Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
IMPEACHMENT.


had been told by the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Brooks) that if the President should be
tiled and convicted. he and the Democratic
party would not stand II The gentleman, in a
dramatic and sensational manner also told the
House that he never would stand it. HEARING
ths Sc things, he (Mr. Farnsworth) thought they
were carried back years ago, when he listened
TO similar threats on this floor Just prece ding
the rebellion. The galleries were at that time
filed, but by class of people different from
that which now occupied them and who ap-
plauded to the echo the threats and menaces
then expressed. He would tell the gentleman
that when the President should be irnpeached
in the mode pointed out by the Constitution,
for high crimes and misdeint anSrs in Office,
II II were not profane, he would call God to
witness that the gentleman must stand it,
He cared little for Andrew Johnson For
months past he never had doubt that the man
would be impeached. He had believed that the
evil i'll the man would come out, and step by
step develOpe itself, until he capped the climax
by violating the supreme law of the land-tha
Constitution OF the United States. In the cor
respondence with Gen Grant, the President said
his action with reference to the suspension O,
Mr.. Stanton was not under the tenure Of Office
bill. but under the Consultation, and outside of
that law; and tnat ne was only exercising his
constitutional right. What did the President
say now Was he acting under the tenure OF
office bill or the Constitution Mr. Farnsworth
then read from the Constitution as to the power
OF the Presidentto to appoint to office by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate.
Mr. Barnes, with the consent Of Mr. Farms.
worm, read from another part of the Constitu
tion, namely =" The President shall be COM
mander- in chief OF the Army and Navy"
Mr.. Farnsworth. Il would inquire whether
the Secretary OF War is any part OF the army,
not?
Mr.. Barnes.-I contend that the Secretary
OF War is part of the army Of the United States.
Mr. Farnsworth.-The Secretary of Warts a
cisil officer. Such a thing as the removal Of a
CaDmet officer during the session of Congress
was never before done by a President Th~
gentleman from New York said If we enter on
,be Bisl a9W the Term Of the Pres sideut's Office
wouid eyn;re be,crs tAs trial was concluded
The Presidents letter TO :. Sn'o.i and Thomas
presents complete compact, ano perfect
canse. We need swear no Witnesses. ana
take no testimony. Read the law and the
Constitution, and the case is all there, a.
plainly as if the President had confessed the
fact. / trust the Senate will do it's duty. fairly
and completely. II the President could re-
move Mr.. Stan ton he could remove every other
member of the Cabinet, and all other officers
excepting the members of the judiciary. We
see by the newspapers that the President has
created new department the department Of
the Atlantic. We now see that, failing 10 make
a tool of Gen. Sherman, he reclnds so much of
the order As assigns that ofiicer to the comman".
We hear that he has here plant tool for the
command No Gou ot he will find other tools
Why create an ADDITIONAL department perel
Ignoring Gen. Grant, the President issued his
orders direct To his subordi nate. If the PresI-
dent did that when he had plant tool he
might order Ger. q rant into arrest. VINO doubts
his purpose! And when he has the War De-
pariment and the army in his fist, and Grant
under arrest, where are we, The army In he
hollow of his hand, and where are We, II he
can turn ont others, he can turn out. What
is the effect! No reconstruction. The country
is 10 be told that with his plant tools he will
force the Democratic party TO nOmi nate him
and keep his seat warm.
MI. Getz.-I don't think the Democratic party
can be foI ced in that way.
Mr.. Farms worth.-Do you say you will not
support HIM!
Mr.. Getz.-Yes: If he shall be nominated
Mr.. Farnsworth.-Thats IS the old Democratic
party practice of going il blind lI.aughter.j
The House then took recess until half past
O'Clock.
EvENING SESSION.
The House reassembled at haif-past seven
very few members present. but the galleries
crowded.
Mr. Farnsworth, who had fifteen minutes 81
his time left nj the time the recess taken
concluded his speech, expressing his belief that
the Serste had patriotism ami frniness enough
TO convict Andrew Johnson. and 10 remove
hun fro.n the Office which he had 20 long dis
graced. The nation had been 100 long dis
graoed by this accidental President; by this
man who had been made President by the
sassin's pistol. He should be removed, If il cut
short his term by only one day, and should be
sent down to posterity, degraded and incapable
OF holding any office of trust or profit under the
Government OF the United States.
Mr.. Baker next addressed the House in sup
port Of the resolution of impeachment. He
thought The time had come for IL. He believed
that the President had plainly, directly, con-
sciously violated an important act OF Congress,
and with the purpose OF setting II al naught.
The Presidents former course had lacked but
one element OF Impeachment, and that was the
element on oehniteness. That element Mr..
Baker continued. was now supplied. and there
fore the impeachment should no longer Ice de-
layed. he claimed that the attempt TO remove
secretary stanton and TO put Gen. Thomas In
his place, " ithout the advice and consent of the
Senate, was plaln. literal. positive violation
of the terure-of- office law.
Mr.. Kelley supported the impea chm.nt reso-
luton, and congratulated that Congress was
about 10 rise to the dignity OF the great duty
cast upon II by the turpitude of Andrew John-
son. The area of the resolution was, however,
too limited Tor him, though sufflcI-nG toT HE
purpose proposed. They were about to arIaIgn
the great criminal Of the age and counry-a
man who had been. for Two years, plotting
with bloody and deliberate purpose the over
throw OF thu country institutions. This day
two years the President had appeared in the
streets OF Washington, surrounded by rebel
lious rabble, and had pointed out by name
Senator sumner and Mr.. Stevens, OF Pennsyl-
SanIa. a. object OF the lawless mobs, whom
he then hailed a. friends. IL was hen his pur-
pose 10 overthrow the Government, and To per-
petuate his power. In that purpose he sought
10 bring the violent passions Of the violent men
OF the South TO bear upon the l. -gislature> OF
the people: and but for the hardy virtues of
that stern patrlo,, Edwin NJ. Stanton, he might
have carried out his intended cottp II etdt. When
he found that the temptations of General Sher-
man and of Carinthian Thomas had been
spurned by them. and that the President had
found another honored general TO undertake TO
act the part which 81. Armand had acted for
Louis Napoleon. when the French republic was
assasSinated. he felt that the like attempt would
be made by President Johnson; but he had
confidence in the stern virtues and patriotism
OF Edwin M Stanton, and that confidence had
not been misplaced. In his presence to-day
that -. Armand Thomas had appeared in the
Office of the Secretary of War. and demanded
possession OF the office. This WIS not legal
question. II was necessary that the usuruer
should be hurled from his position Ii was
not desirable that the Liberties OF the country
should reposP in the hands of one or two men
Lincoln had been murdered and other honorad
men might be. II was just therefore, that
without undue delay, Andrew Johnson be de-
graded from the high office which he dis.
sraced.
Mr., Beck addressed the House against the
resolution. He had no doubt tina. Congress
was prepared 10 take the las, fatal leup-aI-
though the only ground assigned for impeach.
ment was that the President had taken the only
step in his power to the constitutonai,ty Of
the tenure OF. Office act Was that sufficient
ground for impeachment! He contended that
II was tie bounden duty of the President TO
take steps TO test the question, and that the
President would be false TO his trusts as Chief
Executive OF the nation il he did not do 30.
Mr.. Logan spoke in support of the resoi,iti on.
H' quoted the language OF the tenure of Office
act to show that. without the consent of the
Senate, the President could not appoint to OF.
hce or remove from office. The case WAS,
therefore he argued, very plain and sim pl.,
one. II the President gave a commission 10
such an officer withou, the consent Of the Sen
Ia vt1slt Tn