The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-28
PROGRESs OF IHPEACHMEXT.
Stevens and Williams speak on Part
of the managers.
WA.HTNaToN. AnrII q.


| the following at the end: But no Sem
ator shall speak more than once nor to
exceed fifteen minutes during such delib-
At the desire Of Senator Johnson rule
/ 23d was read Johnson said, " tsat will be
on each article"
Howard moved to amend the amend
ment by inserting after the words fifteen
1 minute" the words % one question" The
| amendment was rejected, 10 TO so.
Bayard moved to amend VIII 4ms's
/ amendment by allowing thirty minutes
instead of fifteen; re ected, 10 to "a.
On motion OF Morton, seconded by how
\ ard, further consideration Of the subject
/ was postponed until after the argumsnt
The additional rules offered by sumner
] We're upon his motion, laid over until tie
close of the argument.
The Chief Justice directed that tn,
/ argument proceed. and at l2:30 stevens
I mounted the Clerks desk and read his
! argument, in pretty firm voice, from
/ printed slips. After about ten minutes he
| took a chair aud read sitting At Il We
/ minutes before one his voice showed signs
! OF weakness, and Butler read the remain
der of the argument.
! Manager Stevens S id he should discuss
i but single Article, the one that was inaI-
| ly adopted upon his earnest solicitation,
i quite sufficient for the conviction Of the
4 distinguished respondent. He desired TO
/ discuss charges in no mean spirit Of vltu-
| peral lon, but TO argue them in a manner
/ worthy Of the high tribunal before which
/ he appeared, and of the exalted position.
I OF the accused. The trial ofLHe chief mag
\ istrate Of the nation, which was intensely
I interesting 10 millions OF men, could n Z
4 be beli.tled and reduced 10 mockery
4 When Andrew johnson took upon him
self the duties of Office. he sWOre 10 take
care that the laws be faithfully executed.
Dates Of legislation and the adludicatIng
or laws Iall 70 MS lot,and 10 o3ey the COM
mands Of the sovereign power Of the ma
ton, and 20 see that others obeyed. This
was Ms Whoie duty his attempt TO escape
that duty Willie misprisir n OF perjury.
Mr. stevens said; accuse him Ia the
name of the House Of Represen tatives, OF
having perpetrated that foul offense.
Mr. stevens then reviewed the question
Of the Secretaryship OF War. and charged
that the President had plainly and will
fully violated a law which he had sworn
TO see faithfully executed.
Mr.. stevens rfdIculed the idea set mp by
the respondent, that the case did not come
under the Tenure of Office Law, because
stanton was appointed by Lincoln. He
claimed that by the Constitution, the Vice
President, wuen called to the Presidency,
WAS not serving out new term OF his
own, but only the uneZpired term of his
predecessor.
Relative o the matter Of intent, Mr.. Ste
vens said thatin i'm peachments more than
IN indictments, the aVering of the fact
charged carried with it all that was neces-
sary to say about intent. lie went further
than some, and contended that no corrupt
or wicked motive was needed. To inves-
tigate the acts for which impeachment
is brought, IL was enough that they were
official violations OF law. The Pr esident
justified him himself by asserting that all
previous Presidents had exercised the same
ri=ht OF removing ofncers but there were
now express laws against % 50 the cases
were not parallel. The President SAID he
removed stanton TO test the Constitution
ality Of the law. He had already seen 10
tested and decided by votes twice given by
tvo-thfrds of the Senators and House Of
Represeul atives. II stOOda law upon the
statue book. and instead OF enforcing that
law, ne took advantage OF the name o.,
and funds of the United states to resist Il,
and TO induce Others to resist IL. The Pres
tdent asserted that he did not remove
S san unoer the Ien9fe. ol-OHlee Ia8.
This is direct contradiction Of his own
letter 10 the Secretary Of the Treasury.
How necessary it is that a man
a good memory. The President denies
that he attempted 10 prevent the eXecu-
ton OF the Tenure-oE Office law, and yet In
his correspondence with General Grant,
he reproached the General by the asSer-
ton that he (the Genera) knew MS object
from forthwith resuming the functions or
his Office, notwithstanding the senate
might decide ia his favor. A question Of
Yeraelty grew out OF this correspondence
the President asserting that the General
had promised to aid him in defeating the
execution OF the laws oy preventing lns
resumption Of the functions OF
Secretary Of War by Stanton, ana thaJ the
General violated his promise. This the
General denies though he ngrees with the
President, that the President did induce
him TO make such a promise and enter
into such an arrangement de maintain
ed that the President. had been guilty OF
violating law aud Of missprislon OF ON
Mr.. Steven then referred to the claim Of
the President to yiOlate the Ienufe-OI
ii, and considered the position OF lne
President in acceptinz the Oath, 70 take
care that the laws are faithfully executed.
lie also detailed the action OF congress on
the law, expOunded its PROVISIONS ana
criticised the claim Of the PRESIDENT 70
them. He then took up inc &C
ton or the Senate on the message Of the
President. informing that body OF the suS-
pension of Stanton, and afterwards us
action upon the removal OF PAT. stanton;
and the appOiufmen INT OF DIT. Iuoua5f ga
interim, notwithstanding the senate de-
clared he had no power 10 remove Lhe
Secretary of War, and designate any oLner
oficer 10 uerfOrn the duties Of the Office,
1d interim. He continue IhOn IN once,
this offspring of assassination, sara Mr.
stevens, turns upon the Senate VINO have
5bus rebuked MIN, m a constitutional
manner. an bids hem defiance.
Mr.. Stevens then discussed the article,
charging the President with usurping
legislative powers and proceeded 90 show
low he had iutertered with the work of
cJIon. lie then briefly reviewed
he whole case; compared the services Of
Ir stanton with those of Mr.. Johnson;
oticed the claim Of counsel that no re-
Ir. Stanton still held on to the office. and
ono uded by saying, II the President is
ct willing 70 execute the laws OF congress,
It him resign and retire to bis village Of
Alter the death OF Mr.. Lincoln, instead
being content with the position the
eOple had given him. he sought to become
hereafter, as then the Chief Executive Of
ne nation This he knew csuld only be
one by changing principles and creating
new party 10 sustain him. After some
tile hesitation he resolved upon that
purse, and perpetrated betrayal OF the
arty that bad elected him, and the prin-
piles ne pro fessed, baser than the betrayal
y Judas IscariOt, who betrayed only a
ngle individual Johnson sacrlnceq
hole nation and the hottest Of principles
Mr. Williams then took the floor. After
1eakiug Of the august character OF the
tbunal, and the intense interest Whlcn IS
III al over the country by the entire peO-
Ie who were awaiting with anxiety the