The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-04-02
Congressional
Washington. Mar. 30.


Washington, Mar. 30.
Churchill introduced bill TO
| amend an act of 1892, relative to va
cancies in Office of President and
Vice Presidents Of the United States
requiring o new election in case Of in
terval Of IS months between the
double vacancy and the ordinary ter
mination, of the Presidential term
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
SENATE.
Edmunds called up the bill to regu
late appeals to the Court of claims,
which was amended and postponed
| until tomorrow.
Trumbull called up the bill pend
ing on adjournment from Saturday
to relieve Butler of Tenn, from poll
teal disabilities. The question was
put on the amendment to strike
out the word constitution from the
clause, proposing to relieve liabili-
ties imposed by the constitution and
| reconstruction laws. Buckalew argued
that the reconstruction laws, having
not application to Tennessee, Butler
could not properly be relieved from
the disabilities imposed by them
He gave way at the the suggestion of
Sherman.
At 1890 the president pro tenn va
Gated the chair, which was immedi-
ately taken by Chief Justice Chase.
The serget-at arms made procla.
nation commanding silence.
The Presidents counsel took seats
at 1895.
| The sergeant-at'arms announced
the managers on the part of House
They appeared and took their pla-
ces except Stevens, who entered soon
afterwards, and took his seat.
The House was then announced
and the members appeared headed
by Washburn ofIllinois and were seat
Minutes of last day read.
Butler commenced his opening
speech at quarter before one o'clock
He referred TO the fact that the tri-
al which was about to CON-
mence was the most important
in the history of our country
and one that had perhaps no parallel
in the history of any other country.
He then proceeded to state the case
as it came before the Senate. The
Senate, he said, was different from
other courts, it was law unto itself
and was not subject to ordinary
rules of courts, being governed only
!, ry the principles ofjustice and cqauli
ty. Mr.. B., then proceeded to quote
the history of other impeachment ca
ses in this country and England to
show the power Of the courts in try
ing the case he dwelt on this at
great length. After having stated
the preliminary principle in the case
Mr.. Butler proceeded to review the
articles of impeachment.
He said the House of Representa-
tives and the people have joined
issue with Andrew johnson as to his
right to act as he has. This bill
which he has violated, received the
requisite sanction of both the Senate
and House of Representatives, after
full consideration of his objections.
IF he is to be allowed to exercise this
dangerous power of removal, where
is it to end.
The executive power of appoint
ment is clearly limited by words of
the Constitution which orders the
consent of the Senate necessary. The
powers which he has assumed to ex-
ercise, is Kingly. The power of re-
moval, was very deliberately deba-
ted in the first Congress on the bill
to create a state department. 1t
was debated for four days,
and finally so formed as to
imply the power of removal
in the President, but the triumph of
its supporters was short lived when
il came to the House. On motion of
Mr. Benson the provision implying
the powers of removal in the
President was stricken out it went
to the Senate but as the debates
there were in secret session we have
no means of knowing what did take
place. This provision implying the
power Of removal was retained by
the casting vote of John Adams, the
Vice President.
Most all our woes have come from
our Vice Presidents. Notwithstan-
ding this the facts show that the
President has made no removal
without notifying theSennte. Presi-
dent Adams removed Pickering by
nominating successor to the Senate.
None of the early presidents had
ever attempted to exercise the un-
limited power ofremoval now assum-
ed by the present occupant in that
chair. Congress has always asserted
a Legislative power in reference to
removals from Office. In 1926 the
the powers OF. the president were can
vassed in congress, and committee
was appointed on the subject, who
reported that it was necessary to trim
down his power by statuary enact
ment, and reported no less than eight
different bills on the subject. One
Of them vacated within certain
time, all affairs pertaining to the
collection Of revenue. There was
tenure Of Office act reported by one
ofthe greatest minds of the country.
It did not seem to occur to congress
then that il has not the power to
regulate appointments and removals
from office.
Mr. Butler cited other acts OF con-
gress in support Of his position, and
after stating the event Of February,
the appointment of Thomas, the in>
terview with Gen Emroy, the remov-
al of Stanton, &C., concluded his
argument as follows.
Who does not know that from the
hour the president began his usurpa-
tions ofpower, he everywhere denoun-
ced congress and the legality or con
stitutionality of it's action, and de.
fed it's legislative powers, and for that
purpose announced his intention and
carried out hispurpose as faras he:was
able, of removing every true man
from Office who suited the congress
of the United States, and it is to
carry out this plan of action that he
sustained the unlimited power of re-
moval for illegal exercise of which
he stands before you this day?
Who does not know that in pursu.
N