretary Of
War ad iaterim, when there was no va
cancy i'll that office, with intent to violate
the same act.
Article III. That he so authorized Tho
mas to act as Secretary, with intent to Vi
olate the Constitution of the United
States.
Article ". That he conspircd with Io-
renzo Thomas and others, by intimida-
tions and threats, to hinder Mr.. Stanton
from holding his office as Secretary of
War, thus violating the Constitution and
the Conspiracy Act of July 3lSt, 1861,
thus committing high crime in office.
Article V. That he conspired with Lo-
renzo Thomas, and other persons unknown,
to prevent the execution of the tenure of
Office act and in pursuance of this con-
spiracy, attempted to prevent Mr.. Stanton
from holding his office as Secretary of
War, thus committing high misdemean-
or in office.
Article VI. That he conspired with
Lorenzo Thomas to seize by force the
War Department, contrary to the con-
spiracy act, and with intent to violate the
tenure Of office act, thus committing
high crime in office.
Article VII. That he conspired with
Lorenzo Thomas to seize by force the
War Department, with intent to violate
the tenure of Office act; thus committing Il
high misdemeanor in Office
Article VIII. That he delivered to To-
) renzo Thomas letter Of authority to act
as Secretary of War ad interim, with in
tent unlawfully to control the military
appropriations, in violation of the Consti-
tuition and of the tenure of office act and
so committed high misdemeanor in Of
fee.
Article TX. That on February 22d list
he instructed Major General Emory that
that part of the appropriation act OF
March 2, 1867, which provides that all
orders Of the President aud War Depart
mcnt relating to military operations shall
be issued through the General of the
army, was unconstitutional, and tried to
induce Emory to violate it, by receiving
! orders directly from the President; with
the further intent to prevent the exccu-
ton of the tenure of Office act, and to pre-.
vent Mr.. Stanton from holding the Office
, of Secretary Of War.
Article Y. That he delivered inham,
, matory and scandalous harangues, at var,
> ious times, to bring contempt upon Con.
|, gress. In this charge, specification first
quotes speech at Washington, August
18th, 1868; about a body changing on the
verge of the government
Specification second The Cleveland
4 speech Of September Sd, l8G7-"Youl
e Congress that is trying to break up the
q government" etc.
Specification third: The st. Louis
: speech of September 8, l867-'If I have
, played the Judas, who has been my Christ
that | have played the Judas with Was
it Thad Stevens? Was it Wendell Phil
! lips ?" etc.
These speeches are charged as higl
: misdemeanor in office.
j Article XI. That he declared in pub
: lie speech in Washington, August 18th
1867, that the thirty-ninth Congress wa
r not constitutional Congress of the Uni
$ ted States, but Congress of part of thu
!, States; thus denying the validity of thei
!, legislation, except so far as he chose t,
= approve it; and, in pursuance of thi
| declaration, attempted to prevent the ex
q ecution of the tenure of office act, by un
t lawfully contriying means of preventing
Edwin M. Stanton from resuming the of
v fee of Secretary Of War, when the Sen
!. ate had refused to concur in his suspen
sion; and also attempted to prevent tn
1t execution of the appropriation act 0
: March 2, 1867 (as in article 81 and ais,
e of the act of March 2, 1867, ''for thu
It more efficient government of the Rebe
States;" thus committing high misde
e meanor in office. 81 ..H
If Observation-Disclosures, wilder
l. ness only few years since, is now one 0
the wcalthiest and most popnlous State
in the Union. Those who were infant