The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-29


tie beneficial results and purposes of the trial by
impeachment BY the sixth section Of the act re-
erred TO- it is provided that every removal, ap
pointment or employment made or exercised con
trary to the provisions Of this act; the msking
sealing, countersignng or issuing any commission
on letter of authority for or in respect to any
such appointment or employment, shall de deemed,
and are hereby declared to be high INSIDE
meanos, and upon trial and conviction thereof
shall be punished by foe of not exceeding ten
thousand dollars. or by imprisonment not exceed
ing five years. o0both said punishments, In the dis
erection of the court
"New Andrew Johnson, on the 2lst day OF Feb
ruary, 1868. issued his commissionary letter Of au
ihority TO Lorenzo Thomas, appointing him secre-
tary Of war dd Interim. and comm anding him TO
lake possession Of the department Of war, aud 30
eject the incumbent, E. M. Stanton, then in law.
ful possession of said Office. Here, II this act
stood alone, would be an undeniable official mis-.
demeanor; not only . misdemeanor per Sc, but
declared to be so by the act itself. and the party
made indictable and punishable in criminal pro-
ceeding.
elf Andrew johnson escape with bare removal
from office; il he be not fined and ncarceratedi 10
the penitentiary afterwards under criminal pro-
ceedings, he may thank the weakness of Congress
end not his own innocence. We shall propose TO
prove 10 the trial that Andrew Johnson was guilty
of misprision of bribery by offering to General
Grant, If he would unite with him ia his lawess
violence, to assume in his stead the penalties and
tOtnOufe tue pfl-Onmtnt prescribed Oy tue avs.
Bribery is one Of the ofsnses specifically
enumerated, for which the president may be i'm.
peached and removed from Office by the Consti-
tuition: Article 2. section 2. The president has
power to nominate. and by and with the advice
and consent OF the Senate, 10 appoint all officers
Of the United States, whose appointments are
not therein otherwise provided for. and which
shall be established by law, and fill all vacaa-
cies that may happen during the recess of the
Senate by granting commissions which shall ex-
Dire at the end of their next session.
Nowhere, either in the Constitution or by
statute has the president power to create va
cancy during the recess OF the Senate, and oil
il without the advice and consent of the Senate.
aud yet on the 2lst day Of February. 1858,
while the Senate was In session he notified the
head of the war department that he
moved from Office, and his successor Gd interim
appointed.
stitution and laws, which, If il stood alone, would
make every honest and intelligent man give his
vote for impeachment. The president hal perse-
vered in bis lawless course through long series
CT uniustifable acts.
"when the SO called Confederate States of
America were conquered, and had lain down their
arms aud surrendered their territory to the VIC
torious Union government, the final disposition of
the conquered country belonged to Congress
alone, according 10 every principle OF the laws OF
the nation. Neither the executive nor the judici
AIRY had any right to interfere with it, except so
far as was necessary to control il by the military
or until the sovereign power OF the nation had
provided il civil administrations.
mo power bat Congress had any right to say
when they should be admitted to the Union
States and entitled to the privileges of the Con-
stitution Of the United States aud yet Andrew
johnson, with unbIushing hsrdihood, undertook
to rule and by his own power alone to lead them
into full communion with the Union. direct them
what governments to enact and what Consttu-
tons to adopt, and send representatives to Con-
gress according to his instructions.
& "a. -. k.IR L. 49, - H.
gress more than once, repeatedly he disregarded
the warning and continued his lawless usurpa-
tons. He is since known to have obstructed the
establishment of those governments by the au-
thority Of Congress, and has advised the inhabit-
ants TO resist the legislation OF Congress.
"In my judgment, bis conduct with regard to
that transaction was highhanded usurpstion of
power, which long ago oughtto have brought him
to impeachment and trial, and to have removed
him from his position OF great mischief. He has
been lucky in thus far escaping, through false
logic and false law; but bis acts which will on
the trial be shown to be atrocious, and are open
evidence Of his wicked determination to sIbyert
the laws This country.
81 trust that when we all come to vote upon
this question, we shall remember that although II
is the duty of the president to see that the laws
be executed, the sovereign power Of the nation
rests on Congress. who have been placed around
the executive as monuments to defend his rights
and as watchmen TO enforce his obedience TO the
laws and the Constitution, and il Is our duty "a
compel him to do tia tremendous obligation
heavier than was ever assumed by mortal rulers
"We are to protect or TO destroy the liberty and
happiness of mighty people, and take care that
| they progress in civilization, and defend them
| selves against every kind of tyranny. As we deal
with the first great political maefactor, so will be
the result of our efforts to perpeiuate the happ
ness and good government Of the human race
| ThQl3od of our fathers who inspired them with
| the thought Of universal freedom viii hold us
responsible for the noble Institutions which they
projected and expected Us TO carry out.
| This is not to be the temporary triumph Of a
political party, but Is to endure inits consequence
| until this whole continent shall be filed with a
| free, untrammeled people, or shall be q nest OF
| shrinking, cowardly slaves"
| The reading of the speech was concluded attwo
| minutes before O'Clock. The House then pro
| ceeded, amid great but suppressed excitement, to
| vote on the resolution. as follows:
RESOLVED, That Andrew Johnson. president OF
| the United States, be impeached of high crimes
| and msdemesnors."
During the vote excuses were made for the alb
sepcc of Messrs. Robinson. Benjamin, Washbnrne
and Williams, and Van Horn, Of Missouri: Firm
BILE, of Tennessee; Pomeroy, Don1ey, Koontz
Maynard and Shellabarger.
The Speaker stated that he could not consent
that his constituents shonld be silent grave
an occasion; therefore, as a member Of the House
be voed aye.
The vote resulted yeas l2s, nays AZ.
Shepard, Abbott 4 Co., IS Camp street, are
u n