The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-23
our washington Dispatches.


THE SOUTHERN ELEcT1oSs-THE IMPEACHMENT
cAsE-sPEEcH OF BOUTWELL,, OF MAssAc6U-
sETrs, AGAINST TILE PRESIDENT, &C.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The Conservatives
express great qualification over the election
news from North Carolina, Georgia and Lou
isiana.
In the High Court Of impeachment this
morning resolutions were passc1 allowing un-
limited speeches, oral and written, by the
managers and counsel for thedefence. These
speeches will probably prolong the trial ten
days. The gallery is .crammed, and Boutwell,
is about commencing
LArER.-Curtiss has announced that it is
doubtful whether Stanbery viii be able to take
any further part inSthe trial. Groesbeck will
follow Boutwell,.
When the Senate adjourned, Boutwell, was
on the thirty-second page of his ffty-page
speech.
The resolution adopted by the Senate this
morning provides that as many OF the mana
gers and counsel for the President as desire to
do SO be permitted to file arguments, or to
address the Senate orally.
Mr.. Boutwell,, in opening; said that the Chief
Magistrate Of the principal republic of the
world was on trial, not for the purpose OF
punishment, but for the safety of the State.
The issue between the President and the
representatives we're technical and limited
namely, whether the former had violated the
constitution and TIE laws in removing Stanton
and appointing Thomas. He maintained that
xvifh the npOnI6
who vested it in Congress-; whereas the
executive and judiciary are denied all
discretionary or implied power. Congress
can adapt the administration to the condl-
ton of the national life; whereas the Presi-
dent must administer the law as he finds it,
{. without questioning the legislative wisdom.
The President can make no inquiry regarding
the constitutionahty of the law, and he can
neither plead nor prove good motives for nulll-
fying it. The President having violated the
law. the Senate can enter into no inquiry as to
its constitutionality. he denied that the
President desired to bring the question before
the courts. His real object was to seize the otl-
ces Of the government, and By their influence
to reconstruct the Uptsn in the interest OF the
arraignsd Who offered more unsatisfactory
excuse for his crime. Stanton's suspension
and Grants appointment, was an acknowledg-
ment of the legality Of the Tenure-of-ofice law,
behind which the President could not go. The
subsequent effort to remove Stanton was unau-
thorized by the Constitution and violative OF
the Presidents oath Of Office. This required
verdict Of guilty under the first article. The
Cabinet advice was no excuse. 1t was the ad-
vice of servants to their master.
Boutwell, then discussed the constitution and
the practice of removals, closing his argument
with the assertion that none of the predeces-
sors of Mr.. johnson, from General Washing
ton to MIR. Lincoln, had ever claimed the power
to remove civil officer during session of the
Senate without its consent. He also argued
that the Tenure-of-cfice act was constitutional,
and covered Stanton's case. He said the Pre-
sident seems to have been under the influence
of a criminal purpose to destroy Grant as we'll
as remove Stanton, and attempted to carry out
his purpose by various and traitorous methods,
attempting to seduce Generals Thomas and
Sherman. There is no reason, he said, to sup
pose that the present Secretary Of the Treasury
would not yield to any scheme johnson might
undertake.
He then reviewed the Presidents recon.
struction policy, and said: "Ihe House has
brought this great criminal to your bar upon
the conviction that the country was i'll peril,
and with equal confidence in his guilt, and it is
in your disposition to administer exact justice
between him and the people of the United
States. His conviction is the triumph of law,
of order and Of justice. 1 do not, for moment,
contemplate an acquittal. 1t is impossible.
Therefore, do not look beyond. But, sena-
tors, the people of America will never permit
an usurping executive to break down the
securities for liberty provided by the constitu-
tion. The cause of the country is in Sour
hands. Your verdict of guilty Is peace to
our beloved land.
Arrival Of Bremen Steamship.
BALTIMORE, April 22-The steamer Berlin
4, fv--O aCan