The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-25

Renarss of EEou. g. v. lawrence, Ia the
Rouse OF Representatives, February
2Dth, fsGS.

The House having urder consideration the
articles of impeachment reported from the
committee
Mr. Lawrence of Pennsylvania,
said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Those who have
known my feeling and noticed my ae-
tion on the question of impeachment,
are aware / did not approve of the
resolution of the gentleman from Ohio,
[ Mr.. Ashley when first presented in
the Republican caucus, and aiterward
in the House. 1t was at that time
unwise, impolitic, and tended to a di-
vision of our friends, and its certain
defeat on the grounds then presented,
to the encouragement Of our political
opponents, and from it the President,
much disposed to do wrong, would
take courage to pursue his unnatural
warfare against Congress. When |
gay this | do not mean that the Pres
ident had not been guilty Of gross
wrongs, and done many things bring
ing upon himself and the nation just
opprobrium and disgrace, for while |
did not justify the attacks made upon
here by extreme men during the long
session Of the Thirty-ninth Congress
which were calculated to drive him
away from us, and which | doubt not
were intended by some Tor that pur-
pose, and had their effect, and only
tended to produce alienation and Bit
terno5s when union and harmony were
desirable, | always felt that he should
have remembered how kindly the
Union party had dealt with him after
he had brought upon US modification
and distrust by public olfenso at the
Inauguration in 1865. Our opponents
published his fall to the world and
characterized him as a drunkard, &C.,
disgracing his high position, while we
tried to find excuse for him and to for
get his ollensc,
When we refused 10 Ncquiesce in his
efforts to restore rebels to power and
to establish governments in the South
on his plan, which was intended to
bring into the high places Of the Gov
ernment leading rebels just from the
fields of blood and carnage, and to
place the loyal men Of the South for
ever under taa control and dominion
of this class, and to allow these same
leaders to renew the conflict in the
halls of Congress vhich they had lost
in the field, he boldly separated from
those who elected him, vetoed almost
every important measure which was
intended in any way to restore the
Southern States, so us to prevent a re-
ourrence OF the troubles through which
we had just passed, and allied himself
with those who had opposed the war
denounced him aui us and all our
measures to put down the rebel
lion.
In his veto messages at various
times, and SO often repeated, he was
bold in the utterance Of his sentiments
and dcfaut when the people indorsed
our acs and condemned his. He
sought opportunities to send the House
and Senate insulting messages. lie
harrangued the mob on the 22l of Feb
ruary, 1856, naming and abusing
prominent members of Congress and
the Senate, and leading public journal
lists of the country, to the great dis
grace of himself and the humiliation
fall the honest and intelligent peo-
pie ofthe nation. He travelled North
and West and on all public occasions
denounced The representatives of tht
people in Incorporate and inhamma.
tory language, suited to the fish mar
kct. lie discussed the proposition OF
recognizing southern traitors, elected
under his plan of reconstruction, anC
northern Democrats, as the Congres!
of the nation if they would assemble
together. lie restored many leading
rebels and returned to them thei
property without consent of Congress
lie has called to his intimate counseI
some of those who were violently anC
openly opposed to the war to save th
Union, aud has as studiously avoided
and disregarded the advice of thos
who did most to elect him, and to ak
in preserving our unity as a naiiun
Notwithstanding all the array o. of
fanses, and many l cannot enumera;
in the time allotted me, | was opposed
to the first attempt to impeach, becaus
while l thought these ofense5 wer'
great, they might not be considered a
Intentional violation of law, and couIC
not, in the common sense of the tern
be considered high crimes and misde
meanors. Then, again, l knew tn
country demanded peace and harmon.
: in council if possible. l feared tn
. monetary and commercial interest q
the country would suffer by the con
slant agitation Of the question, and
believe large majority of the peopl
> l have the honor to represent were op
posed to it, and in this l was correc
!, as I have had ample evidence since.
Now the question presents itself in
tangible aud definite form, and tn
, very trouble and difficulty the major
i, ity of the Republican members Of thi
! House desired to avoid is forced upo
us by the act of the President himsel
Mistaking our forbaarance for fear an
cowardice he boldly, defantly, openl.
!, and for purpose, tramples under foe
, the plain constitutional provisio
/ which requires his nominations for pc