The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-05
Articles OfImpeachment.

GU Ou OatuTuay Wy TUG SeiecJ OOtn :
mittee of-the House. These articles,
with perhaps but slight modi6ca-
tions, will be adopted by u formal
vote Of tho House at four o'clock
to-day.
In article first, with legal accu-
racy and the usual prolixity, An
drew johnson, President Of the
United States. is charged with a
high misdemeanor in office, in that
he did ualawfuIy, and in violation
of the Constitution and laws OF
the United States, issue an order
in writing for the removal Of Ed
win NJ. Stanton from the Office of
Secretary for the Department of
War. In view of the interpreta-
tion ofthe Constitution, given by
Johnsons predecessors, with res
pect to the Executive power of re.
movals. VIC doubt whether the mere
removal of Stanton was . violation
of lho Constitution. although that
removal was Of eourse a violation
of the Tenure. .of.ofice act, tho val
idity Of which Johnson had before
recognized-in tho suspension OF
Stanton according TO its provis-
ions. and in the report of his rea-
sons therefor to the Senate, within
twenty days of the opening of the
next meeting OF the Senate.
In articles two and threo tho
President ischarged with what is
an undeniablc violation Of the Con.
stitution, as well as the laws, in
that the Senate being in session,
ho assumed the sole power to ap.
point, without the advice and con.
sent Of the Senate, ono Lorenzo
Thomas, Secretary of War ad in
terim, and issued 10 said Thomas a
letter Of authority to act.as Secre-
tary of War. On this charge we
predict that Johnson will be pro-
nounced guilty by more than two
thirds ofthe Senators composing
the high court Of impeachment.
In articles fourth, fifth, sixth,
seventh and eighth the President
of the United States lie charged
with having conspired with Thorn.
as, and with other persons unknown
with intent to prevent Edwin NJ
Stanton flom holding the Office of
Secretary of War; with having
unlawlulIy conspired TO hinder and
prevont the execution ofan act en-.
titled "an act TO regulate the ten
ure OF certain civil oflices;' with
having unlawfully conspired with
one Lorenzo Thomas by forco to
seize and take possession of the
property of the United Statesin the
War Department, contrary TO the
provisions OF an act approved July,
81, 1861.
II the removal of Stanton and
the appointment of Thomas were
constitutional and lawful, these
charges Of course fall to the ground.
Ii acquitted on the former charges
he will stand acquitted on these
latter charges. including the charge
ia article ninth of having attempt.
ed to unlawfully control the dis
burscments Of moneys appropria-
ted for tho military service and
for the Department of War, by the
appointment of Lorenzo Thomas
as Secretary of War.
Article tenth and last substan-
tally charges that said Andrew
johnson, President of the Unite d
States, did on the 22d Of February
bring before him Major General
VIM, II. Emery in command of the
Department. Of Washington, and
instructed said Emery that tn at
part of the law of the Unitcd States
passed March 2, 1867, which pro-
vides that all orders and instruc-
tions relating to military operations,
ISSUED by the President or Secre-
tary of War, shall be issued through
tho General of the Army, was un.
constitutional and in contraven.
tion Of tho commission Of said En-.
cry, and therefore no. binding on
him as an officer of the Army of
the United States, with intent
thereby to induce said Emery, as
Commander OF tho Department of
Washington, to violate the provi-
sions Of said act, and to act upon
and obey such orders as he. Andrew
Johnson, might make and give.
This important specification is
based upon tho sworn testimony OF
General Emery himself, and it sus.
tanned befUre tho Senate, will
lone be sufficient to insure the
conviction of the accused Of a high
crimo and misdemeanor. 1t is
gratifying to know that the sue.
cess OF this prosecution does not
depond on tho conslituuonality of
THO tenurc,of Office act. Without
going back beyond the 2lst of Feb,
ruary, johnson will be found to
have been guilty OF the plainest
violation oftwo other laws, and of
tho most palpable violation of tho
Constitution of the United States.
Tho President having been instruc-
ting Congress for three years in
regard to its constitutional duties,
il seems fitting and proper that
should avail itself of its
constitutional privilege, no less
than duty. Of deposing from his
high Office the hypocri'ical preach.
or OF that which he does not, him
self pretend to practice. Ohio
State Journal.
Tho Wyandot Pioneer says that
a Catholic priest named Roinhart
belonging to Upper Sandusky, was