The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-05-20

THE ELEVENTH ARTICLE OF IMpEAcHMENT-As there
seems to be much doubt i'll the minds of many people
to the exact purport of this article, give the fol
lowing extract from manager Boutwels speech, which
we think will make the subject plain
Article eleven sets forth that the object of the Pres
dcnt in of the ofenscs alleged in the preceding
articles to prevent the execution Of the act passed
March 2 1867 entitled An act for the more efficient
government OF the rebel States 1t is well known
officially and publicly, that the 29th of May, 1865
Mr. johnson issued proclamation for the reorgalsa
ton of the government of North Carolina, and that
that proclamation followed by other procamatons,
issued during the next four months, for the govern
ment of the several States which had been engaged in
the rebellion Upon the death of Mr.. Lincoln, Mr..
johnson entered upon the office OF President in
which indicated that in his Judgment he had been
long destined fill the place, and that the powers OF
the office to be exercised by him without regard
to the other departments of the Government In his
proclamation Of the 2sh of May, and in all the pro-
camatons relating to the same subject, he had as
yumed that in his Office President, be was the Uni
ted States for the purpose OF deciding whether under
the Constitution the government OF State was re-
publican in form or not, although by decision OF the
Supreme Court it is declared tat this power is spe-
cally vested in the Houses of Congress In these
procamatons he assumed, without authority OF law,
to appoint and he did appoint Governors Of the sew
era States thus organsd. In fine, between the 18Th
of May 1860, aud the assembling OF congress Ill De-
cember of that year. that he exercised sovereign pow
the territory and people OF the eleven States
that had been engaged in the rebellion.
On the assembling of Congress, in the month OF De-
cember be informed the Senate and House of Repre-
sentaves that the Union was restored and that moth
ing remained for the two Houses but severay to ac-
cept as Senators and Representatives such loyal men
as had been elected by the legislatures and people OF
the several States Congress refused to raty or to re-
cognise those proceedings upon the part OF the Pres
dent as legal or proper proceedings, and from that
time forward he has been engaged in various projects
for the purpose preventing the OF the
Union on auy other plan than that which he had inau-
ourated In the execution of this design he attempted
to deprive Congress of the confidence Of the people of
the country hence it was that, among other things,
on the 18th day of August 1885, at the city OF Wash
ingon as set forth in the tenth and eleventh articles
he did in public speech declare and affirm in substance
that the Thirty ninth Congress of the United states
was not Congress authorised by the Constitution 10
exercise legislative power under the same out on Tue
contrary was Congress of only part OF lne States.
In the further execution of his purpose 10 PFeVent
the reconstruction of the Union upon any plan except
that which he had naugurated he attempted to pre-
vent the ratification by the several States OF the amend
ment to the Constitution known as ertlce fourteen