Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-19
OLD THAD. In A RAGE.
The Sudden Collapse Of the
Impeachment Move
ment.
Correspondence New York wOrld.l

house OF REPRESENTATIVES, WcIo PseSo"N
at an early hour, when Mr.. Thad. Stevens,
chairman, proposed that the definite con.
alteration Of the matter, which seemed
to him to have been shirked on the last
dsy of the examination OF the writer of
the dispatches signed -. B. s., In The
| World, should at once be had. Mr..
Stevens stated in very strong language
his opinion that the investigation had
gone far enough. It was useless to argue
upon the subject There were plenty of
proven charges whereupon Mr.. johnson
could be inpeached, and it was Mr..
Stevens conviction that he should be
impeached without further palaver. Mr..
Stevens then laid before the Committee
the following preamble and resolutions:
The Committee on Reconstruction, to
whom was referred the correspondence
of Andrew Johnson, President OF the
United States, and U. S. Grant, General
Commanding the Armies of the United
States, having considered the same and
the evidence, do report that, in virtue of
the powers with which your committee
has been invested, they have fully ex-
amined the evidence before them, and
are of opinion that Andrew johnson,
President of the United States, is guilty
of high crimes and misdemeanors, and
therefore they recommend the adoption
of the following resolutions:
Resolred, That Andrew johnson, Pres
ident of the United States, be impeached
of high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolred, That committee go to the
Senate, and at the bar thereof, in the
| r L. Af tuac
and of all the people of the United
States, do impeach Andrew johnson,
| President of the United States, of high
crimes and misdemeanors, and acquaint
the Senate that the House of Represen-
tatives will in due time exhibit partcu-
lar articles of impeachment against him,
and make good the same.
<Resolued, That said committee do de-
mand that the Senate take order for the
appearance of the said Andrew Johnson,
to answer to said impeachment.
Mr.. Bingham moved tnat all this, and
the whole subject Of impeachment, be
laid on the table, whereupon Mr.. Ste-
vens waxed fearfully wroth, and
denounced not only Mr.. Bingham,
but Mr. Bingham's disciples and
| COnRress Behorhhyi =, 90 P"Sh
of wincing politicians" Mr.. Stevens s
extreme illness and debility spared him
from being compelled to listen to any
very excitable responses, although some
sarcastic, but decorous, remarks were
INDUCED in by Mr.. Brooks, Mr.. Beck,
and others. At last Mr.. Stevens insisted
that the yeas and nays should be re-
corded upon the motion by Mr. Bing-
ham, in order that the country might
know who was and who was not in favor
of giving Mr.. johnson his deserts. So
the vote was taken, and was recorded
thus:
Yeas-Bingham, Beck, Payne, Hurl-
but, Brooks and Beaman.
Nays-Stevens, Boutwell, and Farms
worth.
OF course, this vote sufficed to lay the
subject on the table, from which it will
never be lifted. Although one member
of the Committee seemed disposed to
finch from voting, and attempted to re-
tire from the room, Mr.. Stevens was too
determined, as everybody will be glad to
know, to allow such a proceeding. He
demanded the full vote of the Committee,
and it is the full vote of the Committee
which has overthrown the impeachment
project. - :.
After the rush of members and poll
ticians into Mr.. Stevens room at the
capitol had ceased, and very soon after
the defeated great commoner had
been borne in his chair from the capitol
to his home, the writer Of these dis
matches, who had also been witness
! examined in the presence of Mr.. Ste
vens. called upon him. He was received
in a chamber where Mr.. Stevens, the
dying leader of once powerful but now
fallen national party, leaned back In an
easy chair alone, looking almost utterly
exhausted. Nevertheless his welcome
was cordial, and his expressed regret
that Mr.. Stevens might not feel himself
strong enough to converse upon the sub
ject in view was alleviated at once by
Mr. Stevens outspoken frankness.
"Tll say this" proceeded Mr.. Stevens,
"not particularly for publication" " "And
vet" he continued, II don't object to
your publishing anything say, I'll say
this, that the whole question of impeach.
ment lies almost in nutshell. Asto the
first part of the Grant and johnson cor
respondence (Johnson's letters | chiefly
allude to), consider that there is enough
evidence to impeach dozen men. The
main point is, was the President guilty
or not guilty of violation or an at
tempted violation Of the Tenure of-Offic
act He is explicit enough himself on
this subject. Although he states in one
place that he did not remove Stanton and
put Grant in with any reference 10 the
Tenure-of-0ffice act, but upon the au-
thority granted him by the Constitution,
what is to be said in his defense for his
recurring Grant, as they both agree in all
their letters, to arrange with him (John-
son) to keep Stanton out of Office against
the will of the Senate2 The Senate had
confirmed the Tenure of Office law What
right had President TO deny defy, or
seek TO disobey, or circumvent that law
Damn il, don't both the President and
General Grant subscribe to this vital fact,
that Grant had at least considered, and
that johnson had insisted upon, the
proposition that Grant should help John
son 10 keep Stanton out Of Office any
way. notwithstanding the Tenure-ot-
Office act? If this direct attempt Of the
/ President to violate law made by the
Congress of the United States doesn't
render him liable to be impeached, what
does =
AZ am, as you see, Mr.. Stevens, only a
respectful listener" 49,.
dWell, then, there's the whole thing,
it's as simple as dsy. What the devil do
/ care about the question Of veracity, as
they caIl It, between johnson and Grant,
Thafshoihing to do with the law. Both
N them may call each ot sr liars If they
| - - a = - 4. 4. q L.