Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-27
Brook. on Imp,aohmsnt.


House OF Representatives on the i'm
peachment OF the President, Mr.. Brooks
took the floor, aud after referring to his
want Of time to prepare a minority re-
port, said he was utterly inadequate 10
discharge the duty which had devolvsd
on him on this august day, the anniver-
sary Of the birth Of the father Of bis
country, or TO express himself with that
deep solemnity which be felt in rising TO
resist this unholy and unconstitutional
proceeding. He knew not why the
ghost Of impeachment had appeared Ia a
new form. II bad been laid hitherto in
the House, buta minority of the mem
bers on the other side forcing its in
fuence and power on the majority, had
at last succeeded iu compelling its party
to attempt the impeachment of the
President .... f-l. re ..
We have, he said, been long 10 the
midst Of revolution; long has the coun-
try been agitated in the throes of revolu-
tion, but we are now approaching the
last and final stage of that revolution.
There is nothing new in what we are
doing We but repeat the history Of the
past We are traversing over and over
again the days Of Cromwell, and Charles
l., and Charles III +, and we are traversing
over and over again the scenes of the
French revolution. We have been told
that the President should be impeached
because he was an obstruction in the way
Of restoring certain States, or rather an
obstacle to the party which would be,
though is not directly, in power
Sir, we are all distractions to that
party-my associates and myself. We
all have been, and intend to be, obstacles
in the way of it's high-handed proceed
ings; and if the President is to be re-
moved as an obstacle in the way of the
party in power, it is equally in their
power, by the exercise OF tyrannical
majority, to remove every obstacle and
have the sole control of the Government
But / bid them beware. In no spirit Of
defiance, but from devoted love to my
country, / solemnly bid them beware
to proceed no further in their revolu-
tionary steps.
Speaking in behalf Of those who have
sworn to support the Constitution, in be-
half of my associates here, in behalf of
those laundering majorities whose voices
are roaring outside of this Capitol, and
who are awaiting for constitutional
opportunity to enter, bid you beware.
Your impeachment will avail you
nothing. The President is to be tried
before the Senate with all the forms Of
law, and before you can achieve the final
result, he will be removed from your
authority by the constitutional termina-
ton of his office.
If you proceed further aud deposc the
President by violence, if you suspend
him, if you throw him out of Office except
by legal process of impeachment, tell
you, on behalf Of thousands, and tens Of
thousands and hundreds Of thousands,
and millions of the people, we will never,
never, SO help me God, never, never
submit. Laughter on the Republican
side Sir, we have the physical power
of the country with us. The labor, the
industry, the bone and muscle of the
country are ours. The heroes of the
country are ours. ...g lra
Four-ffths Of the army is composed Of
the Democracy of the country, and if
you proceed to introduce politics into
the army the Democratic soldier will fol.
low his Democratic instinct, and will
stand by the Constitution and the laws
|, therefore, Mr.. Speaker, bid you to
beware of unconstitutional, of illegal,
or extraordinary proceedings. Proceed
in your forms of impeachment through
all the manipulations aud snuosities,
and tergiversations of the law, aud we
shall cheerfully submit because it is our
duty so to do as constitutional, obedent
men; but step one inch over the bounds
of the Constitution, and proceed as is
proposed in violent and revolutionary
manHer,a and you precipitate violence and
revolution.
Mr. Brooks went on to argue that the
matter on which the impeachment Of the
President was proposed, was legal
question, and that the President has as
much right to judge of the constitution
ality of the Tenure of Office act as the
House or Senate had. If he were ad-
vising the majority of the House to its
overthrow, he would hurry on this matter.
Andrew johnson had little or no power
AS President of the United States he
was without authority, or influence, or
patronage. Congress had so manacled his
hands almost to the overthrow of execu-
tive power, and if they did not succeed
in re-electiDg him to the Presidency,
they would at least immortalize his name
on the pages of history as the most glo-
rious defender of liberty that ever lived
under any constitutional government
whatever. laughter among the Re-
publican members.