Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, April 9th, Mr.. Stevens
said he should discuss buta single article
the one adopted by the Managers on
his earnest solicitations-and which, IT
proven, he considered quite sufficient
for the conviction of the distinguished
respondent. he desired to discuss
charges in no mean spirit of vituperation1,
but in manner worthy Of the high trl-.
bunal before which he appeared, and OF
the exalted position Of the accused. The
the trial of the nations hiefmagistrate,
matter intensely interesting to millions
of the nation, oopld not be belittled and
reduced to mockerY. When Andrew
Johnson swore to take care that the
laws were faithfully executed, the
duties of legislation and the adoption OF
their laws fall In no way to his lot. 10
obey the commands of the sovereign pow
err Of the nation, and to see that others
obeyed-this was his whole duty; to es-
cape that duty will be misprison of per-
Jury. Mr.. Stevens said he accused him,
in the name of the House of Representa-
txes, of having perpetrated that foul Of
tense, Stevens reyiyed the Secretary
of War" question, and charged that in
this case the President had plainly VIC.
lated law which 1t was his sworn duty
to see faithfully executed He ridiculed
the plea set up by the respondents, that
tina case did not come under the Tenure.
of-OEce law, because Stanton had been
appointed by Lincoln. He claimed that
by the Constitution the Vice President,
when called to the Presidency, was not
serving out new term of his own, but
only the unexpired term of his predeces-
sor. Relative to the matter of intent,
Stevens said, in impeachment more than
in indictments, the averring OF
tho fact charged carried with it
all that was peeessary to say about in
tent. He went further than some, and
contended that no corrupt and wicked
motive need invest the acts for which
impeachment is brought TWAS enough
that they were official violations OF law
The President justified himself by assert
ing that all previous Presidents had ex-
ercised the same right of removing
officers, but there were now express laws
against such action; therefore the cases
were not parallel. The President said
he removed Stanton to test the constitu-
tionality of the law. He had already
seen it tested and decided by votes twice
given by two-thirds of the Senators and
House of Representatives 1t stood as
law upon the statutebook, and instead of
enforcing it, he took of the name and
funds of the United States to resist 1t,
and induced others TO resist it.
The President asserted he did not
remove Stanton under the Tenura-of- Of
fee law. This was direct contradiction
TO his own letter to the Secretary of the
Treasury. How necessary that one
should have a good conscience or good
memory. The President denies that he
attempted to prevent the execution of
the Tenure-of- Office law, and yet, in his
correspondence with Grant, he re-
preached the latter by asserting that he
lGrant) knew his object was to prevent
Stanton from forthwith resuming the
functions of his Office, Notwithstanding
the Senate might decide in his favor 4
question Of veraoity grew out OF this
correspondence, the President asserting
that Grant had promised to aid him in
defeating the execution Of the laws
by preventing Stanton's reinstatement,
and that Grant had violated his
promise. This the General denies,
though he ageees with the President that
the President did try to induce him to
make such a promise and enter into
such an arrangement He maintained
that the President had been guilty of
violating laws and Of misprison Of official
perjury. Stevens then referred to the
claim Of the President to violate the law
because he considered It invalid, and
considered the position Of the President
in accepting the oath, 10 take care that
the laws are faithfully executed. he
also required 10 the action Of Congress
on the law; expounded its promises,
and criticised the claim Of the President
TO disregard them. BE then looked over
the action Of the Senate on the message
Of the President, informing that body OF
S,auton's suspension, afterwards its &C
ton on his removal, and the appointment
of Thomas al interim, notvithstand-
ing the Senate declared he had no
power to remove the Secretary Of War
and designate his successor dd Interim /;
he continued Thomas IN this offspring Of
assassination, and iurns upon the Senate
fvho had rebuked him ire constitutional
wav) and bids them defiance. Stevens
then discussed the articles. charging the
President with usurping Legislative
power. and proceeded 10 show how be
hsd inferfered With the work Of recon