The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-03-06

tiCN W tuO pilNllFECS vi Tue GOUSLlLu-
tion Of the United States and yet
Andrew johnson, with uublushinr
hardhood, undertook to rule them
by his own power alone u lead them
into full communion with The Unon;
to direct them what governments to
enact, and what constitutions 10 adopt,
and send representatives TO Congress-
according to his instructions.
When admonished by the expr5ss
act of Congress more than once, re-
peatedly be disregarded tho warning
and continued his awlcss usurpations.
He since is known to have obstruct-
ed the re-estabishment of these gov
ernments by the authority of Con-
gress, and has advised. the inhabi-
tants to resist the legislation in Con,
gress In my judgement with regard
10 that transaction, It was high,
handed usurpation of power, which
long ago ought to have brought him
to impeachment and trial, and to
have removed him from his position,
of great mischief Ho has been
lucky in thus far escaping through
false logic and false law his acts then,
which will on the trial be shown TO
be atrociohs, and open evidence of his
wicked determination to subyert the
laws of bis country.
/ trust when all come to q tote on
this question, we shall remember that
although it is the duty of the Presi-
dent to see that the laws be executed,
the sovereign power of tbe nation
rests in Congress, who have been
placed around the Executive mona.
ment to defend his'rights as watch
men, to enforce his obedience to the
laws and the constitution. His oath
is to obey the constitution, and our
duty is to compel him TO do it. @
A more tremendous obligation, how,
ever, than was ever assumed by NOR
tai rulers. We ere to protect or
to destroy the liberty and happi.
ness CT a mighty people and take
care that they progress in civilization
and defend themselves against every
kind of tyranny. As-we deal with
the first great political malefactof 90
will be the result Of our efforts to per-
petuate the happiness and good gov
emmett of the human race.
The God Of our fathers, who in
spired them with the thought of uni.
versa freedom, win hold us RESPONSE
bic for the noble institutions which
they projected and expected. ts to
carry out. This is not TO be the tenn
porary triumph of a political party,
but shall endure in its consequences
until this whole continento of our fore.
fathers shall be filed with a free,
untrammeled people, or shall be ia nest
Of cowardly slaves.
The reading of the speech was con
cluded at two minutes before 5 o'clock.
The House then, amid great but sup
pressed excitement, proceeded to vote
90 tho resolution as follows:
Resolred, That Andrew johnson,
President of the United States, be
impeached of high crimes and mis-
demeanors.
During the vote excuses were made
for absence of Messrs Robinson,
Benjam Washbwne, Williams, and
Van Horn, of Missouri, Trimble, of
Tennessee, Donnelly, Konutz, Pom,
eroy, Maynard and Shellabarger.
The Speaker stated that be could
not consent that his constituents
shoGld be silent on so grave an ocea-
sion therefore, Hs a member Of the
House he voted aye. The vote re-
suited, yeas I26; nays A.
The announcement of the result
ELECTED no manifestation, but the i'm
mense audience which filed the gall
leries and corridors all the day, gradu-
ally dispersed tin it was reduced to
less than one-fOurth ofits original num-
ber.
Mr.. Stevens, of Iowa, moved to re-
consider the vote by which the reso.
luton was agreed to, and also moved
to lay the motion on the table.
The latter motion was agreed TO,
this being the parlifhentary way of
making discussion final.